Tories firm on housing (From Stroud News and Journal)

Tories firm on housing

THE row over the future of Stroud's council houses was stepped up a notch when Labour councillors asked the Tory administration to put a halt to the planned sell off at the last full council meeting.

Cllr Linda Townley condemned the administration at the meeting for refusing to look at opportunities to keep the houses.

Labour called for a delay in the stock transfer process until the impact of the Government's proposed reforms had been understood.

"We are astonished at the refusal of the Conservative administration to look at the new opportunities presented by the Government," said Cllr Townley.

"We believe they give tenants the choice to stay with the Council.

"The changes the Government is proposing provides greater opportunities for tenants to stay with the council - opportunities that the Conservatives have refused to explore."

But Cllr John Gowers defended the Tory policy.

"From the tenants point of view they will benefit from the sell off," he said.

"They will have access to more funding. In the future we will have access to less or even none at all which will mean we won't be able to maintain the housing up to the current standards.

"The government could change its position on that but I think that's unlikely.

"I don't think we have any real alternative and to delay the process would make things worse, not better."

He said the choice would be down to the tenants, who will get to vote on the sell off but nothing would be forced on them.

He said: "We must present the case before them as accurately and as soon as possible and let them make up their own minds."