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Self financing for housing services
Published: 02/09/2014
Flintshire County Council has welcomed Welsh Government proposals to introduce
self financing for council housing services from April 2015.
Promises to provide every Flintshire tenant with an improved home by 2020 can
be met as the Council is set to benefit from an extra £1million per year for
housing services. In addition, work will be able to start to build much needed
new council homes across the County.
Our improved performance and influence as a social housing provider means
Flintshire Council has been in a position to support the Welsh Government in
negotiating an agreement with 11 other Welsh councils who were still part of
the old Housing Revenue Account subsidy system.
Leader of Flintshire Council, Councillor Aaron Shotton said: “I am proud to
have been involved in negotiations to bring these proposals forward. The
Housing Revenue Account system took rents paid by tenants and paid the money
into the UK treasury resulting in less to invest in Flintshire’s council
housing stock.
“The elimination of this system and the creation of self financing means the 11
Welsh councils, including Flintshire, will be able to retain all rents
received, providing us with greater financial freedom to improve and build more
homes.
“I am delighted to be able to confirm to Flintshire Council tenants that all
the commitments we have made to improve homes will be delivered. The Council
may face significant challenges with its overall budget but this does not apply
to the council housing service where every pound of tenants’ rents can only be
used to deliver services to council tenants.”
Councillor Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “This is great news
for tenants who will see their homes improved to meet Welsh Housing Quality
Standards over the coming years. After 25 years, we also have the chance to
start building new council houses again which is fantastic for local residents.”