Sedgefield tenants Vote No to Privatisation
60% of tenants in Sedgefield have voted against the council selling off their homes on a 73% turnout. It shows that where we organised an effective local campaign we can give tenants the confidence to stand up to the blackmail and bullying.
· Find out what your council is proposing and contact DCH to discuss how to stop privatisation in your area
· Build support for the ‘fourth option’ for council housing – get motions to TUC and Labour Party conference
· Contact local tenants groups, trade unions and sympathetic councillors
· Lobby your MP and urge them to support EDM Future of Council Housing and join the House of Commons Council Housing group
· Order copies of the House of Commons Council Housing group report “Support for the ‘fourth option’ for council housing”
· Distribute the “Future of ALMOs: Briefing & Questionnaire” opposing the proposals to put ALMOs in the private sector
The council proposed selling its 9,000 homes to Sunderland Housing Group. SHG spent a small fortune (reportedly £720,000) trying to get their hands on Sedgefield's homes with a sustained campaign of glossy material, DVDs and endless door to door canvassing to try and win tenants' support.
But Sedgefield's council tenants have made it clear that they want to remain as council tenants. They refused to give up their secure tenancies and lower rents for promises and have voted to insist that the council keep and improve their homes.
The result adds to the pressure on Ministers following the recent publication of the House of Commons Council Housing group’s report, a well attended adjournment debate in Parliament and the Audit Commission’s report calling for a review of housing finance. Faced with strong opposition from tenants around the country, all the major trade unions and increasing numbers of Councils and MPs it is only a matter of time now before the government is forced to announce a change of policy.
All local authorities are supposed to submit their 'stock options' intentions by July 27. 71 have already decided to retain their homes. Many others, including Birmingham, Southwark and Camden - where tenants have also voted No - are backing the campaign for the 'fourth option'. Those councils proposing to sell off their homes or go for the 'two-stage' privatisation option of ALMOs are likely to face strong resistance from an alliance of tenants, trade unions, councillors and MPs.
Further information on the Defend Council Housing and House of Commons Council Housing group websites.