Birmingham City Council has approved a £134 million budget for investment in council properties this year (2009/10) which will contribute to a better quality of life for Birmingham citizens.

The major investment highlighted in a report to cabinet on 16 February is an increase on last years' £129 million investment which saw in excess of 8000 homes benefiting from major improvements.

This year over £88 million will be spent on improvements to achieve the decent homes standard. Tenants will also benefit from a £13.5 million programme on improving kitchens and bathrooms. A further £33 million has been set aside to for other essential work and improvement programmes.

Once again tenants, through local Housing Liaison Boards (HLBs) have supported the prioritisation of central heating and double glazed windows in their homes. Central heating and window replacement together with cavity wall and roof insulation will improve the thermal efficiency of the property and assist in reducing fuel poverty among the tenant population.

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A raft of improvements such as energy efficient heating installation using high efficiency boilers, the installation of pvcu double glazed windows and improved thermal comfort will be made. Works on 5,800 homes over the course of the next year should mean the council remains on programme to achieve its ambition of 100% decency for all of its housing stock by the end of 2010.

Properties will also benefit from improved security by installing secure by design front entrance doors, and reduced maintenance in future years with the replacement of timber fascias and soffits with pvc materials and re-roofing some properties.

In addition to the internal improvements required to achieve the decent homes standard, much needed structural improvements will be carried out to a number of tower bocks and other council properties across the city to secure the long term future of the dwellings.

Councillor John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing said: "I am committed to ensuring every council home in Birmingham reaches a decent standard. In December 2008 we achieved over 85% decent homes.

"This council will continue to improve council housing to provide a better quality of life for residents across the city. Our people will benefit from better homes and this will mean healthier communities.

"I am delighted once again to honour the commitment to tenants in 2004 to improve their homes if they wished to remain with the council as their landlord."

The report will also recommend awarding the works to the council's construction partnering contractors - Wates Group, G F Tomlinson Building Limited and repairs service providers.