The Petition of the tenants of Sutton Housing Partnership and others,

Declares that the decision to postpone and cut back funding to support home improvement works to meet the Government’s decent homes standard will condemn thousands of tenants to a future in poor and inadequate housing while continuing to pay millions of pounds in rent as a negative subsidy to the Treasury.

Further declares that the decision to switch funds from improvement to new build is misjudged and was made without consultation with local authorities, Arms Length Management Organisations or tenants.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majesty’s Government not to renege on its promises and stand by their pledge to tenants by fully funding the decent home programme

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr. Paul Burstow, Official Report, 21 July 2009; Vol. 496, c. 855.]

[P000401]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government:

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is aware that a petition was received relating to the decision likely to defer Decent Homes funding in the London Borough (LB) of Sutton as a contribution to fund the Housing Pledge initiative.

London Borough of Sutton has now formally withdrawn from the Judicial Review proceedings issued against the Department. The Judicial Review challenged the likely deferral of Decent Homes ALMO funding in Sutton.

The Home and Communities Agency which manages the ALMO Decent Homes programme has concluded negotiations with Sutton. Decent Homes funding has now been made available to Sutton in 2010-11.