A mid-year review of North Lanarkshire's council's housing revenue budget has shown a surplus and tenants are set to benefit with almost £2m being earmarked to boost housing repairs, fund additional heating installations and carry out re-wiring projects.

Approval for the use of the surplus - which is due to good financial management by the council - was agreed at a recent meeting of the council's Housing and Social Work Services Committee.

An allocation of £1m will fund additional heating installations and electrical rewires. This will allow the council to continue its programme of replacing older, inefficient heating systems. Around 200 state-of-the-art efficient heating systems will be fitted quicker.

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Another key priority for the council is housing repairs and an increase of £800,000 is being made in this budget that will mean more repairs can be carried out in tenants' homes.

"Good financial management is vital in ensuring the effective delivery of our services," explained Councillor Barry McCulloch, Committee Convener. "It is great news that the council has made significant savings by letting its houses quicker and being more efficient in collecting rental payments. What's even better is that tenants are benefiting from this as the additional funding is being ploughed into services to maintain and enhance council houses.

"This council is directing its resources to key service priorities and areas that tenants have told us are priorities for them too and I'm confident we can continue to maintain this excellent record."

An accumulated surplus of £4m was recorded, with £2m allocated for home improvements, additional money has been earmarked to pay for increased fuel bills, to progress the council's new house build programme, to roll out its new allocation policy and to develop a Common Housing Register.

(GK/JM)