Lambeth Council's housing service will be run by a non-profit organisation following the end of a controversial public ballot.
In one of the biggest public consultation exercises ever undertaken in the borough, council tenants and leaseholders were asked if they supported proposals to set up an Arms Length Management Organisation (Almo).
The Almo transfers management of council housing to a separate organisation which takes over responsibility for the day-to-day running of the housing service.
advertisement
A total of 8,385 tenants and leaseholders voted in the public ballot and 51 per cent supported to Almo, according to the independent Electoral Reform Service.
Lambeth Council will still own the homes and tenants will remain as council tenants with their rights and affordable rents protected.
Opponents to the scheme said they were given no warning of the ballot by the council and labelled it "devious and underhand".
The Labour-run council claim the Almo will draw in more than £200 million of Government funding to improve the standard of council-owned homes.
The non-profit organisation will be run by a board made up of tenants, leaseholders, independent people and council nominees.
It can tap into central government funding that is not available directly to the council.
The council said the additional investment would allow every home to be brought up to the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2013.
Councillor John Kazantzis, cabinet member for housing, said: "The Almo is the best way for delivering the standard of housing and services that local residents deserve while preserving council ownership of the properties and tenants' rights.
"In addition, it will give tenants and leaseholders far more say in the way their housing service is run, making this a real win-win situation.
"I thank all the residents who have shown their support for the Almo, and can assure them that their faith in the proposals will be rewarded by better quality homes and improved services that truly meet local needs."
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
