Conservatives fail to deliver on Decent Homes promise (Wokingham Liberal Democrats)

Wokingham Liberal Democrats <info@wokinghamlibdems.org.uk>

Conservatives fail to deliver on Decent Homes promise

November 23, 2009 12:00 PM

Wokingham Liberal Democrats have been angered by Conservative-run Wokingham Borough Council's failure to deliver on the promise to provide its tenants with houses which meet the Decent Homes Standard.

In both 2007 and 2008, the Conservatives assured Lib Dem Councillors Malcolm Armstrong and Phil Challis that they were confident that all council-owned properties would meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2010.

Yet only 56.7% of properties are currently known to meet the Decent Homes Standard. With no contractor yet in place to carry out the work, and with no money in the kitty, the commitment to have all the work done by 2010 just cannot be met.

The Wokingham Times has highlighted the appalling conditions that council house tenant David Penn and his family have been forced to live in, even after 'improvements' had been undertaken to their flat.

Cllr Phil Challis (Lib Dem councillor for Loddon Ward in Woodley) said, "I do not think that it is right that people should have to live in such dreadful conditions. In 2008, the Conservatives told me that they were categorically committed to delivering Decent Homes to all the council's tenants by 2010, but they haven't and they won't be able to do so. Worse than that, when we raised the issue, a Tory councillor said it didn't matter and that the standard never was achievable in the first place! They have failed their residents. It just goes to show that commitments from the Conservatives aren't worth the paper they are written on."