Ministers hear about good work in Hinckley and Bosworth

A NATIONAL organisation, which has been set up to promote the interests of local councils that still have their own housing stock, held its first reception in the House of Commons, attended by a senior councillor from Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council.

Michael Mullaney , Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council's Executive Member for Housing, attended a reception held by the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), along with Housing Minister Mark Prisk, Shadow Housing Minister Jack Dromey and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government Don Foster.

Councillor Michael Mullaney said: "Unlike many other councils, which sold off their entire housing stock to third party organisations, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has retained its council homes.

"All the responses to surveys show a high level of satisfaction from council tenants for the level of service provided by the council. In our Borough we still have local people on housing waiting lists though. That is why the Borough Council has, for the first time in decades, built more council homes for local people and families who need them. We built two in Hinckley recently and I wish to see more available for local people who need them".

ARCH is an association of councils in England who have retained ownership and management of their council homes. It aims to get the best deal for councils and their tenants. About 100 local authorities still own and manage around 800,000 homes, and ARCH aims to ensure there is a positive future for council housing