A DOUBLE-PRONGED attack has been launched on council housing policy in York.

Labour housing chief Ruth Potter claims residents' associations across the city are up in arms over changes to estate improvement budgets.

Coun Potter said the budgets had been "bungled" - leaving tenants in the dark.

"The budgets are funded by rent paid by tenants," she said. "Control over how to spend this is handed back to tenants through residents' associations, which vote on how to spend budgets on improving estates."

New criteria have been introduced limiting the type of schemes allowed. But Coun Potter says it has not been made public, creating confusion.

"Tenants are being asked to suggest schemes without knowing if they are going to be blocked by the new system," she said.

But Lib Dem executive housing member Sue Sunderland said criteria for schemes always existed. It was now being more rigorously enforced so cash windfalls would benefit council tenants, not private residents.

Coun Sunderland said changes had been discussed with residents' associations and, as a council tenant herself, she slammed claims that Lib Dems did not trust tenants as "preposterous".

Meanwhile, Coun Potter claimed the council's housing performance was slipping.

She said time taken to carry out repairs had increased, and only 79 per cent of urgent repairs were completed - compared to a 93 per cent target.

The proportion of rent collected was also slightly down on last year. She claimed this was due to the Lib Dems prioritising York Pride "pet projects" at the expense of housing. "Fewer tenants are now happy with the overall service they receive,' said Coun Potter.

The figures emerged as part of an update on the council's performance on more than 250 targets.

Updated: 09:26 Saturday, July 03, 2004