Sp Ed ec iti ial on
December 2008
house
housing news for Winchester City Council tenants and leaseholders
Government subsidy causes cutbacks for tenants Winchester City Council has apologised to tenants after being forced to make cutbacks in its repairs and renovations programme to meet shortfalls in Council housing budgets. Councillors reluctantly agreed to reduce the modernisation plans after hearing the Council was still required to give over £8m to the Government in subsidy despite the £3m shortfall in its own budget. Cllr Tony Coates, Housing Portfolio Holder, has condemned the policy in a letter to Government Housing Minister Margaret Beckett. Members of Cabinet heard [on Wednesday 10 December 2008] that Winchester’s Councillors, Officers and Tenants had all called on the Government to give them more local control of rents and warned: “Without this, it is difficult to see how a Council Housing service can be maintained in Winchester.” Cabinet was told that Winchester City Council needed a minimum repairs budget of £9.8m to maintain the current repairs programme or a budget of £13.4m for an enhanced programme. The budget is £6.7m.
Cllr Coates said: “We are in an impossible position – between the proverbial rock and a hard place – and the system is grossly unfair.
Kitchen & Bathroom Programme It is estimated that 150 kitchens and 200 bathrooms will not be replaced between now and March 2010.
“We don’t have enough money to spend on our own homes yet the Government still expects us to pay more than £8m to subsidise council houses elsewhere in the country.
Empty Properties – Less money will be available to renovate these.
“I apologise to our tenants who will not get a modern kitchen, bathroom or boiler as a result.”
Where are the cutbacks? The Council has to save £3m and areas affected are: Gas Fired Heating Systems – About half of the boiler replacement programme will need to be deferred. Disabled Adaptations - There will be a backlog of about 80 cases by the end of March 2009. External Repairs & Painting Only essential repairs and repainting will be carried out to the 1100 properties programmed per year. Internal Redecoration - The entire programme of approximately 350 properties and communal areas will be deferred until further notice.
If you or a neighbour needs a printed copy contact Customer Service Centre on 01962 840 222
Pvcu Window Replacement Programme – About half of the window replacement programme – about 40 properties – will be deferred to a later date.
Government Policy The Government has accepted that the national Housing Revenue Account system is outdated and will announce its review of the system in spring 2009.
Rent Rise Councillors have approved an average rent rise of 6.14 per cent or £5 per week, which takes the average rent to £86.35 from April 2009. There will be more on this in the next full edition of On The House in March 2009.
Contact details telephone 01962 840 222 fax 01962 841 365 email housing@winchester.gov.uk website www.winchester.gov.uk Telephone calls may be recorded.