Residents get final say (From Stroud News and Journal)

Residents get final say

STROUD District Council is pushing ahead with its plans to sell off its housing stock but residents will be given the final say when the decision goes to secret ballot next year.

The Conservative administration voted through the resolution to move forward with the proposed sell off which would see ownership of all the district's council houses transferred to a housing association with members drawn from the council, tenants' groups and independent organisations.

Dozens of tenants squeezed into the packed Ebley Mill's packed council chamber for the special meeting last Tuesday night where they heard compelling arguments for and against the controversial sell-off.

The Conservatives argued they had little choice but to sell the houses as financial forecasts indicated that by 2008 the council would find itself up to £2 million in the red each year as it struggled to pay for the maintenance of remaining houses.

They also stressed the Government was developing plans to take a substantial chunk of any cash raised by the council by selling houses to tenants under the right to buy scheme.

That money would be put into a national pool and shared out where the need for housing was greatest in the country - which means relatively affluent rural shires like Gloucestershire would lose out to deprived inner cities.

The housing association the administration hopes to set up to transfer the houses to would be made up of elected councillors, housing officers, tenants representatives and independent voices.

"Transferring to a housing association means we can build on our high standards and our excellent relationship with tenants," said Cllr John Jeffries, cabinet member for housing.

"I must stress that tenants will only see changes for the better and that they will be dealing with exactly the same staff."

But Labour and Green councillors slammed the plan saying the proposed sell-off was deplorable and calling for more thorough consultation with tenants.

They argued that even if cash flow predictions were correct there was no need to rush any decision since the council could afford to keep the houses for at least another five years.

Bradley Stephens, leader of the tenants forum which reflects the residents views, echoed these sentiments.

"It's asking to much of us, expecting us to decide so quickly," he said. "It's very disappointing that they haven't taken the tenants' views into consideration in allowing us more time.

"We've asked for extra time so we can make sure all 5,000 tenants are individually notified and have had a chance to look at the facts."

But he stressed the ball was ultimately in the tenants' court and they would make themselves heard when it came to the vote.

"We've got to go along with the process but we won't be pressured," he said. "We will be doing things at our own pace, not theirs."