11 March 2005
Almost 150 councillors, tenants and trade unionists lobbied Parliament this week, claiming local authorities must be granted a fourth option for meeting the decent homes standard.
According to the pressure group Defend Council Housing, tenants in at least 25 authorities have voted for their homes to be retained by the council while a further 123 authorities have still to select one of the alternatives preferred by ministers.
The situation is becoming increasingly tricky for councils such as the London Borough of Camden, where ministers recently pulled the plug on a costly Private Finance Initiative scheme and tenants have already voted against an arm's-length management organisation.
The lobby, on March 8, was organised by the House of Commons' council housing group.
The latest early-day motion supporting direct investment, put forward by the group's chair Austin Mitchell, has attracted 112 signatures.
DCH spokesman Alan Walter said there was massive support for a fourth option: 'The government's drive to privatise council housing has hit the buffers in a big way.'
PFmar2005
