Sefton MBC announced an unprecedented second tenant ballot on stock transfer plans, just a few months after tenants rejected the proposal.
The move follows allegations that the first ballot was the subject of unfair actions by anti-transfer activists. It was also reported that the Council is considering the use of injunctions to prevent the spreading of misleading information in a second ballot process.
Tower Hamlets Council commissioned a team of market researchers to establish why the tenants on four estates rejected proposals to transfer to housing associations. Tenants voted against stock transfer on the Council's Lincoln, Riverside, Royal Mint, and Wapping estates, leaving a £47 million shortfall in the budget for meeting the Decent Homes Standard.
Mid-Wales HA aborted plans to take over the housing stock of Newtown HA after learning the Welsh Assembly had refused its application for £4.2 million funding. Although Mid-Wales had planned to invest £7 million of its own money, the programme also needed the additional money from the Assembly.
Newtown HA was the first association in Wales to be put under statutory investigation - in Autumn 2002. The transfer of its homes is necessary because it cannot afford to bring them up to the Welsh housing quality standard. The homes will now transfer to the runner-up in the original selection process - Newydd HA - which will receive £500,000 from the Assembly.