No more delays in funding reform

A senior MP has urged the Government to announce details of financial reforms for council housing, branding the delay “unacceptable” and saying it has left some local authorities facing a “dire funding crisis”.

In a letter to Housing Minister John Healey, Austin Mitchell MP, chair of the House of Commons Council Housing Group of MPs, has demanded “a firm date for the publication of your proposals to reform council housing finance”.

He also asked for an assurance that “these proposals will ensure funding reform provides resources to ensure that every council home and estate is improved and permanently maintained”.

“Fair funding for council housing is urgently needed, along with a massive programme of new council house building,” said Mitchell. “It is not acceptable for Government to stall any longer on putting right the underfunding crisis. Council housing is essential to provide homes for the five million on council waiting lists, and all those the private market is failing to provide for.”