TWO local authorities have united to demand decisive action on the housing crisis as councils are 'tethering on the brink'.

Members of both Babergh and Mid Suffolk district councils met this past week to discuss a motion pleading with the Government for more action to address the housing crisis.

The motion described the council housing system as 'broken' with soaring costs which 'decimated council housing budgets'.

It added without 'critical changes to government policy', it would be impossible for councils to meet housing targets.

In Babergh, Cllr Jessie, the lead for housing, warned many councils were 'tethering on the brink'.

She said: "In Babergh, like in many parts of the country, we're witnessing first-hand the impacts of a national crisis — too many families are struggling to find safe and stable homes."

Her Mid Suffolk counterpart, Cllr Richard Winch, added: "This is a critical moment for council housing in this country. We have had to use reserves to fill the holes in our housing budget – and dozens of councils across England are having to make similar tough decisions to survive.

"If we don't do something like this, we won't ever get out of the mire that we're in."

The motion asked the council to write to the Secretary of State and local MPs to urge them to take urgent action, continue to work with partner councils to lobby the Government and raise awareness of the challenges.

It also pledged to encourage local housing associations to work more closely with the council to increase the supply of affordable housing.

A further call was issued by Babergh's Cllr Derek Davis, for particular attention to be paid to veterans and their challenges.

He said: "It's disgraceful that veterans are allowed to sleep on the streets and it's important they are housed — we need to hold the Government's feet to the fire on this to make sure that does happen."

In Babergh, councillors passed the motion with 23 votes for and two abstentions, while Mid Suffolk councillors supported it unanimously.