Consulting council tenants on transfer plans

Published by webmaster for Salisbury District Council in Communities

Salisbury District Council has launched a wide-ranging information and consultation exercise with council tenants. Feedback from the consultation will help the council to decide whether to go ahead with a tenants’ ballot on the proposed transfer of the council housing stock to a new independent social landlord, South Wiltshire Homes.

All tenants will be receiving a copy of the formal offer document explaining the reasons for the proposal.

Over the next few weeks members of the housing staff will try to call on every council tenant, including residents of the council’s sheltered housing schemes, to answer any questions they might have. There will also be a number of drop-in roadshows around the district to answer questions that anyone else may have.

Nadine Stanley, Tenant Participation Officer said; “The formal offer document is a comprehensive booklet covering every aspect of the proposal including rents, repairs, right to buy and how South Wiltshire Homes would manage the housing stock. By visiting every tenant in the district we would hope to be able to clarify anything they are unsure about so that they have all the information on which to base their decision when the time comes for the ballot.”

“Although the official tenants’ ballot would not take place until later this year, the formal offer document contains a reply slip asking people whether they are generally for or against the transfer or whether they want more information. The council will use tenants' comments on the formal offer document when it comes to make the decision on whether to go ahead with the ballot”.

Cllr John Cole-Morgan, Salisbury District Council portfolio holder for Community and Housing said; “It is important that tenants have as much information as possible so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not they want the council to proceed with the transfer plans.

“Information has already been available in special newsletters and on the council’s website and this is the next stage in the process.”

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Press release issued: September 4 2006