Council homes to be sold off? (From Stroud News and Journal)

Council homes to be sold off?

MORE than 5,000 council houses may be sold off in Stroud.

Tenants may be invited to vote for the big sell off in a secret ballot and then majority would have to agree before the sale went ahead.

Stroud District Council told the SNJ it was considering the findings of an independent report on its housing provision, which recommends that it transfers all properties to a not-for-profit landlord.

It would be controlled by a partnership of councillors, tenants and independent members and comes at a time when Government pressure on council housing is growing.

Subsidy is being reduced, capital investment limited, new building is not permitted and housing association and council rents are being brought in to line.

The 1980's right to buy legislation has reduced the council's housing stock by almost half and it has a lengthy waiting list for homes, thanks to rising house prices in the starter sector.

"We have to look at our housing options for the future," said Cllr John Stephenson-Oliver, council leader.

"Otherwise we run the risk of disadvantaging tenants and the wider community.

"As community leaders, we are facing this issue and consulting all those involved." Senior councillors and tenant representatives have been considering what to do with its stock following a Government edict to provide best value for tenants.

An independent specialist was consulted in March to report on how to meet targets for new homes, keep rents down, speed up repairs and involve tenants.

The report recommends stock transfer but also an 'arms length' system where the council retains the homes which are run by a private landlord.

The report states that this would not suit SDC because it would not provide extra resources to meet residents' needs in future.

SDC will not make a full decision on whether to go along with the report until a special meeting on July 2.

If it does, council tenants will get the final say through a ballot next summer.

"The most important point of all," said Cllr Stephenson-Oliver. "Is that nothing can happen unless the tenants themselves agree with it.

"That means they would be fully consulted and given the chance to vote."