[kiliantics]

Because private developers only build housing for a profit, which does not make it possible to satisfy everyone's needs and is therefore not in line with the supposed purpose of the council. If it truly cared about the needs of its constituents, the council could contract out to develop the land itself and provide housing at a cost accessible to everyone. Instead there is a lot of money sloshing around for the wealthy and powerful, and a lot of poor people with inadequate housing. This is why these people are considered "on par with criminals" and why your farming analogy is not really relevant.