Haringey Council has rejected calls for its arm’s-length management organisation ballot to be halted amid claims it has been dishonest about its plans.

Paul Burnham, a member of pressure group Defend Council Housing who sat on the options appraisal steering group, has written to the district auditor claiming the authority “failed to inform tenants and leaseholders accurately of its proposals” for its 20,000 homes. He said the council wanted “flexibility” to transfer homes to a housing association at a later date.

Burnham wants the ballot delayed until the argument is resolved. “The council is suppressing details of what its options will be after a ‘yes’ vote … and that means ‘options’ for transfers to housing associations,” he said.

But Isidoros Diakides, Haringey’s lead member for housing, said: “We have no intention whatsoever to transfer the council houses. The council has rejected privatisation.”

Source

Housing Today