Plymouth council tenants vote 'yes' to stock transfer » Housing » 24dash.com

Council tenants in Plymouth have voted in favour of transferring the ownership and management of their homes to Plymouth Community Homes.

In a secret ballot, 67.49 per cent of tenants voted in favour of transfer with 32.51 per cent voting no. Overall there was a 61.22 per cent turnout.

The result of the ballot, carried out by the independent organisation Electoral Reform Services, was announced today.

The vote means Plymouth City Council’s 15,000 homes are on course to transfer to Plymouth Community Homes late next year, subject to consent from the Secretary of State.

The ‘yes’ vote means Plymouth Community Homes will plan to spend £168 million on a programme of improvements for tenants’ homes in the first five years after transfer.

Tenants’ key rights and entitlements will be protected and tenants will have a bigger say in how their homes and housing services are run with a third of the seats on the management board of Plymouth Community Homes.

Councillor Peter Brookshaw, Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, Housing and Supporting People and Community Cohesion, said: “The yes vote shows that tenants have listened to the proposals and made an informed decision to transfer.

“We are delighted with the result, which means the money will be available for the repairs and modernisation tenants’ homes need to bring them up to the standards they deserve and to keep them that way in the future.

“The Council will now continue to work hard to ensure a smooth transfer to Plymouth Community Homes, which is expected to take place late 2009.”

Tenant Peter Ebsworth, Chair of Plymouth Community Homes, said: “We are delighted that tenants have voted in favour of the transfer.

“Now the hard work really begins. The coming months will be spent getting everything ready for when the transfer takes place next year.

“Tenants should be congratulated for taking such a momentous decision. Now it is up to Plymouth Community Homes to deliver the brighter future tenants voted for, continuing to work closely with tenants at every stage of the process.”