Sweeping changes for Council
housing
by Richard Belbin
Sweeping changes are being made to the
system of Council House provision across Sheffield. As well
as the new ‘choice based lettings’ scheme (see
Stop waiting – make your bid!)
‘Neighbourhood Commissions’ are being introduced
across the city, to assess plans to bring in the extra investment
needed to bring Council homes up to the government's Decent
Homes Standard by the 2010 deadline.
The Commission for Area K (Burngreave, Darnall,
and Tinsley) will begin their fortnightly meetings in early
February, and whilst the precise membership has not yet been
decided, it will be made up of local councillors, tenants’
representatives, residents, and other member of the local
community. It is expected that its recommendations will be
made by June, after which, tenants will be balloted to see
if they support those recommendations.
The Commission will be looking at different
options for drawing down government funding – stock
transfer, Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs), and
Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Whilst it will be looking
at the entirety of Area K, it is possible that different recommendations
will be made for different estates, as happened in Area D
where an ALMO was recommended for Brightside, and stock transfer
for Shiregreen.
The commissions are necessary according to Sheffield
City Council because: “Remaining with the Council without
involving an ALMO or entering into PFI arrangements will not
bring in the money needed to bring properties up to the government’s
Decent Homes Standard by 2010. Across Sheffield £1 billion
is needed for improvements, the Council only has access to
£400 million without these three options.”
The campaigning group Defend Council Housing
disputes this however. Local member Kevin Hartney said: “These
commissions are part of a long-term strategy to divide the
city up and privatize it by sections. The funding is there,
we need to fight to make central government hand it over now.
To insist it is only there if people accept ALMOs, which is
a step towards privatization, is undemocratic and blackmail.”
For further information on the Commission,
please contact Carl Borg at Burngreave Housing Office on
203 9341.
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