There are "far too many" empty council properties either waiting for repairs or undergoing repairs in Gateshead, according to council officers.
A total of 405 empty council properties are currently undergoing repairs or are waiting for repairs. However, "ambitious" targets could see the number drop to 150 by September.
Councillors were told new management styles and a successful recruitment drive have helped increase the productivity of the repairs team.
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Ian McLackland, service director of repairs and building maintenance at Gateshead Council, said: "The key focus now is the empty properties, the void properties. There are still far too many empty properties in a poor condition and we have far too many properties requiring investment.
"That is still a work in progress, we still have 405 empty properties which are undergoing work or requiring work. The aim is to have less than 150 by the end of the autumn, so that is quite a big task for us."
Councillor Tom Graham acknowledged the frustration empty houses caused the residents of his ward.
Coun Graham said: "What happens to us as elected members is we will get a phone call about an empty house, ideal for a resident's son or daughter but has been empty for six months. And they'd say you can build a house in six months."
Coun Gallagher asked if the target was overly ambitious and if the repairs team were "setting yourselves up to fail".
Mr McLackland responded: "It is purposefully an ambitious target because the whole process we have gone through has been about change, removing obstacles, and changing mindsets. The figures we have been returning since October and November have been higher than they have been in the past with the levels of staff we have got.
"We have shaken everything up, we don't have the traditional void work accounts that will stay in a property and finish it. We split everyone up and move them on into different properties so the same gang can work on several properties at the same time to get that productivity."
So far 35 empty properties have been repaired this week.
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