RESIDENTS are urged to give their views on changes to the borough’s council housing policy – which could see the end of tenants’ security for their homes.

The Swindon Labour group’s housing lead, Coun Steve Allsopp, has appealed to people, particularly those who want to one day live in a council home, to comment on the consultation on revising its housing allocation policy.

Coun Allsopp said he is opposed to the authority’s proposals to introduce ‘fixed-term tenancies’ for new council tenants, instead of the previous ‘secure tenancies’. This would mean that responsible council housing tenants would no longer have the certainty of being able to live in their homes until they wished to move.

Under the proposals people with children will be offered a period of 10 years, following a 12-month probationary period, and households without children five years.

It proposes a shake up of the people allowed to rent council houses – giving priority to people with a local connection to Swindon and households in work, training or volunteering. Some people who can afford to buy a home would be taken off the waiting list. There are currently 15,800 applicants registered for social housing in Swindon.

Coun Allsopp is also moving a motion at next Thursday’s full council meeting aimed at building 300 council homes a year in the town.

“For responsible future council house tenants, this will lead to uncertainty of their future accommodation and will lead to less cohesive and confident communities,” Coun Allsopp said about the tenancy changes, adding that the logic behind them was “fatally flawed”.

“Conservative councillors have said that these changes are designed to free up housing for those people who need it most, yet the best way to provide affordable housing for those who need it is through building more affordable homes. But the number of affordable homes constructed in Swindon each year has reduced to a third of what it was four years ago.”

He said Labour councillors were proposing at next week’s meeting to build 300 council homes a year to a meet the need in Swindon for affordable homes. He said building more was the only way the council could make an impact on the waiting list.

Richard Hurley, cabinet member for public protection, housing and streetsmart (delivery), said the average tenancy of eight years and the changes would help to relieve some of the waiting list.

“We want to ensure that there will be council houses for people who need them in the future and that the people who really need a council home, get one.

“We simply do not have the resources to house everyone on the housing waiting list so we must take a fresh look at how we prioritise those in the greatest need.

“I would really like to hear people’s views on the proposals before any changes are made.”

The consultation runs until Friday, November 15. Feedback can be given by emailing housing@swindon.gov.uk