Southampton City Council has called for action over a national £2.2 billion council housing budget “black hole”.

The local authority is urging the government to act on England’s "broken council housing finances”, including “unsustainable” levels of debt previously given to councils.

The city’s council faced a £7.6m overspend in 2023-24 in housing alone. It joins local authorities from across England calling for action ahead of the Autumn Budget.

A report this autumn – Securing the Future of Council Housing – backed by more than 100 councils, highlighted that the national council housing system is in crisis.

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Cllr Andy Frampton said: “Council homes are so much more than bricks and mortar – they are a cornerstone of a better life.

“But our country’s council housing is in crisis.

“Policy decisions over the past decade have pushed finances to the brink and undermined the sustainability of the system.

“We’re calling for government to take this once-in-a-generation chance to fix England’s broken council housing finances, address unsustainable debt, and help us to make sure future generations in Southampton have the council homes they need.”

Southampton City Council has signed a joint statement urging the government to help turn things round.

“The new government’s commitment to a ‘council housing revolution’ is a huge step forward for communities across our country,” said the statement.

“The Chancellor’s first Budget and spending review are a once-in-a- generation opportunity to fix England’s broken council housing finances.

“The last government tore up its 2012 council housing settlement and left local government with a £2.2 billion black hole in housing budgets.

“Our report urges the new government to turn this round, investing in urgently needed new council homes, addressing the unsustainable debt previously allocated to councils and creating a Green and Decent Homes Programme, so together we can deliver the more and better council homes and growth that communities up and down the country so desperately need.”