Dear Editor, I think it only right that I correct the misinformation being peddled by Jack Dromey MP in your article. (Dromey ready for local skirmish with Pickles, Post, April 7)
Mr Dromey wrongly claims that Labour put money into decent homes for council tenants. That may be true for other parts of the country, but certainly not Birmingham where tenants were treated inequitably compared to those in transfer authorities, arms length management organisations and registered social landlords.
His Government was more content providing additional resources to facilitate transfers that promised investment in homes, funded by our tenants.
Birmingham tenants chose to keep the council as their landlord in April 2002 when less than 30 per cent of our stock met the standard. This placed an obligation on me, when I became cabinet member for housing in June 2004 to ensure that Decent Homes would be provided by 2010.
We have made excellent progress in delivering Decent Homes despite the inadequate and inequitable government financial support. The level of decency has increased steadily from 34 per cent in April 2004 and has reached 99 per cent, exceeding the 95 per cent national target.
Our Decent Homes have been funded through a combination of resources including prudential borrowing, and not by government.
I would agree with Mr Dromey that the Labour government did not build enough council housing, and while he may be campaigning to put council housing centre stage, this administration is building council housing, the largest council house building programme this city has seen in over 30 years.
Most of these homes have been provided with our own resources.
We need all Birmingham MPs to stand up for Birmingham and not to keep sniping.
Councillor John Lines
Cabinet Member for Housing
