A COUNCILLOR from Stockton has blamed the Government for the lack of money available for repairs to local authority housing in the town.

Liberal Democrat councillor Suzanne Fletcher has expressed anger at the increase in money taken out of the housing account and sent to the Government.

She claims £3.3m was sent from Stockton Borough Council last year and this has risen to £5.3m this year, which amounts to 19.1 per cent of what council tenants pay in rent.

The housing account is made up of rent paid by council tenants, and Coun Fletcher wants a change in policy so all the money can be used to repair and improve council houses.

She said: "With that extra £5m plus we could really make a difference.

"It is absolutely disgusting that this Government is continuing the line of the last Government in robbing the tenants of their money instead of letting the council spend it on essential repairs and maintenance.

"We can't put rents up any more. All this work needs doing on the houses and we can't do it because of a lack of money."

Coun Fletcher has called for the council and residents to lobby the Government to change the policy so the housing account is invested in council homes.