06 September 2002
The ballot, due to take place in Solihull in November, has been postponed while the council considers other options for bringing the properties up to standard.
Council leader Ted Richards said the authority had been encouraged by suggestions in the recent consultation paper on housing capital finance that spending restrictions may be relaxed for councils that retain their stock.
In addition, the government had announced in July that councils with two-star housing ratings will now be able to set up arm's-length management organisations, as well as those with three stars.
Solihull, which is also looking at proposals for a regeneration trust in part of the borough, was keen to see if there is 'a new way forward to meet the decent homes target', according to Richards.
Recent ballot results show the majority of council tenants are continuing to support stock transfers to RSLs. Positive votes were recorded in Amber Valley, Carlisle, Forest of Dean and North Hertfordshire, although tenants in the London Borough of Merton voted against.
PFsep2002
