By Phil Coleman Chief reporter

Last updated 15:57, Tuesday, 26 August 2008

A TENANTS group has voiced fears that 6,000 housing association tenants in Carlisle could find their homes managed by housing chiefs in Liverpool.

Ray Bloxham: ‘If they vote for it to go ahead, then fine; but if they vote for it not to go ahead, then it should not’

Officials at The Riverside Group, the parent company of Carlisle Housing Association (CHA), have unveiled plans to amalgamate all seven of their associations in the north west in a bid to cut costs.

If it goes ahead, the 6,000 properties owned by the Association in Carlisle will come under the banner of the Riverside Carlisle Division.

The group insisted yesterday the service will continue to be managed locally. Proposals had been put out for consultation.

But the Carlisle and Rural Tenants’ Federation accused it of being “dictatorial” and planning to transfer control of the housing stock to its Liverpool HQ.

Conservative city councillor Ray Bloxham, who represents Longtown and Rockcliffe, said the idea should be put to tenants in a vote, with a guarantee the plan would be scrapped if opposed.

He said: “My position on this issue is clear. At the time the properties were transferred from the city council to CHA, it was clear that tenants did not want to be ruled by Liverpool.

“The answer always came back that no – CHA would not be ruled by Liverpool, but it would be aligned to the Riverside Group to give it the protection of a large group, but with a certain amount of local autonomy.

“My view now is nothing should be done until such a time as the tenants have been consulted.

“If they vote for it to go ahead, then fine; but if they vote for it not to go ahead, then it should not. That was the principle of the transfer five years ago.

“After all, the tenants and residents are stakeholders.”

Mr Bloxham spoke after the Carlisle and Rural Tenants Association published a report criticising the Riverside Group.

It begins by accusing CHA of having a record that is “shocking and dictatorial.”

It says there is nothing in the group’s booklet on the proposal that allows tenants to vote.

It continues: “The booklet was no more than a means of collecting views and ticking boxes.

“Collecting views and ticking boxes is not consultation.”

The report goes on: “At the time of the handover from the city council, the major concern of tenants was that control was not transferred from Carlisle to Liverpool... It seems clear from the CHA booklet that control is in fact to be transferred to Liverpool if the proposals go ahead.”

The report accuses CHA of scrapping quarterly board meetings with the Federation, stopping monthly tenants repair meetings, and abolishing the Tenants’ Advisory Group.

It calls for the return of CHA’s housing stock to Carlisle City Council.

Riverside spokeswoman Anne Collins insisted that operational management of CHA’s housing would remain in Carlisle and there would be no change.

She said consultation would continue until September 19.

“The consultation is still ongoing and we would like any tenants who have questions or comments to contact us before 19 September.

“Under the proposal local services will be provided from local offices, Carlisle will have its own divisional board and the management will continue to be in Carlisle.

“There are no job losses or changes in operations or services in Carlisle as a result of these proposals.

“Tenants will continue to report repairs and pay their rent as they do at the moment.”

She added: “We would review the proposals if there was overwhelming opposition.”

The final decision lies with the local Carlisle Housing Association Board, who will take into account of the views of tenants and other stakeholders.