Caerphilly County Borough Council has welcomed the challenge of managing its stock of social housing after tenants voted to stay with the local authority.
Tenants were voting on a proposal for the homes to transfer to the new, not-for-profit, Community Housing Mutual, Castell Mynydd.
Last week the council to take the first step in its seven year plan to improve its council housing stock.
After councillors voted formally for the council to retain its housing, officers addressed a packed council chamber with recommendations to set out a capital programme which will see a £170 million investment business plan for 13,300 council tenants to have their homes brought up to a Welsh Quality Housing Standard.
The programme of improvements is scheduled for completion in 2020.
There was a unanimous agreement for tenants to be involved in shaping how the programme.
Cllr Allan Pritchard, leader of the council, said: “During this process as leader of the authority I took the unprecedented step of remaining impartial in each of the debates held in the chamber regarding the matter. However, since the resounding tenants vote I feel I am able to express my wholehearted support for this decision to keep the council housing stock in the hands of the democratically elected representatives.”
Nigel Barnett, the council’s deputy chief executive complemented all the officers, councillors and tenants involved in the ballot process.
He said: “The real work starts today and as our tenants have said it is probably the most exciting and challenging time for council housing and we are delighted we were able to put a credible offer on the table to allow a real choice to be made.”
Over the coming months further reports will be brought forward to set out the details of the business process of making all council homes in the county borough meet WHQS.
Earlier this week opposition councillors on Caerphilly County Borough Council called for the local authority to create more job opportunities following the recent housing stock transfer ballot.
Labour councillors want the authority to review its procurement procedures ready for a planned upgrade of council homes.
Cllr Keith Reynolds, Labour deputy leader and HR spokesman said: “Following the decision of tenants to stay with the council, the council will now invest approx. £173million in council homes by 2019/20.
“This will mean lots of contracts for all manner of repairs. Labour councillors have asked for a review of procurement procedures to see what can be done to retain as much of this work as possible in the local area and help provide job opportunities for our young people.”