Tories defend housing retention (From Stroud News and Journal)

Tories defend housing retention

LEADERS at Stroud District Council were given a battering by Labour opponents on Thursday night for their decision to keep 5,200 council homes in the control of Ebley Mill.

Opposition members attacked the Tory cabinet for rejecting the idea of a tenant-run housing association, saying leading tenant advisors had expressed support for it.

Labour councillor John Fowles grilled housing cabinet member Cllr John Jeffreys on the decision to opt for retaining council homes, made by cabinet two weeks ago.

But Cllr Jeffreys hit back by saying the majority of tenants were still against transferring control of the homes to a private company.

"It is quite clear from the expressed view of the wider body of tenants that they want to stay with the council," he said.

Cllr Fowles' wife and Labour leader Cllr Hilary Fowles followed up by asking what measures were being taken to involve more tenants in the process - after it was revealed that only 35 per cent were represented during consultation.

"I was surprised at cabinet when you said it was up to tenants to increase tenant participation," she said.

"This would come as a surprise to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and every other council in the land.

She added that increasing participation was "an aim we should all be working towards."

But Cllr Jeffreys again responded it was down to council home owners themselves to get involved, as Cllr Fowles cried "shameful" from the opposition bench.

He said: "It was made very clear to the chairman of the tenant consultation group that the widening of tenant participation should be tenant led."

The council is set to give its final decision on the future of council homes in September.