07 March 2012
The council agreed last week to take the first step in its seven year plan to improve its council housing stock. After the successful vote for the council to retain housing, officers addressed a packed council chamber with recommendations to set out an exciting capital programme which will see a £170 million investment business plan for 13,300 council tenants to have their homes brought up to a Welsh Quality Housing Standard. Councillors were urged to keep the faith from now until 2020 when the programme should be completed.
There was a unanimous agreement for tenants to be involved in shaping how the programme is implemented following their letter telling the council how excited they are to increase tenant participation activities and work in partnership.
Cllr Allan Pritchard - Leader of the Council & Constitutional Affairs said "During this process as leader of the authority I took the unprecedented step of remaining impartial in each of the debates held in the chamber regarding the matter. However, since the resounding tenants vote I feel I am able to express my wholehearted support for this decision to keep the council housing stock in the hands of the democratically elected representatives."
Nigel Barnett - Deputy Chief Executive who complemented all the officers, councillors and tenants involved in process of getting to ballot reflected " The real work starts today and as our tenants have said it is probably the most exciting and challenging time for council housing and we are delighted we were able to put a credible offer on the table to allow a real choice to be made."
Over the coming months further reports will be brought forward to set out the details of the business process of making all council homes in the county borough meet WHQS.
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