ALMO wins reprieve on decent homes cash
An arm’s-length management organisation has managed to secure decent homes money from the government despite funding cuts.
St Georges Community Housing, which manages 12,900 homes on behalf of Basildon Council, was mid-inspection when it discovered decent homes funding was being deferred until 2011/12 to pay for new homes.
Last week, the Audit Commission confirmed the ALMO offered a two-star housing service ‘with uncertain prospects for improvement’. Although this would normally release funding for refurbishments, the deferral meant the ALMO would still have to wait for two years.
But following renewed appeals from councillors, the government agreed to release £5 million of a possible £142 million in decent homes funding.
Basildon was one of two councils undergoing inspection when the prime minister announced the raid on funding. The other, East Durham Homes, has also received its funding as promised. The remaining round six ALMOs are awaiting inspection.
John Robb, board chair of St Georges, said: ‘I am very pleased that the Audit Commission has recognised the demonstrable improvements and change to the way our services have been delivered over the last year.’
Councillor Andrew Baggott, Basildon Council’s cabinet member for ALMO clienting, said: ‘This is a fantastic result reflecting all the hard work put in over the past two years by the staff at St Georges. It is fantastic that the government listened to our request for St Georges to be reinstated in the ALMO funding programme. This is great news for the tenants and this district and for the decent homes programme.’
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment