Lib Dems propose £1.3m windfall for Council Estates repairs

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 7th Mar 2007

More Investment for Council Houses in Manchester under Lib Dem Budget Plans

At Budget Council this week, Manchester Lib Dem Leader Cllr Simon Ashley proposed the party's Council Housing Budget for 2007.

He criticised government rules that limited the amount of local control of the accounts and was forcing a 4.92% increase this year, well above inflation. He also unveiled plans to:

1) Spend an extra £1,300,000 on our estates

2) Reverse Labour's cuts to core Anti Social Behaviour funding

3) Introduce a Freephone repairs number

Cllr Ashley said today:

"Gordon Brown has more control over Manchester's rent levels than any politician in Manchester. We still have the highest rents in Greater Manchester, and our estates are crying out for repairs now, not after a stock transfer."

Cllr Ashley added:

"The Lib Dems would set up a freephone number to report repairs, spend more on tackling anti-social behaviour and invest £1.3m on our estates now. Labour are treading water until the Council's Housing stock is transferred. Tenants want to see action now."

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