Labour bungle Council home renovation work

4.01.51pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 12th Aug 2005

Many tenants in Sheffield have been let down by Labour

Liberal Democrats in Sheffield have criticised the Labour controlled Council for failing Council tenants in renovation work to bring homes up to decent standard. They believe that the serious problems and broken promises recently exposed by tenants show how Labour are mismanaging the project.

Tenants on the Arbourthorne estate in Sheffield are the first to have work carried out on their homes to bring them up to the Governments Decent standard, the scheme is financed through the Government and delivered by an arms length organisation setup by the Council called Sheffield Homes. Since work began tenants have complained of 'bombsite homes' whilst work has been carried out on their homes. There have been examples including pensioners being left without heating and running water for days.

Now it has emerged that around 370 properties in Arbourthorne have received letters saying they will not get the full refurbishment they expected. The cutback is due to money not being available as the budget for the Arbourthorne area overspending in the first phases. This means that many tenants will not get the improvements they where promised.

Liberal Democrats have highlighted that Sheffield Homes is the responsibility of Sheffield Council. They believe that, despite the Council Leaders demand for answers from the chair of Sheffield Homes, any attempt by Town Hall politicians to side-step responsibility is unacceptable. Lib Dems have noted that Labour regained control of the Council on a pledge of keeping Council homes under the control of the Council, yet now Labour are indicating they are not in control.

Lib Dems believe that problems have come about due to Labour rushing into spending investment without putting forward a phased plan that would ensure equity and value for money. Liberal Democrats are calling for Labour to learn from these errors and have warned, if Labour continue the way they are, money for tenants will be squandered.

Cllr Diane Leek, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods

Cllr Diane Leek, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods, said: -

"This Labour Council is responsible for Sheffield Homes, any attempt by the Leader of the Council to side-step responsibility is weak and does a disservice to tenants. The decent homes project so far has all the hallmarks of this Labour Council, mismanagement and broken promises"

"The Council, through Sheffield Homes, are now moving the goalposts and informing tenants that their homes will still come up to the decency standard. But it is not just about meeting the decency standard, its about what the tenants have been promised and what other tenants across the road have already received"

"Hundreds of tenants across Arbourthorne will now not get the home improvements they have been promised. First of all the Council should apologise, but then Labour need to show what they will do to make sure it doesn't happen again to tenants elsewhere in Sheffield. Labour are showing they can't be trusted with the money to improve our homes"