Plans to cut rent arrears, boost investment in council homes and help support homeless people in York are being discussed by City of York Council next week (Thursday, 16 January, 2003).

The whole of the council's proposed 2003/2004 budget, including specific ideas for new and improved services and savings, is currently up for public consultation. The council's executive member for housing and advisory panel are being asked to look at specific proposals for the housing budget.

Suggestions for the housing revenue account budget - the money allocated for the city's 8,500 council homes - includes nearly £300,000 to improve the management and maintenance of council homes. This includes £40,000 to revise and improve the provision of day-to-day housing repairs and £121,000 to improve recovery of rent arrears.

In addition, some £1.7m is available to boost improvements to council homes. The proposals also suggest spending £73,000 to increase the council's capacity to manage its homes and £48,000 required to meet the increased cost of insuring council houses.

Some £490,000 savings are planned for 2003/2004 including a £170,000 saving on painting and repair due to the installation of PVC windows and doors.

Potential savings of £36,000 have also been identified through increased administration efficiency and the cost of repairing empty houses can be reduced by £45,000 because of improved re-letting times.

The net budget for the housing service, excluding the dedicated budget for council homes, is £2.6m. Nearly £150,000 is being invested in services, with £56,000 suggested to assist those who are threatened with homelessness.

Proposals also include £63,000 to meet staffing costs to assist customers when assessing their income and increasing their access to welfare benefits.

The budget also suggests allocating £23,000 for a community development manager to provide support to community groups in the North Clifton area. The development manager would help to attract funding for the area through the SRB scheme, which has already secured some £1.6m of government funding over the last four years.

Budget proposals include a warning about the council's Rough Sleeping Unit. The service, which helps vulnerable people who are at risk of becoming homeless, is currently funded by government grant on an annual basis and funding for 2003/2004 is not yet confirmed. If the grant is lost, the £330,000 costs may have to be funded by the council

The proposals also include potential savings of £161,000, partly due to changes in the way the housing service is funded through the government.

Councillor Ruth Potter, the council's executive member for housing, said: " The proposals outlined in the paper are underpinned by our aim to provide a customer focused service, which is well placed to continuously improve. All our proposals are linked to improvements set out the council's Housing Strategy and Business Plan, which were agreed by members last July.

"We continue to invest in council owned homes and in the prevention of homelessness in the city."

Councillor Potter and members of the advisory panel are being asked to provide comments on the budget suggestions, which will be discussed at a meeting of full council on January 30.