Housing body eyes funding target

Bosses in charge of Nottingham's council houses have said they are turning the service around.

In March 2006 Nottingham City Homes was heavily criticised by the Audit Commission over a maintenance backlog and also problems at management level.

But if it achieves a two-star rating in November it will qualify for £243m in central and local government funding.

Now 97% of people had repairs done on time and the organisation had a clear set of priorities, officials said.

Spending plans

Nottingham City Homes manages about 30,000 homes across the city.

Chief Executive Chris Langstaff who took over last year said earlier failings were down to problems at the top. "We have some very good staff working in Nottingham City Homes on the front line.

"I think it was really giving them a clarity of direction and making sure we got consistency across the whole service."

He added: "It wasn't about the workforce, it was about the management and the leadership and hopefully we have changed that."

Mr Langstaff said the new funds had already been targeted on improving the internal fittings of homes.

An additional £500,000 of funding had been allocated for communal areas on estates.