NEW DEAL FOR COUNCIL HOUSING
Extra money for decent homes for all
Nottingham City Council has been successful in its bid to Government for a new deal for council houses which could see an extra £165 million invested in properties on top of the £153 million already planned for homes and neighbourhoods.
The extra money represents the final half or so of what is needed for Nottingham to provide decent homes for all by 2010. The amount of work to be done include work to over 18,000 kitchens, over 15,000 bathrooms, over 20,000 central heating systems, over 20,000 sets of windows, as well as work on doors, rooves, insulation, and re-wiring. Over 5,000 homes need some structural work.
This can be done to bring all our council house properties up to a decent standard by 2010.
The investment is conditional on the management of the housing service working in a new way. New organisations, ALMOs (managed at an arms length from the council), will be established, led by local councillors and tenants representatives to manage estates, rent collection and repairs.
The deal means –
* council housing remains publicly owned;
* rents will continue to be set by the Council, in accordance with government policy;
* tenancy rights remain secure;
* the tenants reps assist in the running of services.
The deal also means –
* The threat of council housing stock being transferred from the Council is deterred;
* The planned investment on decent neighbourhoods – including extra security and fencing – can be protected;
* We can give extra investment only currently available to housing associations.
The deal is conditional upon –
* Tenants agreeing to the change in a postal vote due to take place in June and July;
* The Housing Services achieving a 2 star rating which we are on course to achieve.
There are groups campaigning against the change. But already they have made false claims about protection for your rents and your tenancy. The respected magazine “Inside Housing” showed these campaigners have got their facts wrong on 4 fundamental points. Can they really be trusted? They offer no solution on how to get the extra improvements if they win.
It’s your home; it’s your future; it’s your vote. Use it!
When your postal vote arrives in July, use it. Vote for extra investment and tenant representation in the management of your housing services. Vote for the ALMO option. Vote YES.
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From Nottingham Evening Post, 19 May 2004
Housing Minister Keith Hill says Nottingham tenants should back a "terrific" deal to get up to £165m to improve their homes.
More than 32,000 city council tenants will be asked next month whether they want to set up a new organisation to manage their homes - which could open the gateway to Government cash.
… with thousands of homes needing new bathrooms, kitchens and central heating by 2010 to meet Government "decent homes" standards, the £165m would plug a gaping hole in the council's housing budget.
The authority will run the three-week postal ballot from June 21 until July 12.
Although he said tenants' views should be respected, Mr Hill has warned that the council will not be given cash direct from Government - leaving it with a major headache if it does not set up an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO).
He told the Post: "The truth is that we hope very much that tenants will go for the option that the council is proposing, but we respect tenants' rights and we respect their judgement.
"If they decide not to go for the option which is on offer, then the blunt reality is there is no fourth option. Tenants will have to live with the reality of maybe some improvements over a much longer period of time."
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[Last updated 2004-05-27]
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