Funding Support for Town Councils for Additional Municipal Maintenance Works Related to Climate-related Wear and Tear
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns funding support for Town Councils to address climate-related wear and tear in HDB estates, as raised by Ms Carrie Tan. Minister for National Development Mr Desmond Lee replied that the Government provides almost $260 million annually for estate maintenance and technical support through joint inspections and training. He highlighted the Facade Finishes Repairs Co-payment Scheme, where HDB co-shares 50% of costs for repairing block exteriors to assist with aging infrastructure. Minister for National Development Mr Desmond Lee also emphasized that Town Councils should maintain contingency funds through prudent financial management to handle unexpected repairs. This approach ensures municipal resilience by combining direct government grants, technical advisory, and specific co-payment schemes for structural maintenance.
Transcript
31 Ms Carrie Tan asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Ministry currently provides any funding support for Town Councils to carry out additional municipal maintenance works for climate-related wear and tear, such as waterproofing repair for older HDB buildings; and (b) if not, whether the Ministry will consider introducing additional schemes to enhance municipal resilience amidst inclement weather occurrences.
Mr Desmond Lee: Town Councils are responsible for maintaining common property, which includes conducting regular inspections and carrying out timely repairs. Over time, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has enhanced support for Town Councils, including on maintenance issues relating to changing climatic and weather conditions. In complex cases, HDB supports Town Councils by conducting joint inspections and providing technical advice, so as to identify the root causes and carry out appropriate repairs expeditiously. HDB also conducts regular training and sharing sessions to deepen the technical and case management skills of Town Councils' officers.
In addition, the Government provides substantial funding to Town Councils, amounting to almost $260 million annually, to offset the costs of estate maintenance. Where repairs to the exteriors of HDB blocks are required, HDB co-shares 50% of the costs under the Facade Finishes Repairs Co-payment Scheme. Town Councils should manage their finances prudently and cater a reasonable amount of contingency funds in their budgeting to cope with unexpected repairs.