UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, has called on the Government to step in and fund new council house building, to make up for falling private sector projects.

The union is also urging the Government to help local authorities address funding shortfalls in meeting the Decent Homes Standards for current council tenants and avoid redundancies of council and housing association staff. 

Speaking from the union’s housing seminar in Birmingham Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said: “Cash-strapped local councils need money to make sure they can provide tenants with a decent home. It is not right that people living in council houses should be denied central heating or new windows because of the irresponsibility of the banks. Diverting unspent funds from the Homes and Communities Agency would be a step in the right direction. 

“Steps must also be taken to avoid redundancies in councils and housing associations. Severe overcrowding and waiting lists of 4 million show that new homes are urgently needed. When there is so much that needs to be done it makes no sense for programmes to be scaled back and staff numbers to be cut. 

“The Government set a target of building 240,000 new homes each year – but in 2009 we will be lucky to see half that amount. The Chancellor’s plans to spend through the recession provide the perfect opportunity for the public sector to step in and bridge this gap. A programme of new homes for tenants to rent from councils and housing associations makes social and economic sense – creating jobs in construction and building supplies as well as meeting housing needs.