TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are being urged to press on with plans to ballot council tenants on the transfer of their homes to a registered social landlord.
But members of the council’s executive board have been warned that if tenants reject the transfer, the council will face a deteriorating situation with regard to its housing revenue account and its ability to
continue to invest in its 10,000 council homes.
This could result in tenants facing a declining service.
It could also leave the council facing a £285,000 bill – the cost of the pre-ballot process.
Council houses in Warrington are currently managed by Golden Gates Housing – an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO).
The idea – already approved by the council – is to convert Golden Gates Housing into a registered social landlord – in effect leaving the properties to be managed by the same team as currently does the job.
Total cost of consultation prior to the ballot, including consultants’ fees, etc, is put at £660,000.
If tenants voted against the scheme, council officers say there would be a significant risk to the well-being of tenants due to the council’s inability to meet its obligations with regard to both revenue and capital investment.
“This would inevitably lead to the deterioration of the services to tenants and the quality of their homes,” said a report to go to the executive board next week.
