29 November 2005
ACHA urges tenants to make their voices heard in crucial transfer ballot
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Over a third of tenants have voted in the first few days
With the Argyll and Bute housing transfer ballot now under way, Argyll Community Housing Association Limited (ACHA) is urging tenants who haven’t yet sent back their ballot papers to make sure they use their votes.
Early reports from Electoral Reform Services (ERS), the independent organisation conducting the postal ballot, showed that 38% of tenants had returned their ballot papers within the first few days of the start of the ballot.
Norman Beaton, Council tenant and ACHA’s Chairperson, said, “It’s good to see so many tenants have voted already, however we want as high a turnout as possible to make sure that the result reflects the views of the vast majority of Argyll and Bute tenants. Transfer and the investment and service improvements that it will bring can only happen if tenants vote ‘Yes’, so I would urge those who have not yet voted to return their papers as soon as possible and to deliver a resounding ‘Yes’ to ACHA’s proposals.”
The independent postal ballot of Council tenants is the culmination of months of hard work by ACHA staff, who have taken their proposals to every corner of Argyll and Bute. In the past month alone ACHA staff have visited over 70 locations and spoken to well over 1000 tenants with the ACHA transfer trailer, providing examples of the types of kitchens and bathrooms tenants can expect should they vote in favour of transfer.
If transfer goes ahead, the Scottish Executive will write off the Council’s £48million housing loan debt, paving the way for a £261.5million investment in housing and services. ACHA also plans to build 150 new homes a year, and make the repairs and improvements necessary to
bring existing homes up to the Argyll Housing Standard. Tenants will also have a far greater say on housing issues, with tenants forming the biggest single group on ACHA’s main Management Committee and playing a key role on ACHA’s four Area Committees.
The independent ballot is being run by ERS and neither the Council nor ACHA will know which way individual tenants have voted. The deadline for completed papers to reach ERS is noon on Wednesday 14 December 2005. If any tenant has not yet received their ballot paper then they should contact the Council on 01546 604412 to request a replacement.
Only if the majority of voting tenants vote in favour of the transfer, and if the Scottish Executive Ministers give their consent, will transfer then take place in 2006.
Ends
Issued on behalf of Argyll Community Housing Association Limited (ACHA) by TNC. For further media information, please contact Dan Hughes (dan@tnc.uk.com), Consultant, on 01698 420420, mobile 07957 467953.
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