AN action-plan to spend £42million on improving Ribble Valley's council houses is set to be approved by councillors. A 30-year plan has been drawn up by Ribble Valley Council officers in accordance with Government guidance.

The plan reveals that majority of the cash would have been provided by the Government anyway, with a small shortfall needed to sorted out by the council.

A council spokesman said: "The plan lists what needs doing and over what timescale.

"If it is approved, it will enable us to catch up on the repairs that need doing and ensure we have good quality social housing for the future."

The plan will be discussed at the same time councillors on the housing committee are asked to approve plans to make sure ex-council houses in rural areas are not sold on to people from outside the area.