News from Sheffield Labour

Sheffield Labour calls on Lib Dems to pass on rent cuts

Labour are calling on Sheffield’s Lib Dem Council to take action and cut the rent increase by 50% following the Government’s offer of financial assistance. Government assistance would now allow rents to rise by just 3.1% and not 6.2% as originally announced.

Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Housing Bob McCann stated on two occasions, in March’s Council meeting on the Budget in the Town Hall, that the original rent increase of 6.2% would indeed be cut, but since then nothing has happened.

This is another Lib Dem let down for Sheffield tenants. The Lib Dems have so far failed to bid for Government funding to buy empty properties, failed to use Government funds for a mortgages to rent scheme and attempted to secretly change council house modernisation policy which, if gone unnoticed, would have left 14,000 homes without the modernisation they were entitled to.

Labour Housing Spokesperson, Councillor Chris Weldon, said:

“I’m disappointed that Councillor McCann has so far failed to deliver on the promises he made to Council to lower the rent increase from 6.2% to 3.1%.

“I find it hard to understand why the Lib Dem Council are taking so much time to deal with this matter given the tough economic climate and despite being offered Government help. The Lib Dem Council should be doing all they can to help Sheffield tenants, especially at a time when everyone is feeling the pinch.

Chris added:

“The Lib Dems say Sheffield is ‘a city where everyone matters’, except, it seems, for people who live in council housing. This isn’t fair.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• Sport England provides £10m for 'Active Universities' - 12 March 2010
• Clive Betts MP hits the ground running for Sport Relief - 11 March 2010
• Angela Smith MP welcomes dangerous dogs announcement - 10 March 2010