Brown attacks planning review

Rutherglen South councillor Robert Brown has criticised South Lanarkshire Council’s Housing Repairs Policy Review.

The Liberal Democrat claimed the review was too vague in how it dealt with programmed maintenance of things like gutters.

Councillor Brown said: “The reality is that there is not a proper programme for when closes and external areas get painted or gutters cleared.

“Consequently there were tenement buildings right across Rutherglen that had not been painted for years and others where weeds were growing from gutters. The painting programme has slipped from five years to 10 years before it even began.

“I know there are problems with divided ownership – some council tenants, some owner - occupiers, some private tenants – in individual blocks. However it must have a higher priority to get on top of this.

“The Council say they do five yearly checks on the condition of properties but this must be followed by speedier action to tackle the issues.”