Council housing secret briefings and private negotiations must stop

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 29th Nov 2007

Lib Dems are standing up for local tenants

Local Liberal Democrats have called for end to the secrecy surrounding the future of Sheffield's Council Housing. The call comes in light of the news that the Labour Council have been negotiating with Government over the last 18 months on how to meet a £900m budget shortfall. The report worryingly notes that there is no viable plan to deal with the £900m investment shortfall.

Today a report on the sensitive issue was considered by the Council's Labour Cabinet at the request of the rest of the Council. It noted that the council had been in discussions with Government for the last 18 months on how to solve the £900m funding gap in council housing maintenance post 2010.

The report worryingly notes that there is no viable plan to deal with the £900m investment shortfall. This means that Sheffield's council housing stock would be allowed to fall into disrepair, as they where before the multi-million pound 'decent homes programme'. The report will now be considered by next week's full council.

Cllr Bob McCann, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Housing, said: -

"Labours secret briefings and private negotiations with Government over the future of Sheffield's Council housing must stop. It is the tenants who should be at the heart of any solution to the huge £900m funding gap hanging over them thanks to this Labour Council."

"The news of this £900m funding gap in our council housing post 2010 was certainly a shock for many local tenants. It will come as an even greater shock that there is currently no viable solution according to Council officers. Tenants should have been made aware of the situation and brought in at the beginning of the process, rather than 18 months after local Labour politicians began private discussions with the Government."

"We are looking forward to the report coming to Council. This will allow us to have a debate on the issue, including possible solutions to the £900m funding gap, in the public arena rather than in secret."