Tenants back transfer plan

Release date: 27.11.07
Ref: BBC/PR/ENV/41/07

Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council tenants have voted in favour of transferring the ownership and management of their homes to Berwick Borough Housing.

In a secret ballot of postal votes, 78.8 per cent of tenants voted in favour of transferring from the Council to Berwick Borough Housing. Only 21.2 per cent voted no. Overall, there was a 72.2 per cent turnout.

The result of the ballot, carried out by the independent organisation Electoral Reform Services, was announced on Friday, 23 November.

The vote means the Council’s homes are on course to transfer next year, unlocking the promised multi-million pound investment programme for homes and services.

Council Leader, Cllr Isabel Hunter said:
“The Council has believed from day one that any decision to transfer should entirely rest with the tenants. This ‘yes’ vote shows that tenants have listened to the proposals and made an informed decision to transfer.

“We are delighted with the result. The Council has worked hard to give tenants the standard of homes they want to see. With the vote to transfer, the money will be available for the repairs and modernisation the homes need to bring them up to the standards tenants deserve and keep them that way in the future.

“The Council will now continue to work hard to ensure a smooth transfer to Berwick Borough Housing,” she said.

The transfer will mean tenants’ key rights and entitlements will be protected and they will have a bigger say in how their homes and housing service are run, with tenants and leaseholders holding 1/3 of the seats on Berwick Borough Housing’s Board of Management.

Chair of Berwick Borough Housing, David Stewart said:
“We are delighted that tenants have voted to transfer. But now the hard work really begins. The next few months will be spent preparing to ensure everything is in place for when the transfer takes place next year.

“Tenants should be congratulated for taking such a momentous decision. Now it is up to everyone at Berwick Borough Housing to deliver the brighter future tenants voted for. I also want to reassure those tenants who were opposed to the plans that we are fully committed to working with all tenants to secure a better future, regardless of their views about the transfer,” he said.

Berwick Borough Housing will form a new housing group with Three Rivers Housing Association.

Chair of Three Rivers Peter Gavin said:
“We are delighted with the outcome and that the excellent partnership we have built up with the team at Berwick over the last few months will now continue as we build the new housing group together.

“Berwick Borough Housing will make a significant investment into homes and services that have been promised to Berwick’s tenants and our role will be to help set up the new group and deliver and improve services to them,” he said.