27 September 2002
Traditionally, ministers have remained neutral during the balloting process. But they are becoming increasingly frustrated at the effective campaigns being run by anti-transfer groups.
Responding to claims that the government was sending out 'mixed messages' after suggesting other ways that councils can raise money to spend on housing, Rooker stressed to the National Housing Federation's annual conference last week that government policy is to support stock transfer.
'I can't see why, as a minister, I'm required to stay neutral on ballot processes and transfer arrangements,' he told delegates in Birmingham, where tenants rejected the transfer of 94,000 homes to new landlords.
'We want to drive the stock transfer process forward and not be reactive to it,' he added. 'I'm going to be proactive and not be browbeaten by lawyers saying that I can't say one thing or another.'
Responding to Rooker's comments, NHF chair Richard McCarthy said: 'I look forward to seeing whether his off-the-cuff remarks are converted into government policy, but we should be proud of his support for housing associations.'
Stock transfer is seen as crucial to the government meeting its decent homes target by 2010. An estimated 1.1 million sub-standard homes are owned by councils compared with 600,000 in the registered social landlord sector.
A study of the 20 largest RSLs, due to be published soon by the Housing Corporation, will show that some associations need to bring as much as 60% of their stock up to standard while other landlords only have problems with 2% of their homes.
Clare Miller, the Housing Corporation's director of policy, told a fringe meeting at the conference: 'The task facing housing associations seems to be manageable within the ten-year timescale given to us by the government.'
PFsep2002
