Council flat residents across Broxtowe set to pay extra for new cleaning services

Broxtowe Borough Council proposed introducing block and window cleaning at a small charge to tenants who live in General Needs housing.

Currently, residents are responsible for their own communal areas, which can lead to them becoming “very unpleasant”.

The move would cost £1.50 a week for residents – but those who claim benefits to pay their rent would have the cost covered.

More than 1,000 tenants were consulted about the plans but only 11 responses were received.

One resident who was consulted said: “I don’t see why I should pay for it to be cleaned when neighbours treat it as a dumping ground for all their stuff.”

Another stated: “The area outside each person’s flat should be kept clean by the tenant – not charging everyone for those who are content to live with dirt outside their flat”.

The borough's Housing Committee was asked to approve changes during a meeting on Wednesday, November 17.

Councillor Eric Kerry (Con) said: “This is a really difficult one.

“What this proposes is that any good tenant that lives in a property that has communal areas is going to get charged for something even though they currently spend their time and efforts keeping it in a good state.

“I am not happy with this. Why are we asking people that don’t need that work to be charged just because they live in a block where somebody else isn’t doing the job?”

Councillor Philip Owen (Con) said: “We’ve only had 11 responses which is poor by consultation standards.

“What we don’t know of those who said they were for it is how many would be paying out of their pockets.

“I am not prepared to support it. I am very conflicted about this but I am sure you will force it through and it will go ahead.”

But the chair of the meeting Teresa Cullen (Lab) said: “We should be cleaning it and not expecting individual families to.

“The animosity comes when an individual family doesn’t play their part and can’t do their bit.

“I have spent many times walking into council flats where the communal areas are absolutely filthy and it is unpleasant for everybody.”

A council officer said the changes would “bring us in line with what other landlords and councils do”.

Five councillors voted for the changes and eight abstained, meaning the plans were approved.