14/02/2017 Look North (Yorkshire)

A BBC investigation reveals the shocking state

And there's anger over plans to build a multi-million pound

And it's set to get milder over the next 24 hours and this

I'll be back later in the programme with the details.

Tonight, a special report on the levels of compensation

Yorkshire's councils are paying for properties in poor repair.

Research by the BBC has revealed that across England,

more than ?35 million has been paid to tenants living

In Yorkshire, the highest pay-out total

was by Leeds Council which handed out ?4.5 million,

The council settled 840 cases where it failed to adequately

The authority says it's investing millions in its properties

but the age and character of the homes can make

Anna Crossley has this exclusive report.

So, as you can see here, we put this wallpaper up about six months ago

and it's completely mouldy and the wall underneath

And even our shoes are mouldy as well.

Katerina is a student and part-time cleaner.

She pays Leeds City Council around ?270 a month

to live in a flat which is riddled with mould.

It's now so bad she believes it's making her ill.

Although Katerina hasn't taken the council to court,

She says he and his brother sound like this all the time,

She claims it's because their rented house is so damp.

Two years ago, Ann successfully sued Leeds City Council because the

property was so poorly maintained, but she says the problems remain

so she's taking legal action once again.

Holes in the walls upstairs in both the bathroom and the toilet.

It's just running through the centre of the entire house and at the front

Social housing in Leeds has such a bad reputation

that claims management companies are now targeting the city,

encouraging tenants to take the council to court.

These firms identify properties which are in a poor state of repair

and then for a finder's fee, pass on the tenant's details to

Quite a lot of staining and deterioration in the plaster.

Bobby Kennedy runs a claims management company

and says Ann almost certainly has another case against the council.

We'll just show you the level it goes up to.

The compensation paid to the tenants to replace the things

that have been damaged due to the disrepair in the properties.

The council themselves have an obligation to repair

and when they agree to do the repairs, if they

decide then not to do it and the tenant contacts us again,

then we will get involved again to help the tenant.

Solicitor Nina Patel often takes on Bobby's clients and she

rejects the idea that legal firms are simply cashing in,

arguing that landlords need to be held accountable.

They are very quick to charge rent and evict the clients

if the tenants aren't maintaining the payments, so equally,

why can't these tenants go and get legal advice if their repairs

I don't think it's just about money and profit,

it's more about improving the conditions.

They're paying rent and they shouldn't be living

At a time when council services are being cut

in line with dwindling budgets, many will question why millions

of pounds are being spent on compensation and legal fees

instead of fixing the problems in the first place.

Anna, some shocking conditions in that report.

What's happened to the tenants since filming?

Well, since filming, Katerina has told us that

the council have been round and washed the mould off her walls.

Sadly, Ann's situation remains unresolved but she now

has the backing of her local MP Rachel Reeves.

And Leeds City Council, have they had anything

They didn't want to be interviewed but they did issue us

They said, we take repair obligations

very seriously and in the last financial year, the council has

carried out in excess of 200,000 repairs,

over 95% of which were finished within target dates.

They also go on to say that in the last five years, they spent

Hundreds of people have attended a meeting in Keighley tonight

over plans to build an incinerator near their properties.

Homeowners say their lives have been put on hold by the multi-million

pound scheme and claim it'll cause pollution,

Councillors insist it'll boost the local economy.

This is next door to Marley Sports Stadium.

I know there's lots of parents, grandparents who will have

children, grandchildren who go and play locally

It's plain and simple, who would want to play football and be

absolutely bursting your lungs breathing that in?

Health concerns seem to be top of the agenda at tonight's meeting.

More than 200 people turned out to discuss

controversial plans for a ?135 million incinerator

Something that's of this magnitude and size that is so out of

There's the health associated risks that we are aware of.

And we don't feel that the developers have gone far enough

Bradford councillors approved the plans last week for the energy

It will stand 35 metres high with a 60 metre stack

and burn 100,000 tonnes of waste per year.

Residents fear it will blight the landscape

We don't know what they're going to burn.

We don't know what its effects are going to be.

Are we going to be releasing poisonous chemicals

And I just think we've got to be careful not to put money

You ask any doctor in this valley and they'll tell you they call it

I have asthma myself, I know what it's like

even without the incinerator sometimes.

And, you know, that pollution is absolutely going to come out

of the air and down here and into the valley.

If they do need to build it, which is in question,

it should be somewhere far away from where people are and children

are and people playing and trying to become more healthy.

Following the recent decision, the Secretary of State has

told Bradford Council not to grant permission for the proposed Keighley

energy facility without his specific authorisation.

Objectors are waiting to see what he says

A brief look at some of the day's other stories.

A teenager has appeared in court charged with the murder

Irfan Wahid died after he was attacked

The 16-year-old boy, who can't be named

for legal reasons, will now appear in Crown Court on Thursday.

A Leeds lawyer and former Ukip parliamentary candidate has

won his appeal against allegations he "pestered" women at a work party.

Barrister Stephen Howd was charged with misconduct

after the social event at Zenith Chambers in Leeds

He was later fined eighteen hundred pounds by a disciplinary tribunal.

But a High Court judge ruled today that his "inappropriate" behaviour

Plans for a multi-million pound redevelopment of part of Sheffield

city centre have been approved by councillors.

Outline planning consent has been granted for West Bar Square

Apartment blocks, a four-star hotel, restaurants and offices could be

Some sport and it has been a busy night of football for our clubs.

Starting in the championships and Barnsley thrashed Aston Villa 3-1.

Huddersfield Town won 3-2 against Rotherham United

and Sheffield Wednesday beat Blackburn by two goals to one.

In League 1, Bristol Rovers against Sheffield United finished goal-less,

Fleetwood Town beat Bradford City 2-1

and Chesterfield drew 1-1 with Gillingham.

And in League 2 Doncaster Rovers lost 2-1 away

That it from me this evening. It's over to the Valentines evening

weather. How romantic with the Reds offer as well!

It's not going to be as cold as it has been in previous days.

Early next week, temptress could meet the mid-teens which is

exceptional for the time of year. Tomorrow, even though it will be as

cold as it has been, a lot of cloud will be around. Perhaps some

brightness later in the morning and through the afternoon we are going

to see rain developing again from the south. It is the south-west

where the air is coming from and it will be milder over the next few

days. Thursday and Friday at all too bad at all. We are expecting some

rain at some points through Saturday but that is a long way away and

there are still some uncertainty. At the moment, dampness and drizzle are

possible anywhere. Missed across the hills but a frost free night with

temperatures down to around five or 6 degrees. A great start in the

morning, especially over the Pennine routes. Misty with health care. A

lot of cloud during the day with a wee maces and brightness later in

the morning. Then showery rain approaches as we head to the

afternoon. Even in that rain band, there could be breaks in the cloud

and temperatures in a few spots getting up into double figures. 10

degrees is 50 Fahrenheit. Not too bad on Thursday. A breezy day but a

brighter one. The risk of some showers across western parts in

particular but most places dry and bright with some sunshine. I thought

he started the day on Friday but then again it looks like it could be

pleasant with some sunshine. Temperatures in double figures and

then some rain through the day. That's it from the late team.

weather into the weekend. A bit of fog around to watch out for. Jon

Hammond with the national forecast now.

Good evening. There is some rain in the