Parish council hits out at housing transfer plan (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Parish council hits out at housing transfer plan
12:10pm Tuesday 6th December 2011 in News
Wroughton Parish Council has hit out against the proposal to transfer Swindon Council’s housing stock to a housing association.
Independent firm Electoral Reform Services is balloting tenants on an option to transfer all the properties to a new not-for-profit housing association.
If tenants vote yes, the council will dodge a £139.6m bill from the Government due to changes in how council housing is funded, and the housing association will have £70m extra over 10 years to spend on improvements to homes.
But the parish council has passed a motion stating opposition to the transfer, especially when it said the council would be able to keep all tenants’ rents from April 2012 if it keeps control of stock, rather than losing some to the Government – and so be able to pay off the £139.6m in a few years anyway.
John Newman, the chairman of the planning committee, stressed as an individual he would like to see tenants vote no to the transfer. He said: “Really our opposition comes from the fact that public assets are being sold off cheap. Many of us, including myself, who were born and bred in Wroughton, can remember the erection of some of the council housing in Wroughton.
“These were argued for and maintained at public expense for some considerable time. Now we have the remainder of council housing in Wroughton, which is still in council ownership, being sold off to a housing association, which is not a public body.”
Mr Newman, who said there are about 290 council houses, maisonettes and flats in the parish, claimed that tenants would be less secure and have less political control under a housing association.
He said: “The main principle, whatever the desires of the housing association, is they’re responsible as a business and they run themselves as such and they aren’t responsible directly to the community at all.
“Whatever you think of Swindon Borough Council and the other representative bodies involved in Swindon, the fact is they are elected and up until this point they have been responsible for the maintenance of public assets.”
Mr Newman stressed that the council tenants will have to fund the decision whatever the outcome, but if they stay with the council, there would be about £9m per year generated in rent, which would be kept.
The ballot ends on December 30. Tenants and leaseholders can get advice from independent advisor DWA on 0800 0855 492 or by emailing info@dwa-housingconsultants.co.uk or writing to Freepost SWC5119, Telford, TF8 7ZA. For details about the vote, call 01793 465996 or email getinvolved@swindon.gov.uk.
Comments(28)
house on the hill
says...
1:36pm Tue 6 Dec 11
With over 10,000 on the waiting list in Swindon, to have tenants earning over £25,000 a year still in social housing is scandelous, even more so when you realise some even work for the Council!
Voting yes is the better option for both tenants and the taxpayer and social housing and the rest of the taxpayer funded welfare state should be based on need not choice. Move to a housing association and use the savings to inject much needed funds into housing to repair and update the many houses in serious need. Then move out all those who can clearly afford to fund their own lives and give a chance to those who cant to try and build a life and a home for themsleves and keep politics out of it.
itsamess
says...
5:07pm Tue 6 Dec 11
The principles behind social housing have not really changed--you seem to forget it is not and never has been particularly for the poorer souls--more a case of a home for those who need housing to raise a family and if possible move onto buying a house.
There are families who have lived in such housing all their lives and their offspring have gone on to buy their own property.
Council tenants are very ordinary folk and the majority are proud of their homes.
Robfm
says...
5:52pm Tue 6 Dec 11
itsamess
says...
6:52pm Tue 6 Dec 11
house on the hill
says...
8:31am Wed 7 Dec 11
Itsamess I dont dispute that there are many nice houseproud council tenants, my concern is taht there are hose on nice incomes paying subsidsed rent who could easily afford to move out while other more deserving and in need families struggle in temporary accommodation or B & B's because there are so few that become available. Social housing should be about the most needy in society and not a cheap option for those on £25k a year or even more in some cases. The welfare state will bankrupt this country if someone doesnt start understanding the difference between want and need. We are on the brink of the country collapsing and if those who can pay their way dont, we will be heading down the toilet.
The problem with today's society is that eveyone knows their rights, but no one knows or cares about thier responsibilities, it just me me me from the very top to the very bottom.
Robfm
says...
8:33am Wed 7 Dec 11
itsamess
says...
8:55am Wed 7 Dec 11
Another of your very ridiculous claims.
If you actually learned how to read documents correctly--or folks comments you may even learn some basic facts.
The only people entitled to vote are the tenants--they will decide--not you or i--the tenants.
Likewise the right to buy does transfer over to existing tenants. The tenants have been fully advised as to all the changes and it is up to them if they take the vote or not--no vote--no transfer.
I have an opinion as to the choice and a totally unbiassed opinion as i have no political motives.
Clearly there is a very political campaign running which merely confuses the facts.
Robfm
says...
10:12am Wed 7 Dec 11
There was also no explanation of the differences in the documents given to tenants. A deliberate omission.
And as far as the tenants being the only ones allowed to vote, that of course was wrong also, we as Swindon rate payers own the assets SBC want to give away a a tiny fraction of their real value. They are not SBC's to sell off.
house on the hill
says...
2:14pm Wed 7 Dec 11
Agree that not sure why they were given the exclusive vote, not just for your point, but why if they get it havent other projects been handled the same way. I easnt asked to vote on whether 200 houses were built outside my back door, ruining my view and peace and quiet and making my commute to work even more of a nightmare or asked where the money from the sale of the Brunel complex went as I surely wouldnt have said into the gold plated pension scheme of the public sector!! So why just them? Answer, so that the council takes no blame if tenants dont like the outcome either way, they have covered their **** as usual!
A complete farce
itsamess
says...
2:46pm Wed 7 Dec 11
You will not convince bob as he is the foremost expert on public matters. Of course his reading skills leave a lot to be desired.
The changes in tenancy rules are explained in the documents sent out to tenants who retain the right to buy.
If transferred new tenants thereafter come under a new scheme which in fact would lessen the discount available as valuation rules change.
The sole reason why tenants only get the vote has been explained numerous times to bob which he does not accept.
Simply the housing account is not tied to the general fund--therefore all rents are used to support only council housing. In other words none of our Council tax or general funding goes to housing and the Housing fund cannot be used for any other purpose.
Yes you remember well the Brunel centre sale with all the promises of the people of swindon deciding what that windfall would be spent on. Then there was none as it was used to pay WCCs pension fund deficit.
house on the hill
says...
9:26pm Wed 7 Dec 11
itsamess
says...
10:29pm Wed 7 Dec 11
I most certainly do not work for the Council in any capacity. I do not know if a housing officer who is a tenant could have a conflict of interest
or not. Personally i would have thought that their experience would be valuable in advising tenants from both sides--if he was a councillor that would be different as they hold active political views.
You confuse the benefits system as that is paid from general taxation. That is like saying you should not pay NI as you have never been ill.
The Govt takes a high percentage of the revenue from housing--the rest is held in the Councils housing account which can only be used for housing.
Local taxation (Council Tax) pays for the services you get from the Council. None of which can be used for housing. Hence why the tenants alone have the right to choose who they choose as their landlord.
Common sense should tell you that non council tenants paying rents or mortgage would be biassed purely because council rents are economical.
It does not follow that council tenants are 50% on benefits. I am sure you will accept that even private housing has one or two residents in receipt of one of the many benefits. A recent article on here with multiple bed sits all being paid for out of general taxes-not local taxes. Do you complain of that? Guess not.
Robfm
says...
9:19am Thu 8 Dec 11
The rules are not the same for HA and CH sell off, the major and very important differences are the qualification times, and repayment of discounts.
A council house tenant has to have been in Public housing for a total of 5 years at the time of transfer to qualify for the RTA, whereas as a Council tenant there is no qualifying period.
A HA tenant has to repay any discounts for up to 5 years if they wish to sell on the house. A council tenant does not. The council tenant merely has to give the LA the right to buy back at market value for up to 10 years.
They are two major differences that should have been explained.
itsamess
says...
10:49am Thu 8 Dec 11
Do read all the information as it is very clear.
Robfm
says...
11:17am Thu 8 Dec 11
If I am wrong state why, not your usual waffle.
itsamess
says...
11:33am Thu 8 Dec 11
You do seem to have a problem in that area.
Robfm
says...
12:01pm Thu 8 Dec 11
itsamess
says...
12:18pm Thu 8 Dec 11
I Too
says...
3:06pm Thu 8 Dec 11
9:19am Thu 8 Dec 11
House Walter is an expert on everything from gardening to rocket science.
That must disappoint you then because you think YOU are expert on everything from gardening to rocket science.
You are actually just
The Bored Barman
Robfm
says...
5:19pm Thu 8 Dec 11
Now if I am wrong state where I am and your source.
itsamess
says...
7:35pm Thu 8 Dec 11
When will you learn to accept what you have been told.
The Council documents are very clear to the tenants to the effect the RTB is transferred to existing tenants only. New tenants taken on will have the new arrangements.
The RTB since its introduction has only minor changes and set in law.
That law is readily available via the internet and as you are a self proclaimed expert you should be able to understand it--however as with all things you are only interested in political denegration of councillors as you believe you should be as you know far more than they do--clearly you do not and you cannot get elected
purely and simply through your bullish and arrogant attitude
I Too
says...
8:48pm Thu 8 Dec 11
Mostly because of his attitude, as you say.
His ego means that he will readily make enemies of people that may have (very briefly) given him the benefit of the doubt.
He will continue to swamp these threads with his insistance of being an expert on virtually everything.
He'll continue to block out opportunities for others to have light conversations and exchange ideas in preference to his misguided self worship
He'll never admit to being wrong
He won't accept that nobody cares what he thinks, otherwise he would have nothing else to do.
He is The Bored Barman
Robfm
says...
6:11am Fri 9 Dec 11
Fact: Qualifying for RTB Council simple occupancy as tenant.
Fact: Qualifying for RTA as HA Tenant; 5 years in public housing at time of transfer.
Now prove me wrong.
itsamess
says...
10:20am Fri 9 Dec 11
Robfm
says...
10:39am Fri 9 Dec 11
To keep maintaining a position faced with a Government website with the rules applicable to both scenarios, showing I am correct, re-enforces the view of the fantasist you are.
itsamess
says...
1:31pm Fri 9 Dec 11
Read the LGFAs--thats the law--not yours.
I Too
says...
5:58pm Fri 9 Dec 11
itsamess wrote:He's not barmy.
If you are stupid enough to believe a council tenant can take up occupancy one day and buy it the next day--you are barmy.
He's arrogant.
He's bilious
He's persistantly nauseating
He's tedious
He's unelectable
He's overly opinionated
He's dull
He's......... The Bored Barman
fatman says...
12:53pm Tue 6 Dec 11