Massive investment to bring council homes up to scratch

10.42.00am GMT Fri 2nd Nov 2007

Lib Dem housing chief Chris Naylor is pressing for decent homes for all Camden's tenants

Improvements to Council homes that Labour put on ice after its failed ALMO bid in 2004 were put back on track by the Lib Dem-led Camden Council this week. Action to make sure every Camden council tenant lives in a safe, modern home within the next five years came a step closer this month with the news that an extra £15 million has been pledged from the council's coffers towards improvements on Camden's estates.

Cllr Chris Naylor, Lib Dem Executive Member for Housing said "Under Labour, some Camden tenants would have waited until 2033 for the rewiring, new kitchens and other improvements they desperately need. More and more families would be waking up to crumbling facilities and worsening repairs problems. This decision by our Liberal Democrat-led council means that all of Camden's homes should now be up to modern standards by 2012."

The investment is the final element in a multi-million pound plan for improvements in council homes that will now be put to the government. Camden is the last London borough to propose how it will comply with the decent homes standards. The previous Labour administration had been unable to deliver after tenants rejected the idea of Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) to manage Camden's homes, and the Labour government refused to provide the required funding.

Cllr Janet Grauberg, the Lib Dem finance chief said "These proposals are great news for Camden tenants. When the ALMO ballot failed several years ago, the Labour council did nothing and so many Camden tenants continue to live in homes that need rewiring, new kitchens and lots of other work. Liberal Democrats believe that all our tenants should live in decent homes, and have put together a plan to make it happen."