'Fourth Option' - investment to improve existing and build a new generation of first class council housing
Gordon Brown signals government to invest in Council Housing
"Mr Brown has an 'open mind' about the fourth option for council housing, as an alternative to transfer, arm's-length management and the private finance initiative, his spokesperson said this week."
He told the GMB conference 'we will give help to councils by new means through which they can build houses as well'.
All six Labour Party Deputy Leadership candidates are reported to support the 'Fourth Option'.

We now need to turn sound bites into concrete proposals for the 'Fourth Option' to:
1. Improve all existing council homes and estates
2. Start a new council house building programme
3. Ensure sufficient funds to maintain all council homes in future years

Speaking at the DCH fringe meeting Nick Brown MP, a close ally of the next Prime Minister, told delegates 'Defend Council Housing has been one of the most persistent and courageous Labour movement campaigns that are currently underway and I think their time has come.'
Download latest DCH newspaper letter to supporters draft motion new posters DCH July 12 conference flyer 'Fourth Option' motion from Labour's 2006 conference.

Around 200 authorities would directly benefit from 'Fourth Option' changes to revenue and capital funding including those retaining their homes, those with ALMOs and those where tenants have rejected privatisation or not yet voted. And all authorities across England, Scotland and Wales would gain from the opportunity to build new council housing.

The united campaign by tenants, trade unionists, councillors and MPs has pushed the demand for the 'Fourth Option' to the top of the political agenda. Make sure tenants in areas facing privatisation use this knowledge to stand up to bullying and blackmail and ensure there a broad delegation from every area attending the DCH national conference on July 12 to discuss how to take the campaign forward.

Defend Council Housing has posted a 'Fourth Option' for council housing
e-petition on the Downing Street website.
Forward on this email to help collect signatures


Help step up the pressure to bring this campaign to a successful conclusion:

  1. Pass this draft motion in your organisation
  2. Help campaign against any stock transfer, PFI or ALMO proposals in your area
  3. Organise a delegation of tenants, councillors and trade unionists to attend the DCH national conference on July 12
  4. Order and distribute campaign material in your organisation and area (new DCH newspaper and 'Case for Council Housing in 21st Century Britain' pamphlet)
  5. Sign the e-petition and encourage others to sign too
  6. Ask your MP to sign EDM 136 Funding Decent Council Housing and join the Council Housing group of MPs at Parliament
  7. Distribute campaign material at tenants and union conferences and other events (email to get material posted to you)
  8. Organise a Stand Up For Council Housing public meeting in your area with a broad platform to support the demand for the 'Fourth Option'
  9. Affiliate & donate to DCH

DCH is holding a national conference, July 12 at TUC Congress House, London

Download conference Flyer & Programme, circulate locally and organise a delegation of tenants, trade unionists and councillors from your area to attend. Propose to your council that they sponsor the delegation - they always say they want tenants to be well informed and regularly fund tenants to attend other 'similar' events (individual tenants £5; sponsored tenants, trade unionists, councillors, etc £20)

Further information from www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Organise a broad delegation of tenants, trade unionists and councillors to the DCH National Conference on July 12 at TUC Congress House, London

Sign the 'Fourth Option' for council housing
e-petition on the Downing Street website;

Pass this draft motion in your organisation

Bulk order copies of the latest DCH newspaper to distribute to tenants, trade unionists and councillors in your area (£18 per 100 / £100 per 1000);

Fourth Option For Council Housing

Ask your MP to sign EDM 136 Funding Decent Council Housing

Affiliate & donate to DCH