July & August 2010 - Cuts to Halton

August 11th.

On August 11th Halton Borough Council was finally notified that funding from the Homes and Communities Agency for 69 homes in Halton Brook Runcorn has been cancelled.

These homes for first time buyers were to join 45 homes for rent already being developed by Riverside Housing on the same site, off Halton Brook Ave, in Runcorn..

A fund decision on the Halton Brook scheme has been awaited since June, when the Coalition government reduced funding available to the Homes and Communities Agency. Funding for the Halton Brook scheme was for approximately £4.5 million.

Cllr Phil Harris, Executive Board member for Housing Strategy and the Council’s representative on the Mid-Mersey Housing Growth Partnership said: "Affordable homes are urgently needed in both Widnes and Runcorn and this spectacle of a half finished housing estate will stand as a testimony to the Coalition's cuts, until circumstances change.

However, a scheme for 12 new homes for rent to be developed by Halton Housing Trust in Widnes was approved.
At £760,000 that at least will be welcome.

£4.5 Million Housing Cut for Halton.

July 8th.

On July 8th Halton Borough Council was notified that £325,000 of capital funding had been cancelled for the refurbishment of the changing rooms for swimmers at Kingsway Leisure Centre, in Widnes.
The decision had apparently been taken on July 7th.

This funding had been budgeted for by the previous Labour government in a programme running from 2008 - 2011. Despite being budgeted for it was cancelled and no explanation given as to why the funding was withdrawn other than the funding for free swimming had been cancelled.

It is perhaps a sign of the arrogance of the new coalition government that they now feel they can cut funding without the need for any explanations ?

New Changing rooms for

Swimmers axed.

The new government has claimed it cut the free swimming for children and pensioners as a report it had (and has published) suggested it was not good value for money. Whether you agreed with that view or not it was a decision that you could understand the reasoning behind.

However, no explanation has been given for cancelling the capital funding. If it had perhaps been because the bids made were not considered value for money then even if you disagreed with it, there was some basis for the decision. The Tory Ministers however appear to feel they don't need to explain the reasoning behind these particular cuts. This arrogance is a trait that appeared with the cuts to the Building Schools for the Future programme. It looks set to continue as a hallmark of the new govt.

Cllr Phil Harris Executive Board member for Sport & Leisure says ''We will press for an explanation as to why the funding was cancelled and for where the funding has gone. It may well have just been cut or more likely it has been taken to spend elsewhere.'' ''Local MP Derek Twigg is raising it along with other cuts that have recently hit Halton.''

As of 23rd August, no information had been provided as to where the funding had gone.