A momentous event
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 07:00
THIS is a momentous day for thousands of families across Plymouth, currently living in council accommodation. It is the dawn of a new beginning, which offers some exciting opportunities which could help improve their homes immeasurably – but also one which changes for ever their tenancy agreement. In a far-reaching ballot, council house tenants yesterday voted 'yes' to handing over control of their homes from the city council to a housing association. This crucial decision, still awaiting Government rubber-stamping, will affect 15,000 tenants in all areas of Plymouth: but, more than that, it will bring in at least £168million of investment and help create up to 400 new jobs, including many apprenticeships for youngsters, just at a time when they are most needed. In a reflection of just how seriously people took this issue, 61 per cent of those eligible to have their say voted – a figure which most politicians can only dream of when it comes to local and national elections. Of those, two out of three – 67 per cent – voted to transfer their homes out of the control of Plymouth City Council to Plymouth Community Homes. This figure is a clear indication of how people regarded having a new landlord – but, perhaps more importantly, the prospect of unlocking £168million of funding in the next five years. The vote indicates that the majority felt the prospect of a refurbishment programme, which could see tenants getting a range of home improvements including new kitchens, bathrooms, central heating, double- glazing and improved security, outweighed the risk of changing from a secure to an assured tenancy. It also showed they rejected the argument that instead of transferring its housing stock, the council should have lobbied the Government for funding to bring its properties up to Decent Homes standard. Only time will tell whether this decision is the right one – but the people have spoken and their message must be heeded.
TO MILLIONS of viewers, television talent shows provide unmissable entertainment: but, as Plymouth primary head John Stephens has highlighted, TV judges are setting youngsters a bad example by being unkind to performers, while an increasing number of adults are apeing loutish, boorish and foul-mouthed behaviour by so-called stars. It's high time they, and those they mimic, were reined in.
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