After a two year process, led largely by tenants of Golden Gates Housing, the Council’s Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) has been given the go-ahead to become an independent Housing Trust.Tenants had the final say in a ballot of all tenants. The result was an overwhelming YES vote in support of the transfer of the Council’s housing stock to the new independent trust. The result is the third strongest vote ever by tenants for large scale voluntary transfer of stock: 

Category                                                       Number         %

Total electorate-tenants eligible                  9845

Total votes cast                                             6215

Less spoiled/invalid votes                           15

Total valid votes cast                                    6200               63.13

Voting YES                                                    5696               91.9

Voting  No                                                      504                 8.1

Voting YES as % total electorate                                       57.9

Yes/no ratio of votes                                                            11.3 to 1

The significance of this result is that Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) will be free to raise its own finance in order to invest £105 million in Warrington’s housing stock over the next 5 years. Even in these difficult times banks are very keen to help Housing Associations by lending them money on good terms. This is because well run Housing Associations are a very safe bet and have plenty of assets against which they can borrow.

The other big advantage for tenants is that they will no longer be paying 10% of their rent to other parts of the country and will not be dependent on public borrowing to have their houses improved. They can look forward to much improved homes and neighbourhoods over the next 5 years, double glazing, showers, energy saving measures, better fencing and environmental improvements have all been promised.Those living in areas where the Council used to own property will see the difference between Council homes, owner occupied homes and other rented homes will decrease.

We will begin to see the end of the “Council Estate” as a distinctively different housing area and it will become increasingly difficult to identify affordable housing as any different from other homes. Housing will be available in all areas to meet the needs and aspirations of those who need to live in that area.

Having been the responsible Executive Board member, I have seen the process leading to the ballot through from the start. I am particularly grateful to the Tenants, the Council’s adviser, Gerald Davies and the professionals who have guided this process. I am also grateful to the whole Council because the decision to go to ballot was backed unanimously by all parties on the Council and that has contributed to this successful outcome.

There is a lot of work ahead, but Golden Gates Tenants can expect to see improvements coming steadily over the next five years. While the Golden Gates Housing Trust keeps the promises to its tenants, that will free the Council up to continue delivering housing at all levels of affordability for those wanting to live and work in Warrington. I am proud of our excellent housing record, but promise that the Council will not relax in delivering our vision for housing in Warrington.