A CAMPAIGN has been launched urging thousands of council tenants to reject a proposed housing stock transfer.
The campaign, led by the Alyn and Deeside Labour Party, has been set up to prevent 7,500 council-owned homes being transferred to a not-for-profit registered social landlord.
They have set up a Facebook group – ‘Flintshire Against Stock Transfer’ – ahead of a crunch vote, which begins this month.
Tenants across the county must decide whether to hand over control of their homes to Dee Housing or stay under council ownership.
Flintshire Council has insisted it will remain neutral.
But leader of the Labour group on Flintshire Council, Cllr Aaron Shotton, said: “We are a wide ranging group of people that hope to get across some of the facts and alternative views that are not being put across by the council.
“I don’t feel at present people are being told about things like guarantees on rents. The rights that tenants have under public ownership with the council will be far greater than if transferred to a social landlord.
“The fact is that the money that would come from Dee Housing would be provided by the banks and city money lenders. It’s the question of whether people want their houses to be in the hands of banks or in public ownership.
“We think it’s important that people are aware of both sides before they make this decision.”
The month-long housing ballot will begin on February 20.
Flintshire Council said its role was to give tenants factual information to help them to make informed decisions and not to provide an opinion on the proposals.
The authority said it had undertaken a comprehensive consultation with tenants which included road shows, conferences, newsletters, postal surveys and telephone research.
A council spokesman said: “In January 2012 all tenants received a copy of the choices document.
“This document sets out comprehensively and clearly what tenants would get if they vote to stay with the council and what they would get if they vote to transfer to Dee Housing.
“In addition, all tenants received an easy-guide and DVD, both of which summarise the key points of staying with the council and of transferring to Dee Housing.”
The spokesman said tenants had indicated they found the choices document to be comprehensive and informative.
He said: “The choices document makes it clear that regardless of the outcome of the ballot, transferring tenants would pay the same level of rent as, just as now, the council or Dee Housing would be subject to the Welsh Government’s rents policy.
“During the consultation process Flintshire Council decided which services would remain with the council should tenants vote in favour of transfer.
“The council decided all housing services which are funded by council tax payers and available to all Flintshire residents such as homelessness and housing advice services, should remain with the council.
“These services are not paid for by Flintshire tenants and this will continue to be the case regardless of the outcome of the ballot.”