Healey invites councils to make deal

Author: Local Government Chronicle - Jul 16, 2009

Posted in: Planning, Housing and Economic Development / Reform of the social housing system / Local Government News

Council housing finance reform can be sped up if councils achieve a consensus on change, housing minister John Healey said on Monday.

Mr Healey said that while he would plough ahead with primary legislation to scrap the housing revenue account subsidy system, he merely saw it as a “backstop” to use against councils opposing reform.

Appearing before the communities and local government committee, he said would consider permitting change before primary legislation was passed.

Committee chair Dr Phyllis Starkey (Lab) asked: “If local authorities were able to come to an agreement amongst themselves, maybe brokered by the Local Government Association, then the system would be introduced more quickly?” Mr Healey answered “yes”.

He added: “It is necessary to have legislation in place to require some who may not wish to accept the changes to do so.”

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