Selby council homes drive ‘over budget’ (From York Press)

Selby council homes drive ‘over budget’

8:27am Thursday 31st December 2009 in News By Gavin Aitchison , gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk

AN £11.8 MILLION drive to improve the quality of council houses in Selby is progressing well but running over budget, district officials have said.

Selby District Council is nearing the end of a three-year programme to ensure all its houses meet the Government’s Decent Homes standard by the end of 2010.

Of the council’s 3,157 homes, 2,658 are now classed as decent, following widespread work across the district, including on kitchens, bathrooms, chimneys, windows and boilers.

The work is on course for an £81,000 overspend, but council officials hope that will be offset by the fact that some householders – primarily older residents who do not want the upheaval – have refused the improvements.

At its next meeting, the council’s social board will receive an update into the programme from Dave Maycock, the authority’s property services manager.

In a written report, Mr Maycock said: “The importance of this project cannot be understated in terms of financial impact and the impact on customers. There are clear links to the quality of life and health of customers living in good-quality accommodation.

“The next phases of work are under way.

“The contractors’ performance and service delivery will continue to be closely scrutinised."

At the moment, about one in 20 householders is refusing the improvement works, which would save the council £198,000 – more than enough to offset the overspend.

The latest phases of works are in the Abbot’s Road area of Selby and in Sherburn-in- Elmet, Burton Salmon, Monk Fryston and South Milford.

Recent satisfaction surveys show that 91 per cent of residents in the Abbot’s Road area and 96 per cent in the villages are happy with the work.

The refusal rate in Abbot’s Road is slightly higher than elsewhere, due to the higher proportion of older residents in the area.

The work will be discussed by the council’s social board when it meets at the Civic Centre at 5pm on Tuesday.