Councils call for action over national £2.2 billion council housing budget black hole ahead of Autumn Budget

A report this autumn – ‘Securing the Future of Council Housing’ – was backed by more than 100 councils and highlighted that the national council housing system is in crisis, with finances pushed to the brink by past national policy decisions.

Today, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils have signed a joint statement urging the Government to help turn things round.

The statement reads: “The new Government’s commitment to a ‘council housing revolution’ is a huge step forward for communities across our country.

“The Chancellor’s first Budget and spending review are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix England’s broken council housing finances.

“The last Government tore up its 2012 council housing settlement and left local government with a £2.2 billion black hole in housing budgets.

“Our report urges the new Government to turn this round, investing in urgently needed new council homes, addressing the unsustainable debt previously allocated to councils and creating a Green and Decent Homes Programme, so together we can deliver the more and better council homes and growth that communities up and down the country so desperately need.”

Cllr Deborah Saw, Babergh District Council leader, said:

“Council homes are the cornerstones of our community and we must do all we can to protect them.

“However, the country’s council housing is in crisis, so we are again urging the Government to undo some of the policy decisions made over the past decade that have made the current system unsustainable.”

Cllr Richard Winch, Mid Suffolk District Council cabinet member for housing and property, said:

“We are calling for the Government to listen to the 109 councils that have put their names to this report and seize this opportunity to fix England’s broken council housing finances.

“With the Government’s support, we will be able to make sure future generations in Mid Suffolk have access to the council homes they need.”

It follows the councils renewing their call for urgent government action to end the financial crisis facing council housing in September.