City housing boss Tehmtan Framroze says the most pressing need in his department is for more affordable rented homes.

He was replying to Councillor Brian Oxley, Tory opposition leader on Brighton and Hove City Council, who claimed housing policy was unbalanced.

Coun Oxley said: "The council is obsessed with building new homes to rent when most people's aspiration is to buy a home of their own."

He said the council should instead be encouraging a diverse mix of homes in the city.

But Coun Framroze, the council's housing Cabinet spokesman, said: "I am astonished Brian Oxley is so out of touch with the views of ordinary people in this city."

He said just 15.3 per cent of the housing stock in Brighton was provided either by the council, or by housing associations, as social rented housing.

Coun Framroze added: "The average figure in England is 21 per cent and every comparable city to Brighton and Hove has significantly more rented housing than us."

"Of course, many people aspire to home ownership. That is why we support a shared ownership scheme and assist existing council tenants to buy in the private sector.

"We also listen to our citizens. They are telling us Brighton and Hove needs more affordable homes to rent.

"Every day I'm approached by families who desperately need rented housing they can afford. They include council tenants who would like more room because their homes are overcrowded.

"There are many different reasons why people need homes but they all result in a severe shortage of rented housing.

"I want affordable, secure, stable housing for all. That is my philosophy."