24 January 2008

Tenants meet to learn more about Council housing transfer proposals

Council tenants will have the opportunity to learn more about Gwynedd Council’s housing stock transfer proposals in two special meetings to be held at Ysgol y Felinheli at 7pm on Tuesday, 27 January, and at Ysgol Maesincla, Caernarfon on Wednesday, 28 January from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Under the proposals, ownership and management of Council homes would be transferred to Gwynedd Community Homes, a not for profit housing organisation, set-up with the help of the Council. 

Tenants have already received the formal Offer Document detailing the proposals and are asked to return their views on it by 16 February. Following this consultation process a ballot will be held and only then, if the majority of tenants who vote, vote in favour can transfer go ahead.

Councillor Sian Gwellian, who represents the Felinheli ward on Gwynedd Council and who called the special meeting was eager for tenants to have the opportunity to question officers about the process and what transfer would mean. She said: “I am keen that residents in my ward understand the Council’s proposal to transfer its housing stock and that tenants have the full facts on what is being put to them before the ballot takes place this spring, so I would urge people to attend the meeting on 27 January. The offer document already sets out details of how rights are protected - this is an opportunity to find out more.”

Councillor Huw Edwards, who represents the Cadnant ward in Caernarfon on Gwynedd Council added: “I would urge tenants in the Cadnant ward to come along to this meeting which will be held at Ysgol Maesincla on Wednesday, 28 January. There will be an opportunity for them to ask questions and receive full answers, so that they can make a decision based on facts.”

Ffrancon Williams, Head of the Housing Ballot Project Team who will also attend, said: “It is essential that Council tenants have all the information before they make-up their minds, and we also want to hear their views. Tenants are our priority in this matter so we are keen to ensure a comprehensive consultation with them.”

A meeting for Felinheli tenants will be held at Ysgol y Felinheli on Tuesday evening, 27 January from 7pm; and a meeting for Cadnant ward members will be held at Ysgol Maesincla, Caernarfon on Wednesday, 28 January from 6pm to 7.30pm.

For further information on the proposals for the transfer of housing stock tenants can contact:

• The Council’s freephone information line on 0800 0304653

• Gwynedd Tenants’ Commission on 01286 889121 for Welsh language speakers, 01286 889110 for English language speakers and email gwyneddtc@yahoo.com

• Independent Tenant Adviser PS Consultants, on freephone 0800 0194004 for Welsh speakers, on freephone 0800 0852 207 for English speakers.

The Welsh Assembly Government currently requires all councils in Wales to bring their homes up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) which means homes should be in a good state of repair, safe and secure as well as have modern kitchens and bathrooms. For several weeks the Council has opened show homes and run a mobile show home exhibition at various locations across Gwynedd so that tenants can see for themselves what is proposed as well as what to expect under the WHQS.

Council tenants to consider Offer Document

Gwynedd Council tenants will receive a formal Offer Document this week detailing Council proposals to transfer its housing stock to Gwynedd Community Homes. This is the latest step in the consultation with tenants on the future of their homes.

Each secure and introductory tenant will receive a copy of the document and have the opportunity to express their views on its content. It sets out full details of how their rights would be protected as well as the assurance that rents would not rise any more than they would if their homes stayed with the Council. Following the consultation process a ballot will be held and only then, if the majority of tenants who vote, vote in favour can transfer go ahead.

The Welsh Assembly Government requires all councils in Wales to bring their homes up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) which means homes should be in a good state of repair, be safe and secure as well as have modern kitchens and bathrooms. Only a very small number of Gwynedd’s housing stock currently reach this standard.

An independent survey recently showed that the Council needs to spend £136 million on its homes in the next five years. Without the transfer to Gwynedd Community Homes it estimates that only £55 million will be available to it to make improvements – a deficit of £81 million.

Gwynedd Council does not have the resources to make necessary improvements and believes that transfer to a new not-for-profit housing organisation would be the best way forward.

Councillor John Wyn Williams, Gwynedd Council’s Senior Portfolio Leader for Care said:

“Our homes need to be substantially improved in order to reach the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. But the money is not available to us due to strict government rules which prevent us as a local authority from borrowing all the money needed.

“Gwynedd Community Homes, however, would be governed by different rules and would be able to borrow the money to invest in homes so that they reach the Welsh Assembly Government’s standards.”

For several weeks the Council has opened show homes and run a mobile show home exhibition at various locations across Gwynedd so that tenants can see for themselves what is proposed as well as what to expect under the WHQS. Further show homes will continue to open until the end of the consultation period on 14 February.

For further information on the housing transfer proposals and the show home exhibition programme, tenants can contact:

- The Council’s freephone information line on 0800 0304653

- Gwynedd Tenants’ Commission on 01286 889121 for Welsh language speakers,  01286 889110 for English language speakers and email: gwyneddtc@yahoo.com

- Independent Tenant Adviser PS Consultants, on freephone 0800 0194004 for Welsh speakers, on freephone 0800 0852 207 for English speakers.

PHOTOGRAPH:

1 – Tesni Hughes and Ffrancon Williams from the Housing Ballot Project Team with James Merrigan (centre) from Pwllheli visiting a WHQS showhome in the town