‘Half-Baked’ Government Policy To Blame For Mass Council Housing Sell-Off

Sheffield city council has hit out after government figures revealed 749 council houses have been sold by Sheffield Council since 2012-13 but just 79 have been built to replace them – meaning 89 per cent of homes sold have not been replaced.  It is the third-highest sell-off rate of Right to Buy homes in England, according to the CLG. Jayne Dunn, cabinet member for housing at the council, said:  “It is a problem created by the Government, which does not give councils enough funding through receipts from Right to Buy to replace the stock that is lost. This is why we have called on the Government to allow us to fully re-invest money raised from sales in new council housing in the city, rather than having to hand over a sizeable proportion to the Treasury.”  Read more on the Sheffield Star website.

Over 25,000 Children in Sheffield Are Living In Poverty

A report to health bosses says almost one-third of children under 10 in the city are defined as living in poverty. It warns problems are likely to increase as a result of the city’s benefit income being cut by £169m through welfare reforms - with some single parent families set to lose over £2,000 per year. The report details the new strategy to tackle child poverty in Sheffield between now and 2018. It said there are now 16 food banks in Sheffield, while city schools have reported having to feed children who have not had breakfast. Read more on the Sheffield Star website.

Sheffield Tops Council House Waiting List With 30,000

Sheffield has the highest waiting list for council houses in Yorkshire. Sheffield Council says more than 28,600 people are waiting to be housed. But officials added only a ‘small proportion’ are actively seeking properties, with fewer than 7,000 people putting in a bid since October. The figures have been issued in response to the GMB union naming Sheffield as the place in South Yorkshire with the highest number of people on a council housing waiting list. The GMB’s figures are from April 2013. They put the number of households in the city on the housing waiting list at that time at more than 60,000. Read more on the Sheffield Star website.

Council to Take 42,000-Home ALMO Back In House

An overwhelming majority of tenants have voted to return control of their homes to Sheffield Council. A total of 26,465 votes was cast in the ballot on the future management of estates - and 88.2 per cent were in favour of a return to council management. Just 11.8 per cent voted to continue the current arrangement, where arms-length management organisation Sheffield Homes is paid an annual fee to run properties. Turnout among the 42,000 households was 55 per cent - as high as a general election, and almost double the level seen at local elections in some wards. Read more on the Sheffield Star website.

ALMO 'First in England to Fit Sprinkler to Tower Block'

An ALMO which is facing the threat of being brought back in-house by its council claims it has fitted the first tenanted tower block in England with a sprinkler system. Three-star ALMO Sheffield Homes - which manages 42,000 homes on behalf of the council - said it was "very proud" that its Callow Mount Sheltered Scheme had been recognised. However, Sheffield Council's cabinet met in October to discuss the recommendation that the management of its housing stock be brought back under council control. If agreed, tenants would then be consulted with an independent consultation in February. The work to fit the sprinkler system has come directly after the completion of over 12 months of decent homes investment work at the scheme and just weeks before district heating upgrade work was carried out on the building. Read more on the Sheffield Star website.