ScotlandDefendCouncilHousing VOTE NO

TO PRIVATISATION

THE GOVERNMENT WANTS Transfer is risky. Housing associa- councils in to sell off tions operate in the big business world our homes – it’s a scandal. They of private finance, where they are SELL-OFF A FAILURE say we can have millions of under increasing pressure to expand, pounds worth of improvements merge, and ‘diversify’ into building Stock transfer has been tried in “We were “ HOMELESSNESS to our homes, AND have lower luxury homes for private sale. If prom- Glasgow. It has been a failure. promised the rents. It’s a con. ises are broken we won’t have any re- world by GHA and IS UP They don’t tell us that stock transfer is dress: the offer document is a contract look at it now. Large-scale demolitions have privatisation and that the banks will be between the new landlord and the RENTS UP I have been waiting years for provoked protests across the The rent guarantee only making a profit out of what is now a council – not between the new landlord dampness to be sorted and I city. Despite promising to build applied to existing tenants – cannot find anyone to tell me public service. Council housing may not and tenants. between 6,000 and 10,000 be perfect, but it has served generations The money is there to do up our new tenants moving in after when it will be new homes, the GHA has not well. As council tenants we have a spe- homes, and to build the new affordable transfer have been charged at fixed.” (Glasgow built a single new house (The cial relationship with our landlord. If we housing Scotland so badly needs. a higher rate. Tenants have tenant)* don’t like the way they manage our There is £0.7 billion of public money “ Herald April 20 2004). With been threatened with eviction thousands more homes due to homes, we can vote them out at the next available to write off councils’ historic for just one month’s rent election. But the new housing associa- debt if we transfer; and hundreds of be demolished re-housing is arrears. Despite a 10-year tion landlords will be run by a board of millions in grants to build new homes turning into a major issue. directors who will be accountable to the (see page 2 for details). They try to ‘guarantee’ after just 3 years TENANTS company, not to tenants. blackmail us by saying they will only rents are to be ‘restructured’. do this if we agree to transfer. DISEMPOWERED “The really sad It doesn’t make any sense. Council Tenants Billy MacAllister and thing about the housing is cheaper to build, manage PROMISES Colin Deans (both prominent whole issue is

and maintain than ‘social’ housing. If BROKEN ‘NO’ campaigners subsequently that we have the government and Executive can Glasgow Housing Association’s elected by tenants to the board) sold off for next to nothing something that is not ours spend over £1billion subsidising chief executive was forced to have been kicked off the board transfer, it can give the same to Local to sell in the first place. If

acknowledge to the BBC that and their replacements have Authorities to both improve and in- been hand picked by the GHA. my parents had voted for the GHA were “not going to stock transfer in the 1960s I crease the supply of council housing. The promise of second-stage We demand that the government meet every target” and that don’t think that there would

“there will be a whole lot of transfer to local organisations “have been a house like this enable councils to improve homes and estates, which is what tenants want. people with expectations who has been cynically broken. one for me to rent in the “ Don’t take the risk – if you we will, to some extent, let 1980s. Can we really look at

don’t know, vote NO! down for a while” (BBC PRIVATISATION our kids now and say they’ll Scotland, 21 October 2003) be okay that there will be a AND HIGH COSTS council house for them in Glasgow’s housing debt was the future? This is going to come back and haunt us all, “We warned written off only to be replaced “ believe me.” people that with a new, bigger debt to (Glasgow tenant There is an despite all the finance the improvements and campaigner)* guarantees that ‘regeneration’ – borrowing from were on offer, once the the private market has meant banks and moneylenders got higher rates of interest and the involved with their housing alternative banks in control. On top of that *Quotes from they would eventually have a price to pay” GHA’s management costs are Marginalised Voices: TRANSFER IS DEEPLY unpopular The call for direct investment is sup- higher than the amount they Resisting the Privatisation (Glasgow of Council Housing in across the UK. Out of 32 councils in ported by tenants, all the major trade “community spend on repairs and major Glasgow by G Mooney & Scotland, only three have transferred unions, more than 250 MPs from across activist and GMB investment combined. their homes. 20 out of 29 authorities who all parties, a new organisation of au- L Poole (Local Economy, steward)* (GHA Annual report 2003/04) Feb 2005) had to make a decision have chosen re- thorities retaining council housing tention. Following the NO (ARCH), and an overwhelming vote at vote there is aleady huge pressure on the Labour's conference. “The impact of the Edinburgh NO vote has sent shock waves across the whole Executive to provide direct investment This pressure is already having an for Scotland. effect, with the government now look- Scottish political spectrum. It has created a debate about how to fund decent In Wales only one area has ever trans- ing again at housing finance. affordable council housing where none existed. As debt write off comes from the ferred, one has voted NO to transfer, and We shouldn't give in to the black- Westminster Treasury we should unite our forces north and south of the border to there is massive reluctance among the mail, when the support for direct invest- rest to go down the transfer route. In ment is stronger than ever before. Vote secure a future for coucil housing across the UK” Jenni Marrow, Secretary, England, 98 councils have decided they NO, and tell politicians we want the Scottish Tenants Organisation will keep the ownership and manage- debt written off for council housing in ment of their homes. Scotland – without strings attached! Strong cross-party support for council housing: see inside >>> Campaign grows across the UK>>> As a tenant I am opposed to stock transfer as We are sure we can As an Edinburgh Labour MP I strongly support it will lead to higher rents, poorer services to convince Highland the contribution which Council housing can tenants and less accountability for those tenants to follow the lead make in urban and rural Scotland. I am proud making decisions. I am also a shop steward shown by Edinburgh that Edinburgh council tenants in their ballot for UCATT and we as a union are opposed to tenants and reject the rejected whole sale stock transfer of our stock transfer as it will mean a drop in working false promises of houses to what in effect would have been a conditions for members and inevitable job privatisation.” super-quango with minimal effective losses as the Housing Association will cuts Donnie Kerr, Chair, accountability. I hope that council tenants in costs and services.” Joe McDonagh, Highlands Against other areas in Scotland will follow Edinburgh’s “““Stirling Against Stock Transfer Stock Transfer lead and vote No.” Gavin Strang MP THERE IS AN ALTER The money is there

WE SHOULD DEFEND AND ment of historic debt – 41p in every £1 burgh for new housing or £32m in Stir- The tenants of Scotland demand that improve council housing for our of rent in the Highlands for example. ling for ‘regeneration’). But there is no if the money is there, and it costs noth- children and for future genera- The UK Treasury has already spent financial reason whatsoever why this in- ing, then the debt should be written off tions – it’s their right as well as £1.3 billion subsidising debt write-off in vestment should depend on transfer. It and tenants should not be blackmailed ours. Scotland and is prepared to spend an- would cost exactly the same if it was into selling off our homes and our The money is there to do up our other £0.7 billion as well. A new report given to councils direct. futures. homes. Over £1 billion of public money from Audit Scotland shows that writing has been made available in Scotland to off debt costs the public nothing: Look how much money the government is prepared subsidise the current transfer pro- “This form of debt repayment is not to pour into subsidising transfer in Scotland...... gramme. If there was a level playing in itself a cost to government in cash field and the same money was made terms... there is no net effect (cost or Debt Write-Off Gap Funding Other Total available to the councils direct, there benefit) for the Exchequer or the tax- & Setup Inducements would be more than enough to bring our payer when the Treasury provides grant Costs homes up to the Scottish Housing Qual- aid to allow repayment of a council’s ity Standard, and do the environmental PWLB loan debt.” (Council housing Edinburgh £320m £0m £200m £520m improvements on our estates. transfers, Auditor General for Scotland, Highland £166m £0m £50m £216m Between us tenants in Scotland pay March 2006) Inverclyde £??m £41m £59m £100m £832 million a year in rent. We expect On top of this the Executive are pre- Renfrewshire £172m £76m £21m £269m that that money will be spent on repair- pared to spend £136m on ‘dowry’ pay- Stirling £25m £19m £32m £76m ing, managing and improving our ments (or ‘gap funding’) to make the TOTAL £683m £136m £362m £1,181m homes. But instead of that councils have transfers viable; and £362m on other in- (figures from HA business plans and reports to local authorities) to spend a fortune towards the repay- ducements (like the £200m in Edin- Edinburgh Transfer is deeply unpopular doubles TRANSFER IS VERY UNPOPULAR Councils in Scotland have a lot of • East Dunbartonshire is using a mixture investment in Scotland. Of the 32 local au- flexibility when it comes to deciding of prudential borrowing, directing all of thorities in Scotland, only three how to fund investment in council hous- its right-to-buy receipts into investment, programme have transferred their homes ing. So while councils like East and and raising rents by 1% above inflation. Tenants, trade unionists and councillors from acros and one of those (Glasgow) has West Lothian can afford the standard out A number of councils have not only after NO vote been fraught with problems of their current level of resources, others chosen retention but are calling for a ever since. have chosen a variety of ways to close level playing field to help investment in “Before the transfer ballot The 29 remaining authorities with the gap: Scottish council housing. Some coun- Edinburgh council gave us the council homes were required to submit • Aberdeenshire council has chosen to cils, such as , Aberdeenshire, Support in th impression our homes would fall a plan to the Executive by 29th April fund investments through raising rent by Dundee and Shetland gave evidence to There’s strong cross party support for our Early Day apart if we voted NO, and we 2005 saying how they intend to achieve 3% above inflation for 5 years and 2% the House of Commons Council Hous- Motions calling for a level playing field for council wouldn’t be able to get any the Scottish Housing Quality Standard above for the rest. ing Group to express their support for housing. The current one, EDM 48, has 146 extra funding from the by 2015. In Dundee and Aberdeen ten- • South Lanarkshire, where tenants direct investment in council housing. signatures including the following Scottish MPs: Executive. ants rejected large-scale transfer at the voted by a majority of 96% to stay with Why are a few Scottish councils But according to the council’s consultation stage and Edinburgh ten- the council, is using prudential borrow- pushing transfer? Our elected council- new Housing Service Plan, ants recently voted NO in a ballot. Two- ing. lors should be representing our interests, despite the NO vote they are thirds of Scottish councils, after • Fife has chosen to raise rents by 1% not ramming the policies of the Scottish able to fund “a £40m capital consultation, have chosen to retain their above inflation and make savings in Executive and Westminster government housing. management costs. down our throat. programme in future years, almost double what it has typically been in the past.” , On top of this they have Campaign grows across UK Gavin Strang, MP for Leader, Scottish “successfully negotiated with Edinburgh East Nationalist Party the Scottish Executive to keep THERE IS MASSIVE SUPPORT Committee found that transfer is more terms of the conference motion. the extra £15m each year for for council housing across all expensive. There is now a group of MPs • In June 2006 the new Minister in new housing...” political parties, right across in the commons who support council charge of housing, Ruth Kelly, issued a We welcome this, but the the UK. housing, including ex-Ministers such as discussion paper on Decent Homes and council should do more. Tenants Last year tenants in Edinburgh joined Frank Dobson, Clare Short, Michael announced a pilot scheme of six shouldn’t have to be punished the thousands of tenants across the UK Meacher and Kate Hoey. councils to look at ways “to create long with rent rises to pay for much- voting NO to transfer. Many of the biggest A big campaign of tenants, councillors, term sustainability for council housing.” needed investment. We call on trade unions are supporting the unions and MPs has left the All of this shows that government is Menzies Campbell, the council to join with tenants, campaign, (Amicus, CWU, GMB, PCS, government’s position completely wobbling. No-one can now say that Leader, unions and other councils from RMT, TGWU, UCATT, UNISON) on behalf isolated and untenable. government policy is set in stone – it Anne Moffat MP Liberal Democrats around Scotland to demand all of members who work in housing and /or • Delegates at the Labour Party clearly isn’t. But it’s up to us to keep up the money that was available are council tenants or need more council conference have criticised government the pressure. Ministers hope that for transfer be given to housing. policy two years running. Last year’s tenants in Scotland will be bullied into Edinburgh council direct.” The select committee of MPs which motion called “on government to provide privatisation. If we call their bluff and Duncan Smith, Unison oversees the Office of the Deputy Prime the ‘fourth option’ of direct investment to join all those who have already voted Services for Communities Minister has criticised current council housing as a matter of urgency”. NO across the UK, we’ll send a huge Convenor (Housing) government policy; while the • In February 2006 the Labour Party set message to the government: we want parliamentary Public Accounts up a policy review group to address the direct investment – with no strings! Frank Doran MP Jim McGovern MP Stock transfer is a Following the 2 to 1 tenant vote against transfer, Dundee “Everyone wishes the negation of political City Council announced plans for large-scale demolitions of investment in housing responsibility and around 2,000 homes. But this would mean tenants being to go ahead, but not democratic accountability. forced out of the city centre and west end into peripheral at the cost of council In effect Stirling council estates, it’s expensive, and tenants are opposed to their tenancies. It would be are privatising council plans. Dundee housing is being demolished because wrong to go down this homes. This is completely Westminster and the Scottish Executive won’t find the much road.” John unacceptable.” smaller amount needed to allow the council to pay off its McNaughton, Cllr Scott Farmer, historic debt and bring its homes up to the long overdue Paisley and District “Stirling Council “new standards.” Dundee Defend Council Housing “trades council The case against transfer Transfer is privatisation. Registered a fortune on new office buildings and create enormous pressure on the new Social Landlords (RSLs or housing as- glossy self-promotion. housing associations to concentrate on sociations) are private companies in law Set-up costs are also massive. In making a good return for the banks. and they borrow on the private market. Renfrewshire, for example, they plan to If we agree to transfer the housing RNATIVE The transfer of council housing to an spend £7.4 million of our rent money companies will be given all the land our RSL means a less democratic housing just on setting up the company after estates are built on. A lot of that land service, increased homelessness, and transfer (RHA Business Plan). Someone will be seen as prime development big pay rises for senior managers. has to pay for this. sites. Many housing associations set up Sell-off is risky. Rent guarantees and profit-making subsidiaries in order to glossy promises are often broken. There Risk build luxury homes for sale – on what is a high risk either that the new Hous- In England, many transfer associations used to be our green spaces. ing Associations will get into financial get into financial difficulties – one fifth We need more affordable housing trouble and have to be taken over; or have had to be placed under supervision for our children, not the gentrification that they will expand and diversify into by the Housing Corporation, the equiv- of our estates. a huge business empire. And if anything alent of Communities Scotland (The goes wrong – there is no return. Guardian, 25 May 2005) Broken Promises – No Return Two out of three large-scale trans- A survey of tenants in the Audit Sell-off Is Expensive fers of council stock in Scotland have Scotland report found regarding To improve our homes after transfer to already experienced problems because “increased investment and improve- a private company is far more expen- their finances haven’t stacked up. ments in housing service” that “26 per sive. In March 2006 an Audit Scotland In Glasgow a £350m hole in the fi- cent considered transfer had made no report into Council Housing Transfers nancial plan has meant that promises difference in this respect, while ten per concluded that there is no ready assur- made to tenants are not being carried cent thought it was worse.” ance that transfer provides value for out (see article below). In Scottish Bor- And if it all goes wrong and prom- money. The Glasgow transfer for exam- ders the transfer landlord is suing the ises are broken there will be no return ple was estimated to be £120m (over council because they claim the homes and no redress for tenants. As the £1400 a house) more expensive than if were valued wrongly, while according report says: the council had been funded to do the to Audit Scotland the investment there “Councils do not appear to be well- work itself. hasn’t been any higher than it would placed to enforce guarantees to tenants Privatisation is more expensive be- have been with the council. in the case of any non-performance by cause councils are able to borrow the new landlord. In such cases, the money at a lower rate of interest than Privatisation remedy available to the council under private companies. The ‘management Housing associations are private the transfer contract would be a claim costs’ of transfer associations are also companies in law and practice. The bulk for damages... ultimately, tenants higher – in other words they pay fat-cat of the promised ‘investment’ will in fact would pay any claim for damages salaries to senior executives, and spend be a loan from the banks. This will upheld against the landlord.” More homeless Promises broken in Glasgow The council has a statutory One of the key promises made to process. ‘[Our] promises make no responsibility to provide homes for the tenants in Glasgow was that there specific mention of second stage homeless. RSLs do not. A Shelter would be a second stage transfer to transfer or community ownership,’ a report said that where councils have 63 small, local housing note accompanying the statement transferred their houses “homeless organisations (LHOs). But the said. applicants spend longer in temporary promise has been dogged with …Neil Elliot, tenant chair of Glen accommodation, have fewer long term problems. First of all they discovered Oaks Darnley LHO, said: ‘Second ss the UK joined together to lobby MPs at Westminster in February. Picture: Andrew Wiard housing options and in some cases are that EU procurement rules meant stage transfer was at the core. It unable to access affordable housing at the secondary transfers would have was what everybody campaigned all.” (Out of stock: Stock transfer, to be opened to European-wide about. If they never promised Homelessness and Access to competition rather than given to anything, why is it part of its ethos?’ he Parliaments… Housing; Shelter, 2001) LHOs. Then there were rows over the Sources close to GHA said both “The latest figures show that 20.1% valuation of the stock. And finally a the executive and the association “If you’ve got a ballot coming up, fight like hell of allocations by large-scale voluntary massive shortfall in funding was had always been aware of the transfer housing associations are to discovered, at which GHA cynically funding shortfall, but had pushed to persuade people to vote no. The more people homeless families. This... is less than tried to deny ever having made ahead regardless… One housing who reject it the better chance we have of the 34% by local authorities.” promises in the first place! association chief executive close to (Housing Today, 29/04/05) “A Glasgow Housing Association the transfer said the focus had been turning over this stupid policy.” “An area of ongoing concern to report compiled for the Scottish on winning the ballot, rather than Frank Dobson MP (Labour) [Glasgow] City Council is the impact that Executive… reveals GHA is more the economics of the eventual the stock transfer has had on its ability to than £350 million short of the secondary transfers.” (Inside meet its obligations under the funding it needs to carry out Housing 03/03/06) “I hope that the Government homelessness legislation. The use of bed secondary stock transfer. Second stage transfer is one of Order your copy of the MPs report and breakfast has gone up markedly” …The association has also denied the promises being made by the will heed the report of the from Austin Mitchell MP, Chair of ODPM Committee, the Public (Stock Transfer in Scotland: Impact and any responsibility for following Highlands Housing Association .... the House of Commons Council Implications, APSE, Sep 05). through on the secondary transfer why should we trust them? Accounts Committee, the Housing Group: Audit Commission and the Tel: 0207 219 4559 Defend Council Housing group report, and rethink their policies.” Paul Holmes MP Rents: read the small print (Chair, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Group) G Housing associations offer us a at all – this could lead to different National Audit Office found that 17% rent guarantee of five years – but if rents being charged for properties in of transfer RSLs broke them. “Attempts to coerce tenants you read the small print you’ll find the same block or street. Research done for the MPs Group into stock transfer because that the guarantee is not written into G Housing association rents in showed that 15 of the 20 fastest- of the need for substantial the new tenancy agreement. The Scotland are higher than council increasing RSL rents between 1997 repairs to housing is offer document is a legal agreement rents – 11% on average across the and 2004 were in districts which had completely unacceptable. between the housing association and country and sometimes as high as undergone transfer. the council, not between the housing 43%. (Statistics from Communities G Service charges are higher too. We will back tenants who association and tenants. So if they Scotland: RSL rents at March 2004 Since GHA took over in Glasgow, they want to see their homes break the rent guarantee (or any of compared to local authority rents for have added VAT to service charges remain under council the other glossy promises) tenants 2004/05). and started charging up to £40 a ownership all the way.” will not be able to obtain redress. G In England transfer RSLs used to year for communal lighting. Colin Fox MSP, (Scottish G New tenants have no guarantees offer 5-year rent guarantees. The Socialist Party) Having crunched the figures we think the best thing for the tenants is to keep the service in-house. We think it is ScotlandDefendCouncilHousing much better to have social services under the one organisation so that when people get into difficulties they can come to us and have access to all the housing stock belonging to North Ayrshire council. Housing association management costs are far, far higher than local authorities so for every pound spent there is a bigger proportion going to management. Rents are also far higher.” “ Cllr David O’Neill, Leader, North Ayrshire council

I am unhappy that the case being made This campaign for housing stock transfer has become Tenants will have less needs your help! so one-sided, I don’t believe that tenants are being briefed on the It's wrong that councils can spend full picture. £millions of taxpayers’ money on I am also frustrated that the their propaganda and trying to material RHA were producing says power after sell-off make out there is no alternative to “that transfer is the only way to stock transfer. Defend Council get investment, when, who knows COUNCILS CLAIM THAT HAVING for the interests of tenants have been GHA make frequent use of terms such as Housing can’t use public funds what will happen at the Scottish tenants on the board of the new kicked off the board, as happened in “tenant participation” and “community and relies on donations. Please Parliament elections next year, Housing Associations will give Glasgow. empowerment” but many tenants claim help us to help you reach an when stock transfer may not be tenants more power. This is a con! The Audit Commission has criticised that the change of landlord from the city informed decision about the future the only game in town!” Cathy At the moment individual tenants and councils for “mis-selling” the role of council to GHA has given them no more of your home: McEwan, former tenant board tenants associations can lobby their local board members: “tenants are often led to say in local housing management…“ • Distribute this broadsheet to member, Renfrewshire HA ward councillors and, if we don’t like the believe they will have an explicit role in (The Herald, October 28th 2005). every council home in your area; way they run our homes, vote them out. representing the interest of their fellow “Any proposition put in front of the • Put up posters on your estate “I feel very strongly about the way This direct democratic relationship will tenants on the board” when really “the tenants was put in front of the money- and in your window; that the Highland Council, TPAS be lost after transfer. directors responsibility takes su- men first… tenant participation is little • Organise a meeting and invite and Highland Housing Association Tenants who sit on the boards of premacy”. (Improving Services Through more than window dressing.” (Glasgow a speaker from the campaign to are steam-rolling ahead with this Housing Associations find they are Resident Involvement, June 2004). UNISON activist, BBC Scotland, 2003) debate with the council so all so called stock transfer, and are gagged. They are in a minority and their Look at what happened in Glasgow: This isn’t tenants power. A strong, in- tenants can hear both sides of the not letting the tenants know the hands are tied by company law. They are “those who bought the dream of commu- dependent tenants movement, with ten- argument; strengths and weakness of constantly told the information they re- nity ownership have become increas- ants associations in every estate and • Raise money to pay for the staying with the Council versus ceive is ‘in confidence’ and they can’t ingly disillusioned by the lack of street, is a much more effective defence campaign; any donation will be the strengths and weakness of publicise it. Many who have spoken out progress; justifiably so. Those running of tenants’ interests. appreciated, no matter how small. transferring to a Housing • Most important... talk to your Association. The Highland tenants family, friends and neighbours and are not and I repeat not getting a A FAIR DEBATE? get them to VOTE NO. fair deal in tenant awareness in Why are councils so keen to We can stop them: this case and if they go for stock keep the case against transfer transfer they can’t turn back, and hidden? Even the so-called HOW TO CONTACT US could end up like Glasgow (back “independent tenants advisors” use your vote If you live in... in more debt) tenants have really are paid for by the council – to be put in the picture for the hardly independent! We future of affordable Council The council would like tenants to believe that the outcome of this ballot HIGHLANDS challenge Scottish councils to Write: Highlands Against Stock Housing.” Nigel Slater, hold a fair and balanced debate, is inevitable – but it isn’t. An effective campaign can win the argument. NO Votes in Birmingham, Wrexham and Edinburgh have shocked Transfer, 22 Upper Kessock Chairperson, Highland Tenants with equal resources for both Ministers and policy makers and made MPs sit up and take notice. If Street, Inverness, IV3 8JQ & Residents Federation and sides, so tenants can hear all tenants across Scotland vote NO then it adds to the real pressure on Tel: 01463 223578 West Caithness TA the facts and arguments. government to give us direct Investment – with no strings attached. (9am-11am or 5pm-10pm) Email: [email protected] Trade unions back fight for council housing Website: www.HAST2006.org.uk “GMB Scotland believes that “The Housing Stock Transfer, “UNISON Scotland opposes “STUC has “The T&GWU is opposed to RENFREWSHIRE he best way to achieve good which is ongoing in Stirling, housing stock transfer as it consistently opposed any Council housing stock Write: Renfrewshire Defend quality housing is through Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and reduces democratic housing stock transfer transfer. This is just another Council Housing, Local Government provision. the Highlands in Scotland, accountability and tenant in Scotland because form of Privatisation, which in 17 Main Rd, Elderslie, GMB Scotland opposes the will do nothing to ensure the choice while rents and of the implications for the long term costs tenants Renfrewshire, PA5 9BQ Government’s Policy of Stock tenants of a decent home service charges rise. local authority staff as dearly in terms of higher rents Tel: 01505 335371 Email: Transfer and Privatisation of for the future. Research has shown that well as the potential and poorer maintenance and [email protected] Housing as the only way of With less opportunity for council housing could be loss of democratic repair services. It also affects dealing with the current affordable housing being improved and brought up to accountability. STUC jobs of the Council housing housing debt faced by many available, it is imperative a higher standard if the calls for genuine support staff who are likely to STIRLING Local Authorities. that these council tenants councils were allowed to choice for tenants, see their terms and conditions Write: Stirling Against Stock GMB Scotland supports the reject council housing invest in their properties. which must include changed to their detriment Transfer, 33 Firs Crescent, Campaign to Defend Public transfers. We have seen Direct investment by councils the option of and in some cases there is Bannockburn Housing and encourages over the years, an increase is quicker and cheaper than retention of existing likely to be job losses. It is for Tel: 01786 813794 Email: tenants to follow the example in waiting lists spiraling to investment via stock transfer. stock in council all these reasons that we [email protected] in Edinburgh and vote no. 50% in just eight years. It's time for a level playing hands with the same oppose the housing stock GMB Scotland also calls on Councils like South field on housing investment – levels of financial transfer. Staying with the EDINBURGH the Government to make the Lanarkshire, having if the housing debt can be support from the Council that has provided same financial commitment committed themselves to a cleared for stock transfer Scottish Executive as quality housing and repair Write: Edinburgh Against Stock to remove housing debt complete refurbishment then the same rules should is being pledged services for years is the best Transfer, c/o LTUCR, where tenants vote to keep programme, will see it apply for direct investment.” under transfer.” thing tenants can do.” Basement 26/28 Albany Street, their homes within the Local completed in half the time, Matt Smith, Scottish Dave Moxham, Tommy Campbell, T&G Edinburgh EH1 3QH Authority control.” Alex at half the cost.” Secretary, UNISON Assistant Regional Industrial Tel: 0131 555 6357 Email: McLuckie, Senior Harry Frew, Scottish Scotland Secretary, STUC Organiser [email protected] Organiser for Public Secretary, UCATT Website: www.stocktransfer.info Services, GMB Scotland DUNDEE The following trade unions are affiliated to the Defend Council Housing campaign: Tel: 01382 774370 Email: [email protected]

This paper was written by council tenants. For more information contact Defend Council Housing: [email protected] Tel: 020 7987 9989 Demand direct investment in council www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk Write: PO Box 33519, housing – with no strings attached London E2 9WW DESIGNED BY SMITH+BELL PRINTED BY K&M PRINT