In The Press of June 1, Tracey Simpson-Laing warned of a housing crisis caused by the Government’s New Homes Bonus scheme.

She complained that the money received through scheme would only be able to fund the building of five new homes in York.

The only crisis this scheme is highlighting is the worrying fact that the councillor in charge of the city’s housing has no idea what the policy is that is she complaining about.

The New Homes Bonus is not meant to be used to build new homes; the fund is to help local authorities cope with the extra strain on services caused by the construction of new homes.

It is meant to help pay for things like additional bin collections, expanded youth services or extra adult social care, services that would be put under pressure from the increasing population associated with extra homes.

To complain that the money would only pay for five new homes is to completely fail to understand what the fund is designed to do.

Coun Keith Hyman, Liberal Democrat councillor for Huntington & New Earswick.