The two political parties which make up Caerphilly County Borough Council have locked horns in a row over the proposed housing stock transfer.
Opposition Labour councillors have been accused of trying to frustrate plans to give council tenants a vote on whether to transfer their homes to a new social landlord and out of the council’s control.
Last week, councillors met to discuss and agree on an offer document for residents outlining the benefits of a transfer to housing association Castell Mynydd.
Councillor Allan Pritchard, Plaid Cymru leader of Caerphilly Council, said: “They tried to frustrate democracy by delaying a vote of tenants on whether or not to transfer our houses to a social landlord.
“Council tenant panel representatives who were present at the meeting were furious with the blocking tactics of the Labour members and felt that their views and recommendations were being ignored. Many of them openly expressed their feelings of anger and frustration towards the Labour benches.
“It appears that tenants are keen to make a decision with a vote probably taking place later this year. Any further delay would have probably pushed back the vote until after the council elections next year and left tenants in limbo. ”
Cllr Harry Andrews, leader of the Labour group on Caerphilly Council, hit back.
He said: “These accusations by Plaid Cymru are a smokescreen for their unwillingness to give tenants all the facts and show how out of touch they are with the mood of tenants across the Borough. Whilst we respect the views of the 12 or so tenants at the meeting, there are over 12,000 tenants entitled to vote and they all deserve all the facts.”
Deputy Labour leader and finance spokesman, Cllr Gerald Jones added: “It became clear during the debate that the Council could meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard in 2019, just two years after the proposed new registered social landlord. Labour members asked for a report detailing how this would be achieved so that tenants would have the full facts before they were asked to vote.
“Plaid Cymru also seem to suggest that if the council retain the stock, this would mean higher rents, this is not the case, the guidelines for rents are set by the Welsh Assembly and would be same whether under the council or a new landlord.”
Plaid Cymru’s Cllr Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for public services and housing, said: “We want tenants to make an informed choice about the future of their homes so are providing them with the full details.
“Sadly, Labour adopted a policy of opposition for the sake of it – regardless of the merits of the issue.”
Many other Welsh authorities have already transferred their housing stock to a new social landlord in a bid to unlock funding to improve them.
The council has estimated that it would need to find £116.4m over the next 30 years for its 10,980 properties to meet the Welsh housing quality standard (WHQS).
The offer document (see below) states that Castell Mynydd could bring all homes up to the standard by 2017, spending £173 million in the first five years.
In addition to this, £13 million would go on improving estates, £26 million on improving insulation in 2,300 properties and £150,000 would be budgeted for tenants to get involved in decision-making.
£9.9 million will be spent on fences, gates and paths, £6.5 million for roofing and £8.2 million for dealing with asbestos.
The new social landlord would be run by a board of 15 people comprising of five elected tenants, five people appointed by the council and five independent people.
Voting is set to take place over a four week period in November this year after the offer document was approved by councillors. If tenants vote in favour, the transfer will happen by the end of 2012.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s proposal to transfer its homes to Castell Mynydd