Tenants of South Gloucestershire Council supported proposals to transfer their 7,900 homes to the newly formed Merlin Housing Society. The transfer, which is due to complete before March 2007, was supported by 64% of tenants in a ballot (on a turnout of 70%).
The Freedom of Information Commissioner upheld a complaint that Mid Devon Council should have provided a councillor with all the addresses of the dwellings effected by a proposed stock transfer, in the lead up to the tenants' ballot. The leader of the Liberal Democrat group had his request for the addresses rejected, on the grounds of data protection. The Commissioner decided the addresses should have been provided. The ballot produced a resounding 'No' vote.
Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust selected Barclays to fund the £153 million stock transfer of 7,300 homes from Aylesbury Vale Council in July. The package includes £10 million for developing 160 new homes.
Liverpool Council confirmed its planned meeting with government officials to discuss its claim for £135 million of the £182 million budget to support the transfer of its 18,000 homes to the tenant-led Liverpool Mutual Homes. It has been reported that David Hucker, who resigned as interim manager of the new association, was released from his contract after he compiled a report highlighting concerns about the business plan of Liverpool Mutual Homes.
Earlier in the month, in a response to the ODPM Select Committee's analysis of the Department's accounts, it was revealed that there had been no allocation last year from the budget of £182 million specifically set up to meet stock transfer gap funding needs.