COUNCIL chiefs are considering how to make best use of a dwindling amount of cash for major housing schemes in Wrexham.

The authority faces a £500,000 or 30 per cent reduction in the money it receives from the Welsh Assembly Government to help pay for capital projects in the next financial year, and this amount is due to fall further over the next few years.

At their meeting on Tuesday, members of the council’s executive board will consider a report on the affects of the cuts on the private sector capital programme for 2011/12.

Andy Lewis, chief housing and public protection officer, said the Assembly Government contribution would now be £1.25 million and the problem was how to allocate the money.

He added: “We will be coming back to members with some ideas on how we might reduce our level of expenditure.

“We currently have two housing renewal schemes, at Brymbo and Broughton and South West Wrexham and it is unfortunate that people in these areas will be expecting a certain level of work.”

The council is keen to maintain the amount of money it spends on the special grants which help to provide such fittings as walk-in showers and stairlifts in the homes of disabled people.

The amount earmarked for these grants next year is £1.2 million to meet increasing demand.

Council leader, Cllr Aled Roberts, said: “We are in a bit of a dilemma as one of the council’s agreed improvement areas is to support independent living for the disabled.

“We are therefore ensuring that people who are terminally ill or currently taking up beds in hospital and could be allowed home are given category one priority for disabled facilities grants.”