TOWN Hall bosses are to hold a special meeting to decide the future of Warrington’s 8,800 council homes.
But a thorough appraisal of the options available seems to leave only one choice – transferring the properties to a registered social landlord.
Instead of transferring the houses to an existing social landlord, however, officers are recommending that the existing management organisation, Golden Gates Housing (GGH), be transformed to become a registered social landlord.
This will best meet the wishes of the housing options panel, which consists of tenants, borough council members and employees of Golden Gates Housing.
Members of the borough council’s executive board are to meet on Friday, November 28, to decide what course of action to take.
A stock condition survey has shown that for Warrington’s council houses to meet the Decent Homes Plus standard an average of £30,493 per dwelling – at today’s prices – would have to be spent over the next 30 years.
To meet the higher Modern standard, providing double glazing, modernised kitchens and bathrooms, etc, the cost would rise to £38,475 per dwelling.
Both figures are exclusive of fees, management administration costs and VAT.
The independent Housing Quality Network – comprising around 7,000 social landlords – says retaining Golden Gates Housing as an Arms Length Housing Management Organisation (ALMO) would provide no opportunity for money to meet even the basic Decent Homes Plus standard, nor meet Housing Revenue Account deficits.
A private finance initiative would not bring in the money and worsen Housing Revenue Account deficits – leaving a stock transfer as the only option capable of balancing the books.
Tenants will have to be balloted before the changes can be made.
But officers say if the council do not proceed there would be an increase in tenant dissatisfaction, progress made over the last five years would be undermined and maintaining Decent Homes or Modern standards would be “wholly out of reach.”
