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South Northamptonshire Council’s proposal to transfer its housing to the newly-formed South Northants Homes, in a new group with Aragon and MacIntyre housing associations, has received the go ahead from tenants in a ballot following a major consultation exercise.
Electoral Reform Services, who conducted the vote, announced the result of the ballot of tenants as follows:
| Number of tenants voting: | [2764] | [ 72.6 ]% | |
| Of these | |||
| In favour of transfer: | [1580] | [ 57.2 ]% | |
| Against transfer: | [1182] | [ 42.8 ]% | |
South Northamptonshire Council Portfolio Holder for housing Cllr Mrs Mary Clarke, said: “The ballot result clearly demonstrates that the Council’s proposal has the support of a majority of tenants. Throughout the consultation exercise it was apparent that tenants were giving the whole issue a great deal of thought and on behalf of the Council I would like to thank them for voting in such large numbers. I would also like to thank the staff and tenants’ group who worked so hard to ensure that tenants knew the facts and understood the choice before them. This proposal has had support because people understand that the transfer will bring significant benefits to both existing and future tenants.”
Brian Reynolds, Vice-Chairman of South Northants Homes’ Board of Management, said: “On behalf of all of my colleagues on the Board, I would like to thank the tenants for the confidence they have placed in us. I can assure each and every tenant that we are determined to deliver all the promises contained in the Council’s formal offer document. We now have a real opportunity to work together with the Council, Aragon and tenants to create a better housing future.”
The Council must now meet to agree to proceed with the transfer and then get approval from the Secretary of State, for the transfer to take place. It is expected that the formal transfer will take place by early 2008. The transfer will bring a major injection of funding for repairs, modernisations and improvements to the homes and neighbourhoods, stable rents and the protection of tenants’ rights, with tenants at the heart of decision-making.
