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Gordon Brown announced last Thursday
a significant change in government policy on council housing. Help keep up the momentum! See below for what you can do...
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Today let me be clear: if local authorities can convince us that they can deliver quickly - and
cost-effectively - more of the housing that Britain needs, and if local authorities can build social housing
in sustainable communities that meets the aspirations of the British people in the 21st century, then we will
be prepared to give them our full backing and put aside anything that stands in their way. (Gordon Brown, New Local Government Network, 29 Jan)
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DCH welcomes Brown's commitment to council housing
but warned against any proposals that would undermine or avoid providing new 'secure' council tenancies.
A meeting on Wednesday with Housing Minister Margaret Beckett will hopefully clarify government's proposals.
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Now is the time to press home the argument
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Organise a broad delegation from your area to come to Parliament on 25 February
to actively show support for the House of Commons Council Housing Group's inquiry (see invitation and questionnaire).
Make sure tenants organisations and trade unions are represented and lobby your local authority to formally submit evidence and fund a delegation to take part.
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Demand a moratorium on expensive stock options and further transfer ballots
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Government's commitment to stop the robbery from tenants rents and 'right to buy' receipts for new council housing
opens the door to finding a 'Fourth Option' settlement for 2.5 million tenants in existing council homes. There is no excuse for councils carrying out expensive stock options appraisals or balloting
tenants on privatisation until the outcome of government's Review of Council Housing Finance is known.
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Winning the argument on debt write off and fully funding allowances within a national HRA
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Key is getting government to accept it has to provide a 'level playing field' and take over historic debt.
Ending the robbery would provide resources to fully fund allowances for the management, maintenance, repair
and improvement of council housing at 'level of need'.
Funding allowances within a nationally ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account is a less risky option
than breaking up the HRA as some are proposing
(read centre page spread in DCH newspaper).
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Build a third generation of first class council housing
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Council housing is the quickest and cheapest way to provide secure homes with low rents managed by an accountable landlord.
The Local Housing Company public/private partnerships that government has been encouraging
don't provide any council housing (the majority of homes are for sale and those for rent have 'assured' not 'secure' tenancies).
Public money and public land should not be diverted into unconditionally
bailing out private banks, builders and landlords. Building a third generation of first class council homes avoids
the risks of public/private partnerships and pouring good money after bad and is the surest way of providing the
homes we need for the 21st century whilst safeguarding jobs in the building industry and giving a boost to the economy.
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Further information from www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk
To stop getting DCH email newsletters reply with UNSUBSCRIBE in subject.
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Get tenants, trade unions and your council to send a delegation to Parliament on 25 Feb to support the Council Housing group's inquiry
Encourage tenants organisations and your local authority to submit evidence to the inquiry and distribute the report when it is published
Sign up to DCH's 'Five demands for 2009' 
Ask your MP(s) to sign 
