SPENDING on York council house improvements has been defended - amid claims City of York Council is hoarding cash set aside for refurbishments to hundreds of homes.

Green Party member Mark Hill today said the Guildhall had set aside £12.5 million for 2004/5 - but only £3.6 million had been spent so far.

He said an update report revealed that worked out at £455 per property, when the equivalent of £1,563 had been set aside at the start of the financial year in April.

The £455 sum included substantial expenditure, which the council planned to have paid off the previous year.

But ruling Liberal Democrats today said £5.6 million had now been spent on revamps.

They said the Greens were jumping the gun, as the money could still be spent between now and April.

However, Coun Hill said tenants had been let down and added: "The figures are shocking. The funds were already quite modest considering the average invested in home improvements in one year is £3,000.

"That's almost twice the sum allocated by the council, and private houses are generally in much better condition than council houses."

"Meanwhile, the council cannot even make sure that it actually spends the modest amounts that we set aside for the purpose."

Coun Sue Sunderland, Lib Dem executive member for housing, hit back at the criticism. But she said officers had been asked to check targets for future capital projects were realistic and took into account planning delays.

"We have other projects in the pipeline and have until April to spend the money," she said.

Updated: 10:46 Thursday, January 20, 2005