Labour leader of Basildon Council, Gavin Callaghan, has vowed to tackle issues with shoddy and deteriorating council homes across the borough in a bid to improve the lives of residents. Unliveable – This council property has seen a serious, unresolved issue with mould (Image: Charlotte Morris) From broken roofs, to mouldy homes and cracked ceilings, the council will embark on a mission over the next year to provide long-term fixes to long-running issues plaguing residents.
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Mr Callaghan announced the new funding ahead of the release of council’s draft budget which will include a 3 per cent rise in council tax but a series of benefits for residents.
Alongside the housing improvements, weekly black bin collections will return in April, major plans for a new arena at the Westgate Retail Park will be drawn up and submitted, and funding for community safety wardens will be “re-prioritised”.
“We as councillors are not happy with the way that repairs are currently being handled and I am not satisfied that within the existing budget we would have the ability to catch up with all of the repairs that we need,” said Mr Callaghan.
“That’s why I am putting a further £16 million in the budget for repairs this year. It’s all about our commitment to build better houses and homes.”
The leader said that the additional £16 million would be used to carry out key repairs that are currently being delayed or only partially completed, describing the current approach as “piecemeal”.
Neglected – Resident’s of Basildon Council’s Brooke House have long called for repairs to their block (Image: George Pizani) He singled out those who have had their roofs damaged by Storm Darragh as among his priorities, saying that affected residents would have their roofs fixed this year.
Mr Callaghan said that a large part of the issues currently affecting the council’s housing stock stem from the town’s creation in the late 1940s/50s.
“The truth about our housing stock is that it is 76 years old, it was all built at the same time and it will all get old at the same time,” he said.
Adding: “What we can’t carry on doing is this piecemeal approach to repairs. We’ve got to go into these homes and do the fundamental repairs that need to happen.”
Determined – Mr Callaghan has said he will end the current piecemeal approach to repairs (Image: George Pizani) In addition to increasing the funds reserved for housing repairs, Mr Callaghan also said he is currently working on a financial model for some of the council’s housing redevelopments that would speed up building and repairs.
“I want to create a financial vehicle and investment fund for Basildon that takes the financial burden away from the taxpayer,” he said.
The council’s 2025/26 budget will be finalised on Thursday February 13.