SNP councillors have hit out after having a call for urgent action to address priority issues including Fife's housing crisis rejected.

At last week's people and communities scrutiny committee meeting, Rosyth councillor Brian Goodall had attempted to pass a motion asking for reports to be brought back to the next meeting on homelessness and the lack of affordable housing in Fife as well as the cost-of-living crisis.

However, after discussions to determine whether it was a competent motion, as it had not been on the agenda, the issue went to a vote, which the SNP councillor lost by nine votes to seven.

Explaining his reasons for the motion, Cllr Goodall said: "It is really because it is quite a while from now before the next scheduled meeting of the committee and we thought it was probably appropriate for us to give officers some indication to the issues we would like to see if there is any progress on."

Newly-appointed committee convener Councillor Eugene Clarke had said he was not inclined to accept the motion because it had not been on the written agenda.

He added: "I am very aware of the importance of discussing the items we want to and I would very much welcome any suggestions for items on our next agenda sent to me and I will ensure they are evaluated and put on the agenda."

Cllr Goodall was disappointed his motion had not been taken.

"We now have the bizarre spectacle of a new scrutiny committee not wanting to scrutinise," he added.

Cllr Lesley Backhouse, Fife SNP spokesperson for housing, expressed concerns about delaying any effective action plan.

"There isn’t going to be a Cabinet meeting till August, which might only start the process the SNP have been demanding should start immediately, and then another in September," she added.

"We are talking about people and children. There is no excuse for the lack of urgency.”

The SNP group claims councillors were told in early June that there were currently 930 households with some 400 children in temporary accommodation in Fife and that a recent Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court judgement would have significant consequences on Fife Council’s current policies.

Cllr Backhouse said the minority Labour administration were failing to do their job to address what she described as Fife's "worst-ever" housing crisis.

"The current limit on buying back just 50 houses a year is a significant impediment to getting Fifers into a lifelong home. We have the means to quadruple the numbers of buy-backs, just not the will," she added.

“This limit of 50 houses per year is down to the bizarre ideological views of Labour’s housing spokesperson, Judy Hamilton, and is totally inadequate, we must lift this cap now.

"Fife Council and our partners are building new houses but the crisis is such that we have to put in place policies to increase our available housing stock now.”

Councillor Judy Hamilton, Fife Labour's housing and building services spokesperson, said they were "fully aware" of the current pressures on housing and homelessness services.

"This situation is not a new one, as Councillor Backhouse will be aware," she said. "I am working extremely hard; and with our head of housing, we will ensure that we respond fully to the sheriff court judgement on the temporary accommodation occupancy agreement.

"Whilst I was not present and cannot comment on the scrutiny committee, I did not need an SNP motion to remind me to take urgent action and I am doing so: I will do everything I can to increase the supply of new and existing houses to assist those in Fife who have a housing need to be housed urgently.

"A detailed plan on this will be reported to Cabinet in late summer. The people of Fife will see that this Labour administration will lead in the best interests of Fife; and I take access to affordable housing seriously."