The ruling Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly County Borough Council has pledged to drive up housing standards after tenants voted not to transfer to a housing association.
Tenants were voting on a proposal for the homes to transfer to the new, not-for-profit, Community Housing Mutual, Castell Mynydd.
In the secret ballot, 66.7% of tenants voted, 65.2% were against and 34.8% in favour of the transfer proposal.
Councillor Lyn Ackerman, Caerphilly Council cabinet member for public services and housing, has said an action plan will now be drawn up to meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).
She said: “Our tenants have spoken and voted decisively to stay with the council. I’d like to thank everyone that took part in the process for their work, including the tenants’ panel and shadow Castell Mynydd board. It was important that tenants were given an opportunity to make their views known and now we must now strive to improve our housing stock.
“It is important that we prepare an action plan which sets out clearly the processes for meeting the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) by 2019/20. That has to be the top priority following the ballot result.
“The ballot vote indicates tenants feel very comfortable in allowing the council to have the responsibility for delivering the WHQS in seven years’ time and that can be achieved with our excellent housing staff.”
Voting on the plan to transfer the council’s 10,980 houses had been due to take place in November 2011 but was delayed.
In October 2011, Caerphilly County Borough Council revealed that it could match the £173 million needed to upgrade and maintain its properties to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.
It had previously stated the only way to get the housing to the WHQS was to transfer the stock to a new social landlord to release Government funding.
The revelation that the council could afford the changes to its homes was forced by Labour councillors.
On Friday, Councillor Gerald Jones, Labour’s deputy leader and spokesman for finance, told Caerphilly Observer the extra information that was revealed was crucial in the final outcome.
He said: “Up to as late as October, all of the information going out to tenants, in my opinion, was very one-sided and all about what the registered social landlord could provide. Tenants were under the impression that the council couldn’t meet the WHQS.
“It was really important to get that additional information into the public domain.
“The tenants have had their say and their voice has been heard loud and clear.”
Nick Bennett, group chief executive of Community Housing Cymru, which represents over 70 not-for-profit housing associations and community mutuals in Wales, voiced disappointment at the vote.
He said: “We are disappointed with the news that the council tenants of Caerphilly have voted against transferring their homes to Castell Mynydd. Although the council believe they have the ability to upgrade and maintain their housing stock to the welsh housing quality standards, this wouldn’t be achieved until 2019/20. Castell Mynydd could have reached the standard by 2017/18.
“Within its investment programme, Castell Mynydd had budgeted to spend £13million by 2017/18 on environmental improvements and estate maintenance. Caerphilly Council will also spend £13 million but again this period extends to 2019/20. Why should tenants have to wait an additional two years just to have a home that is safe, secure and energy efficient on an estate that has been maintained and has seen investment?”
“There is also the issue of local job creation to consider – if tenants voted yes, there would have been job opportunities for people to undertake work associated with the works programme and Castell Mynydd would have used a range of social clauses in contracts to create more jobs and employment opportunities for local people.”
If tenants have any questions they can contact the Council’s Freephone Information line on 0800 141 2834. Or they can ring the Independent Adviser, PS Consultants, on Freephone 0800 088 4194.