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FMB: Council tax reform is a victory for common sense

01/07/2009 15:52:54

The FMB has welcomed the announcement that local authorities will now be able to keep hold of their council house rents.

The announcement that local authorities will now be able to keep control of council house rents in order to build more affordable housing is a victory for common sense, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) claims.

Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the organisation, said that the announcement by housing minister John Healey would help to address the critical shortfall in affordable housing that has forced 4.5 million people on to council house waiting lists.

He explained that by permitting local authorities full control of rents collected - rather than redistributing them centrally - councils will now be able to operate in a similar manner to housing associations.

"They will be able to borrow freely and plough the money collected from rent back into their businesses. This will also benefit the ailing house building industry," Mr Berry explained.

The FMB has also recently got behind Labour MP Dave Anderson in his campaign for more funding to be put into creating apprenticeship positions in the construction industry.

Written by Neil Burton ADNFCR-1903-ID-19245685-ADNFCR