Showing concern over cases of lift accidents, Singapore government has decided for increasing funding for town councils to maintain and replace lifts in public housing blocks through two new grants announced recently.
The grants, worth over S$63 million a year, will increase government funding for town councils to over S$220 million a year.
Chairmen of the Town Councils have welcomed the decision for giving grant which would be helpful in maintenance of the lifts.
Dr Teo Ho Pin, coordinating chairman of the ruling party’s town councils said, “The grant will definitely help the People’s Action Party Town Councils to enhance the safety and performance of the lifts.”
MP and Nee Soon Town Council chairman Louis Ng said it would work the grants into its projections and “see how it’ll help in the long term”. He said there are new Build To Order flats coming up, as well as lifts whose defects liability period will be expiring in the town council.
The government has announced last year that it would provide S$450 million over 10 years to town councils under the Lift Enhancement Programme, through which the Housing and Development Board would co-fund about 90 per cent of town councils’ cost of retrofitting older lifts with safety features and enhancements found in newer lifts.That amount, together with the new grants, will double the Government’s funding to town councils.
Town councils have the responsibility to manage and maintain common property in public housing estates and need to do their part to plan ahead and take appropriate steps to ensure sustainable long-term finances.