COUNCIL homes in the Stroud district could come under new ownership - despite the authority's chief executive assuring residents this wouldn’t happen just six weeks ago.

Stroud District Council will be looking into the transfer of its housing stock, in which a housing association takes over as landlord to council tenants, as part of its investigation into a £1.2 million overspend of its Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

In the last year spending on maintenance and repair of council houses has spiralled out of control and in response chief executive David Hagg has commissioned three inquiries into the overspend.

As part of this he told the Gazette last week that the council is obliged by Government to look at its housing options.

He said: "Ever since tenants voted to keep council homes under council ownership we have been under constant pressure, from regional civil servants, to explore the options again."

However in a speech he made in May to councillors about the inquiries, Mr Hagg said: "I have commissioned a report from Tribal to look at the HRA. In doing so, I wish to make it clear, on the public record and primarily for the reassurance of tenants, that this is not, and I emphasise not, a means to put the issue of housing transfer on the agenda."

Tenants in the Stroud district have twice voted against housing transfer.

Cllr Karen Cross, a member of the district council and also a council tenant, said: "Speaking as a tenant I voted against transfer last time and I would again. The majority of people I speak to would rather be a council tenant. At the moment I get a good deal, I pay fair rent and my repairs are dealt with quickly."

However, with the cost of maintaining council properties out of control, others believe it might be time to consider changing to a housing association.

Barbara Powell, secretary of the Woodfield Residents Association, said: "In the past when asked by the council the residents in Woodfield didn’t want to transfer to housing association, however I think they might be regretting that now.

"I feel that not all the jobs and repairs that need doing are being done. The council is going to miss its target for getting council homes brought up to ‘decent homes standard.’ I don’t think they have got enough money to pay for it all."

Mr Hagg said: "The council is required by central government to keep housing options under review. We have made it abundantly clear to civil servants that there is no appetite amongst tenants or councillors to keep going round these options.

"But that does not stop them demanding we keep things under review. I have made it clear at successive council meetings that tenants can be reassured that we are not wanting to pursue any form of transfer.

"The consultants carrying out the work have been briefed accordingly."