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Tuesday 10 December 2019

Housing Budget Problems

Brent Council's housing budget problems have attracted little attention during the General Election campaign, understandably no doubt.  Extant Cabinet papers show that there are now severe problems to be dealt with from what is an entirely ringfenced budget.

The Tories forced through a cut in rents back in 2016.  That means that the Council income has gone down.  The one off costs of bringing the ALMO back in house were met by reserves, which were also used to effect a number of repairs.  The major works reserve is apparently now depleted.  The Council now wants to raise rents to top them up again.

The extra rent will also be used for at least part of the costs of the extra fire safety works that Brent is already committed to.

Personally, I wish central government had never interfered in the first place.

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