Housing services are under review (From Gazette Series)

Housing services are under review

THE FALL-OUT from the Stroud District Council tenants' ballot has sparked a review of housing services as the council tries to save more than £12 million pounds.

Cabinet member for housing Cllr John Jeffreys (Con, Nailsworth) confirmed that the authority is already looking at ways of managing its budget now that tenants have rejected a homes transfer to the proposed Hill and Vale Housing Association.

Cllr Jeffreys said: "We are required by government to meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2010. We are currently having a review of our services to see how that can best be done, as we must find savings of £12.75 million over the next five years."

To cut costs the council is likely to have to provide a more basic housing service than it has been doing and job cuts could also be an option.

Cllr Jeffreys added: "The one thing the ballot did not give us was a solution to our problem. The no campaigners did not offer a solution.

"The opposition has cost the district £600,000 by campaigning for the no vote as that is the cost of going through the whole process again.

"We are already in contact with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in terms of setting up the process for another vote in two years time."

Reports will be made to cabinet at the March and June meetings to give updates on how the review is progressing.