The Clitheroe ^^Thufsd^yitAugust 4th, 2005


vertiser an imes


Major shake-up plan for council tenants?


By Duncan Smith


TENANTS in council houses and flats across the Ribble Valley could have a new landlord, but only if they


agree. Later this month, the council will con­


sider options for the future of its entire housing stock, just short of 1,200 proper­ ties. The most likely outcome is that it will


transfer that stock out of council owner­ ship to a “ Registered Social Landlord” (RSL) - an independent housing organi­ sation registered with the Housing Corpo­ ration under the Housing Act 1996. The crucial decision on the future of


council housing in the Ribble Valley will be taken at a special meeting of the full council on August 23rd, but the final deci­ sion will rest with council tenants. If the council decides to transfer its


housing stock, as seems likely, that deci­ sion will set the ball rolling on an 18- month process of planning, negotiations and consultation, culminating in a ten­ ants’ ballot. Every tenant of a council property will


have the chance to vote and the transfer wll only go ahead if more than half cast a vote and more than halt of those who vote are in favour. But much still rests on what councillors


decide on August 23rd. Chairman of the Housing Committee, Coun. Joyce Hol-


gate, said this week: “ It is one of the most important and difficult decisions that Ribble Valley will ever have to make, and it has to be the right decision.” Ribble Valley is not alone in considering


tbe future of its housing, as local authori­ ties across the country grapple with the same issue. By 2010 all council housing must meet the Government’s “Decent Homes Standard” . To do so it must be in good repair, have modern facilities and services and be energy-efficient. The Government has told councils to


prepare detailed plans showing how they will meet the standard, including options for the future management of council- owned property. Those options include: ® Retaining council housing and bring­


ing it up to the new standard ©Transferring housing stock to an ELS,


.which must meet the standard # Setting up an “arms length manage­


ment association” (ALMO), which must also meet the standard © Entering into a Private Finance Ini­


tiative with a private sector partner. Ribble Valley began looking at those


options almost two years ago, in October 2003, setting up a panel of tenants, coun­ cillors and officers to work through a set housing stock options process. It included training by specialist con­


sultants, a survey of tenants, newsletters, an information day and 21 roadshows around the borough. It also established a “Tenants’ Jury” ,


which, in October 2004, voted 14 to two in favour of the housing transfer. The council’s housing manager, Mrs


Christine Grimshaw, said the jury felt it was financially the best way forward for tenants, helping secure the sustainability of social housing for the future. She explained that the only money the


council could spend on its housing was the rent from tenants, and it must pay a pro­ portion of that income to the Government - currently around £500,000 per year. That means it would be impossible to


meet the new Decent Homes Standard by the 2010 deadline without significant rent rises. However, an RSL, such as a Housing


Association, could keep all the money from its rents and use that income to bor­ row on the money markets. It would have more money to invest in the property without raising rents. In fact, restrictions would be imposed to ensure that rents would not rise above the levels they would


Junior broadcaster takes to the air 4 ^ " ^ - ■ ■


IS Pendle Primary


School pupil Morgan


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youngest amateur radio


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9 For full story, see page 24


(A14070,’5/2)


Police issue warning over


car thieves CAR thieves are targeting the Ribble Valley. Two Volkswagen Golf


saloon cars, valued at £15,500, and property worth more than £3,000 were stolen in midnight raids over the weekend. In the latest incident, a house­ holder awoke to find a bur­ glar in his home, en-route to the garage. Police believe one gang


may be behind the spate of thefts, which appear to have been centred on Lang- ho. Since the weekend thefts, Clitheroe Police Insp. Bob Ford has vowed to tackle the problem of criminals targeting homes and vehicles and has renewed his plea to home- owners to be extra vigilant. In the first incident,


thieves burgled a house in Whalley Road, Wilpshire. Between midnight and 6 a.m. on Saturday, they gained entry by forcing a window. They searched the premises before stealing a laptop computer, valued at £350, and the keys to a £7,000 black V-registered Volkswagen Golf GTI, in which they escaped. A day later, police found the vehi­ cle abandoned in Bolton. Between Saturday and


Sunday, thieves entered a detached house in Hawthorn Close, Langho.


V


H A N S O N # THE Garden Centre


Telephone 0 1 2 5 4 8 2 2 1 4 5


G a r d e n C e n t r e x ' / f And we do mean everything, furniture, barbeques, plants, pots, even compost.


in the beautiful Ribble Valley Whalley Road * Barrow ® Clitheroe


SALE STARTS SATURDAV 6th to SUNDAY 14th o f AUGUST Also look out for our new coffee shop coming soon.


HANSONS GARDEN CENTRE WHERE PLANTS MATTER g^dudes pet products, sheds, gas, existing in store promotions, and coffee shop


o p e n in g Times M on d a y - Saturday Sam - 6 pm Sundays 1 0 am - 4 pm


m Skiptftn


llo ckbum • O to Wholley W « «r» h»r«


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