Milton Keynes Council has recruited 7 new sheltered housing scheme wardens. They started work last week and confirm the Councils very strong commitment to the warden service and to sheltered housing.

At the Cabinet meeting on the 6 December Cllr Nigel Long, pictured above on recent visit to some sheltered housing, restated the Councils ‘rock solid’ commitment to its sheltered housing service, with 29 schemes at present and to the importance of having wardens for each scheme.

Councillor Nigel Long

Cllr Long, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Housing said “I am really pleased that we have recruited 7 new wardens. They are the bedrock of our excellent sheltered housing service. They are a vital part of our wider offer of good services to older and disabled pepple. “

He added, “Funding is always a challenge, but we continue to make the funding of sheltered housing a priority. This is against a backdrop of terrible Conservative cuts since 2010.“

* The Council has also invested heavily in improving sheltered housing schemes. This year has seen investment of £637,702 allocated for Clifton Court and Shelton Court in Woburn Sands has also been improved with new heating.

* One scheme, Orchard House has been closed because of subsidence.

* The Council is looking to modernise Buckland Lodge on Netherfield.

* Consideration is being given to the possibility of developing a new sheltered housing scheme or possibly care home at Westcroft. Both are potentially linked to our dementia services work.

* The Council is working with an extra care provider to see if the Shenley Wood Extra Care village can be expanded.

* The Council is also restructuring how it charges for gas and electricity in sheltered housing as some residents have been paying too much. It is also looking at the cleaning costs and funding of the wardens service.

Cllr Long concluded, “We are very keen to improve sheltered housing services and other services for older and disabled people. I want to see new schemes and new extra care provision. Older residents who built our city deserve great services as they get a bit older.“

Housing in Milton Keynes is top priority and Labour continue to do do ll we can across all aspects of the housing crisis.