Council scoops national award for housing innovation schemes

CONGRATULATIONS . . . Oldham Council leader Howard Sykes, left, receives the housing award from Richard Kemp, Liberal Democrat leader of the Local Government Association

Council initiatives to help Oldham people with housing problems have been given national recognition.

The council has won the Liberal Democrat Council Group of the Year award for innovative housing schemes.

The award was handed over at the Liberal Democrat spring conference in Birmingham by Richard Kemp, Liberal Democrat leader of the Local Government Association.

It recognises programmes which include the mortgage rescue scheme for people struggling with payments, a downsizing scheme to free up larger family houses for people on the waiting list, and the Oldham Bond scheme, to help tenants into private rented homes who cannot raise the initial bond for their landlord.

Oldham Council leader, Councillor Howard Sykes, said: “It’s brilliant to gain national recognition.

“We have been working hard in partnership with First Choice Homes Oldham and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau to assist our citizens in the deepest recession in living memory, many of whom have struggled to make ends meet and keep their homes. Over 500 families have benefited from one or other of our programmes and not only are these schemes bringing peace of mind and stability to families in difficult financial situations, the kind of help we have been providing makes real economic sense as well.”