Macclesfield
Council's tenants voted in favour of transferring their 5,000 homes to the newly formed Cheshire Peaks & Plains Housing Trust (62% in favour; 77%
turnout). The move will open the way to a long-term programme worth more than £155 million for repairs and improvements.
Almost 60%
of Sedgefield BC tenants rejected a proposal to transfer their homes to nearby Sunderland Housing Group. A bitterly fought campaign in the Prime
Minister's constituency saw a turnout of 73%. Ironically, this was over 10% more than the turnout that contested Mr Blair's seat at the
last General Election.
Sunderland Housing Group was set up to take over Sunderland Council's housing in 2000. The Housing Corporation
cleared the Group, which was accused of irregularities in the way it valued homes earmarked for demolition shortly after the transfer, of all
charges.
Tenants of Sefton Council rejected stock transfer proposals in a ballot that produced a no-vote of 55% on a turnout of 68.2%.
The Council now needs an alternative strategy to find the £67 million still required to meet the Decent Homes Standard for its 12,400 dwellings
by the 2010 target.
Some 900 Teesdale Council tenants voted in favour of transferring their homes to Teesdale HA (88% in favour; turnout
of 80%).
Liverpool Council announced it was planning to transfer its remaining 19,000 dwellings to a new tenant-controlled housing
association. Under the proposals, eight of the association's 15 board members would be tenants. The housing stock would be divided into five units
for day-to-day management and each of these would have its own board with a tenant majority membership. The majority of the homes for transfer are in
central areas of Liverpool. The tenant ballot is expected to take place in 2006.
Scotland
The transfer of
its remaining 402 dwellings to Sanctuary Scotland HA marked the official end of Scottish Homes. The Glasgow homes were the last to be transferred
from the Agency, which has been replaced by Communities Scotland.
Wales
Newtown HA agreed to transfer its
housing stock to Mid-Wales HA. The transfer will help to resolve the financial problems that have led to essential repairs being
delayed.
