Dr Phyllis Starkey MP

Housing Minister John Healey today announced extra support for councils to step up efforts to get empty homes back in use and reduce anti-social behaviour, including cash for an intensive crackdown in 17 local authority areas with known problems - including Milton Keynes Council.

 Dr. Starkey welcomes the Government funding and says, "I have long urged Milton Keynes Council to use the Empty Dwelling Management Order procedure. This will bring back into housing use the various private sector properties currently lying vacant across our community; with some of them creating a magnet for drug abuse and anti-social behaviour which has impacted badly on other nearby residents.

It is a pity the Council has not given priority by allocating some of its own resources but the new Government-funded post means they have no excuse for not delivering"