The DTLR has announced that all 13 councils that bid for this year's £356m round of arm's-length management funding have been successful, with the largest awards going to councils in the north of England.

This is an unexpected increase on last year's figure, when just six councils achieved arm's-length status.

Sally Keeble, the junior housing minister, also hinted that further funding for future arm's-length companies was likely to be made available in the comprehensive spending review, which takes place in July.

Leeds received the highest award of £55.4m, followed by Salford with £53.5m. Barnsley came next with £43.2m and in fourth place was Bolton with £41.6m.

A DTLR spokeswoman explained that these top four councils had the largest number of homes under management and that they had submitted by far the largest bids.

She said that they had been "provisionally" awarded 60% of their bids and that the remaining nine councils were to receive 90% of their much smaller requirements.

Once the arm's-length management companies are fully established, a three-star rating from the Audit Commission's housing inspectorate will unlock the rest of the cash.

These are Blyth Valley (£15.8m), Brent (£30.4m), Carrick (£6.6m), Cheltenham (£13.5m), Colchester (£12.2m), Hillingdon (£6.5m), Kensington and Chelsea (£19.5m), Oldham (£32.4m) and Waltham Forest (£25.4m).

Source

Housing Today