PLANS to increase the number of council homes in Warwick district have been scaled back.
Warwick District Council currently has just over 2,500 rented houses, flats and sheltered homes but increasing financial pressures has forced a re-think on future plans.
The Observer has asked WDC for further details of the plans but had not received a reply at the time of going to press.
Financial restraints have also forced the authority to scale back plans to improve the energy efficiency of its housing stock.
Only last month WDC’s ruling Cabinet approved a new green policy to address fuel poverty, and provide a long-term solution to help reduce energy bills of tenants living in older, cold and draughty homes.
A survey, published this week, of councils across the country collectively managing over 870,000 council homes found that 61 per cent had cancelled, paused, or delayed council house building projects.
More than a third had also cut back on repairs and maintenance of homes, and some had even been forced to sell off housing stock.
It also found two thirds of council housing budgets were on the brink of collapse, and concluded years of financial strain had put nine in ten council housing budgets under financial stress to such an extent that substantial action or use of emergency funds would be required to balance their books by 2029.
WDC leader Ian Davison, said: “Although, like other councils taking part in this survey, we are feeling the pressures of increased demands and less funding, we have not been forced to cut services in the way that others have.
“Whilst we are implementing impressive plans to increase the availability of council homes in our area and improve the energy efficiency of our existing stock, these plans have been scaled back and the situation is worsening.”
WDC Housing spokeswoman, Coun Helen Adkins, said other housing needs were also putting pressure on finances.
She added: “In line with other councils we are also experiencing increased levels of homelessness in our district and the cost of funding temporary accommodation to support the most vulnerable is having a serious impact on our budget.”
“We are nevertheless working hard in close collaboration with our tenants to improve the way we operate focussing on the areas that are most important to them.”
