Give us the funds to allow us to tackle the Capital's homes crisis

The plans are in place and we just need the cash, says Gordon Munro.

EDINBURGH is facing a housing crisis. Those are not my words, but those of fellow councillor Paul Edie – convenor of health, social care and housing – as reported by the Evening News.

This is such a big issue that there is all-party council consensus on tackling this issue on behalf of the city.

Since last June, I have tabled motions at committee and full council seeking a cross-party meeting with the Scottish Government minister to put the case for Edinburgh. This finally happened on March 20 this year. It was good to hear that the unique situation faced by Edinburgh was acknowledged by the minister.

He was open to suggestions and some were tabled at the meeting. However, the money question was put to one side. To date Edinburgh has still not had official confirmation of its grant for housing this year.

So imagine my surprise when the Deputy First Minister announced a £25m three-year package for the whole of Scotland to "kick-start" council housing.

This is roughly what Edinburgh received prior entering the community ownership programme for a year.

There was no indication of how this would be distributed but even if given directly to Edinburgh it will be insufficient to meet Edinburgh's needs, never mind Scotland's. It might be enough to give it a kick but barely enough to give it a start.

Edinburgh's needs are such that the accepted estimate, there are higher estimates from reputable and independent sources, is that Edinburgh needs 12,000 affordable homes over the next ten years.

Last year, Edinburgh received £36.1m, providing just over 500 homes delivered by our partners, the local housing associations. Without increased funding Edinburgh will not meet 2012's target for housing the homeless. It will not be able to meet the demand from its citizens for affordable housing. But just as importantly it will not be able to play the economic development role that would help Scotland to develop. Recent Bank of Scotland research revealed that the average cost of an Edinburgh home is £228,212 – almost a quarter of a million pounds. How affordable is that for the bus driver and his partner the nurse?

Edinburgh has plans which could be implemented if funding was forthcoming. There are four regeneration areas such as Fort & Royston/Wardieburn which could provide homes if money was made available.

There are schemes such as Leith docks or Granton Waterfront which could be used as housing exposition sites by the Government to demonstrate how housing can be built both cheaper and carbon neutral.

To paraphrase Elvis: "It's one for the money, two for the money, three for the money; Let's go build homes."

• Councillor Gordon Munro is Labour's housing spokesperson.