Unions to back council housing 'Fourth Option' » Housing » 24dash.com

The 'Fourth Option' of direct investment in council housing will be high on the agenda when the 2007 Trade Union Congress kicks off in Brighton today.

Britain’s two biggest unions – Unite and UNISON - have both submitted motions demanding a change in government policy to enable local authorities to improve existing and build new first council homes.

Gordon Brown faced sharp questioning on the ‘Fourth Option’ at a number of union conferences earlier this summer and it is likely to be raised with him again when he addresses Congress.

The demand for the ‘Fourth Option’ has been backed by most trade unions representing public and private sector workers.

Many trade unionists see investment in first public housing as the obvious solution to their own housing needs and as the only realistic way that their grown up children will ever get a home of their own.

The 'Fourth Option' campaign, however, appeared to have suffered a setback last week when housing minister Yvette Cooper wrote to the London Borough of Camden ruling out direct investment in council stock as a solution to its housing crisis.

In her letter to Camden council leader Keith Moffitt, she reiterated current Government policy that all councils must either opt to transfer homes out of council control or deliver decent homes from the resources they have available.

She also stated that plans for increasing resources for new social housing will mean 'no extra resources' for councils to deliver decent homes.

But Alan Walter, Chair of Defend Council Housing, remained upbeat about the 'Fourth Option' campaign.

“Ministers always sound bullish about sticking to their guns – that is until they announce a U-turn," he told 24dash.com.

“No one can pretend that we are not making progress with the demand for the ‘Fourth Option’ – the Government’s own Housing Green Paper explicitly discusses all the key changes to housing finance we are demanding and chooses to specifically ask for comments on these issues.

"And most people recognise that if they make concessions on building new council housing they will have to change the rules on maintaining council homes too.

“If Ministers were really confident about dismissing the ‘Fourth Option’ they would have avoided addressing our demands at all costs.

“It’s also highly significant that they have also just published a separate consultation paper proposing to drop or delay forcing up council rents – it’s another sign that our campaign is having an impact.

“Camden’s elected councillors have a clear political choice: stand with tenants to win a secure future for council housing or roll over to curry favour with government.”

Defend Council Housing is holding a fringe meeting at the TUC Confernece tomorrow lunchtime at the Quality Hotel, Brighton.

Speakers include trade union leaders Jack Dromey (Unite-T&G), Heather Wakefield (UNISON) and Gail Cartmail (Unite-Amicus) joining DCH chair Alan Walter.

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