As concern grows over the future of council housing in the borough, Haringey Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for the Haringey Council to guarantee that all tenants will be balloted on the future of their homes. The party is also requesting that residents be allowed to vote on a fourth option, to maintain the status quo of having Haringey Council as landlord, an option the Lib Dems say could be denied to Haringey tenants.

Currently three options on the future of council housing in Haringey are available:

1) Stock transfer (e.g. to a Housing Associations)

2) PFI (Private Finance Initiative – long term contract awarded to private contractors to maintain & upgrade stock)

3) Arms Length Management Organisation – ALMO (council-run company which takes over the running and upgrading of the stock)

Lib Dems say that while there may be merit in alternative schemes, the Labour government is bullying councils such as Haringey into forcing change on reluctant local residents rather than allowing them to remain under local authority control. This is being done by withholding vital funding for council housing improvements -unless local authorities toe the Government line.

Leader of the Opposition Cllr Neil Williams says that Haringey Council must make a fourth option available along with clear and detailed information about the implications of choosing each of the options.

He is concerned that Haringey Council will not give tenants the right to a ballot, as was granted in neighbouring Islington and Camden councils. He also says that confidence in Haringey Council’s commitment to consult local residents is at rock bottom,following the council’s deliberate attempts, uncovered by the Lib Dems earlier in the year, to given tenants little notice of their own ‘roadshow’ designed to explain the issues.

Cllr Neil Williams comments:

“Yet again Haringey Council seems to be heading for a totally inadequate consultation of residents. Tenants must be allowed to choose their landlord, even if Haringey Council does not like the results – and that means a secret ballot and an option to remain under local authority control.

“Tenants also need to know the facts about the Labour Governments bullying tactics. If they have the facts they can make an informed choice and they have the right to expect the Council to support their decision.”