First Choice move

Oldham Council reports
PLANS to hand over almost 12,000 council houses to First Choice Homes moved a step closer.

Councillors gave their backing to the transfer, set for January 17, 2011, providing it gets the go-ahead from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The property affected by the proposed transfer includes 11,933 houses, 472 flats and maisonettes, 68 shops and 972 garages.

Councillor John McCann said the council had hit a financial wall, and it was the only way to ensure homes were brought up to standard.

Heralding it as “a fantastic opportunity for Oldham,” he said it would bring £148 million into the borough in the first five years to be spent on the homes, and much of the work would go to local businesses, boosting local jobs.

He said the transfer was worth a massive £800 million over the next three decades.

The move split the council chamber, with the vote only going through on a majority of six. Some councillors said tenants would obviously have voted for the transfer with the promise of home improvements, but said the idea was progressing too quickly and urged caution.