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| Tenants reject housing transfer | Tenants reject housing transfer |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Highland Council tenants have voted against transferring ownership of 14,500 homes from the local authority to a private housing association. | Highland Council tenants have voted against transferring ownership of 14,500 homes from the local authority to a private housing association. |
| More than 60% of tenants voted 59.7% to 40.3% against the plans to transfer to Highland Housing Association. | |
| Highland Council convener Alison Magee said: "The council will work hard and ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible housing service." | Highland Council convener Alison Magee said: "The council will work hard and ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible housing service." |
| The Scottish Tenants Organisation said tenants had rejected privatisation. | |
| Convenor John Carracher said: "It's great to see the tide turning in tenants' favour. | |
| "More and more people are refusing to be tricked by spin and blackmail." | |
| Angus Maclean, chairman of Highland Housing Association, said: "Everyone involved with Highland Housing Association is disappointed that tenants have not voted in favour of transfer. | Angus Maclean, chairman of Highland Housing Association, said: "Everyone involved with Highland Housing Association is disappointed that tenants have not voted in favour of transfer. |
| "We all believe that our proposals would have delivered quality services and improved housing standards while ensuring that rents remained affordable, but the majority of tenants have voted to stay with the council and we obviously respect their decision." | "We all believe that our proposals would have delivered quality services and improved housing standards while ensuring that rents remained affordable, but the majority of tenants have voted to stay with the council and we obviously respect their decision." |
| The plain fact is that the council cannot offer the generous package that would have been delivered through a yes vote Malcolm ChisholmCommunities Minister | |
| The authority had warned that the average rent would rise to £83-a-week in eight years if the transfer did not go ahead. | The authority had warned that the average rent would rise to £83-a-week in eight years if the transfer did not go ahead. |
| Three "wholesale" stock transfers have already taken place across Scotland - in Glasgow, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. | Three "wholesale" stock transfers have already taken place across Scotland - in Glasgow, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. |
| However, tenants in Renfrewshire, Stirling and Edinburgh voted against transfers. | However, tenants in Renfrewshire, Stirling and Edinburgh voted against transfers. |
| A ballot of Inverclyde tenants will end on 30 November. | |
| Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said he was "disappointed" with the result. | |
| More influence | |
| "Each transfer package is different and I urge tenants in Inverclyde to look closely at what is on offer to them in terms of rent levels, investment and tenant involvement and decide on that basis," he said. | |
| "We will continue to work with Highland Council, but the plain fact is that the council cannot offer the generous package that would have been delivered through a yes vote to transfer." | |
| There had been opposition to the stock transfer from groups such as Highlands Against Stock Transfer (Hast). | |
| It said tenants would have more influence over the council. | |
| Both Highland Council leaders and Scottish Executive ministers had urged tenants to support the proposal, which would see the authority's £160m housing debt wiped out and 1,000 more houses built. | Both Highland Council leaders and Scottish Executive ministers had urged tenants to support the proposal, which would see the authority's £160m housing debt wiped out and 1,000 more houses built. |
| Highest ever | Highest ever |
| Hast said the new Highland Housing Association had been set up with £5.5m from the executive which could instead have been used for much-needed repairs. | Hast said the new Highland Housing Association had been set up with £5.5m from the executive which could instead have been used for much-needed repairs. |
| Meanwhile, the deal to complete the handover of Argyll and Bute Council's housing to an association has been signed off. | Meanwhile, the deal to complete the handover of Argyll and Bute Council's housing to an association has been signed off. |
| The authority holds the record for the highest ever "yes" vote in a housing ballot, with almost 90% of tenants voting for the transfer. | The authority holds the record for the highest ever "yes" vote in a housing ballot, with almost 90% of tenants voting for the transfer. |
| Nearly 5,400 homes are now in the hands of Argyll Community Housing Association Limited. | Nearly 5,400 homes are now in the hands of Argyll Community Housing Association Limited. |
| The association will now have more than £260m available to spend on improving homes over the next 30 years. | The association will now have more than £260m available to spend on improving homes over the next 30 years. |
| Argyll and Bute Council's housing loan debt of £48m will be written off by the executive. | Argyll and Bute Council's housing loan debt of £48m will be written off by the executive. |