Housing News 12/7/05
Neighbouring Councils reject Housing Stock Transfer as a Bad Deal
Campaigners against the plans to privatise council housing in Renfrewshire have welcomed the decision by both East Renfrewshire council and North Ayrshire councils to reject housing stock transfer. Gerry McCartney, secretary of the Renfrewshire campaign said,
"Both East Renfrewshire council and North Ayrshire council have shown a degree of political leadership to stand up against the bully-boy tactics of the Labour and Liberal Scottish Executive who are trying to force councils to transfer their housing stock.
By rejecting housing stock transfer they have opted to maintain democratic accountability in social housing. They are now adding to the pressure already on the government to hand over the £158million already earmarked for housing improvement in Renfrewshire.
We are calling on the tenants of Renfrewshire to reject housing stock transfer when the ballot occurs, and send a clear message to the Labour and Liberal parties that we want investment, not privatisation of our housing".
East Renfrewshire councillor Alan Lafferty, said: "Through the stock retention option we've gone for, we'll be able to meet the requirements of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard, while remaining landlord - and that's what our tenants said they want.
North Ayrshire council leader David O'Neill said, "Having crunched the figures we think the best thing for the tenants is to keep the service in-house. We think it is much better to have social services under the one organisation so that when people get into difficulties they can come to us and have access to all the housing stock belonging to North Ayrshire council.
Housing association management costs are far, far higher than local authorities so for every pound spent there is a bigger proportion going to management. Rents are also far higher. Some associations look enviously at North Ayrshire rent levels, but they should never try to emulate this because it is not possible for them to do so. It is not a criticism of them, but a fact". A ballot is expected early in 2006 for all tenants of Renfrewshire council. If a majority of tenants vote NO to housing stock transfer then it cannot go ahead
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Note - Quotes for N Ayrshire Councillors and East Ren councillors taken from Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald on 31/12/04 and East Renfrewshire press release 24/6/05.