Council housing ‘NO’ vote a victory for local democracy
21 February 2007
"A victory for local democracy" is the Green Party’s response to the overwhelming decision by Brighton and Hove's council tenants to turn down the transfer of their homes to a housing association.
Tenants voted 77%* against plans to transfer the city's 13,000 council dwellings to social housing out of council control.
"By voting “NO” tenants have defeated the ramshackle coalition of government ministers, senior civil servants and local Labour and Conservative councillors who were determined to end council housing in Brighton and Hove," said Green Party Housing Spokesperson Councillor Bill Randall (pictured below).
"The proposed transfer was part of a wider New Labour plan to get council housing off the government’s books and was never asked for by the tenants in the first place," he added.
"A huge amount of money has been wasted on this exercise, much of it on a mixed ability group of expensive consultants. It would have been better spent on repairs and maintenance.
"The Green Party will continue to lobby with others for a fair deal for the city’s council tenants, which should include an immediate reorganisation of the housing management service.
"Furthermore, we urge the government to make money available to the council to carry out the repairs and improvements needed. This could be a first test for Gordon Brown as Prime Minister.
"Let’s see if he really cares about public and social housing and the people who live in it."
Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Geoffrey Bowden Green Party Press Officer on 07958 682 683.Result - courtesy of the Electoral Reform Society
*Ballot question
Are you in favour of the proposal to transfer the ownership and management of the council's homes to Brighton & Hove City Housing?
Tenants
total eligible to vote 14,027
votes received 9,761
participation rate 62.4%
Number voting yes 2,014 (23%)
Number voting no 6,730 (77%)
Leaseholders (indicative vote only)
Yes 594 (44.8%)
No 732 ((55.2%)
[ENDS]
