Improving Birmingham's beleaguered housing services will be an "urgent priority" for the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition that is due to take control of the council next week.
Mike Whitby, leader of the Conservative councillors, said Birmingham's housing stock had suffered "years of mismanagement" during two decades of Labour rule.

He said tenants had only ever been involved in "fictitious consultations" that did not really aim to discern their opinion about stock management options, but pushed the case for stock transfer.

Whitby said he opposed stock transfer for any of the council's 80,000 homes unless tenants called for such a move. "We want to remain as landlord of the stock for as long as tenants want us and to be able to introduce vigorous improvements," said Whitby.

The council's new leaders are yet to specify how changes will be made. But Whitby said the accountability of housing management staff would be pushed for, as would clampdowns on antisocial behaviour, improvements to rent collection and reviews of maintenance services.

Whitby said councillors would continue to support the council's stock options study, which is due to be completed by July 2005.

Birmingham's housing services have twice received zero-star ratings from Audit Commission inspectors in the last three years.

The new administration will take control at the council's annual meeting on 29 June

Source

Housing Today