CONTROL of Warrington's 10,000 council homes could be transferred into private hands, according to a new report.

The report, to be discussed at a Town Hall meeting next week, puts forward four alternatives for the future of the borough's housing stock. These are:

l The council retaining control of the homes

l A management organisation being created, giving access to additional funding

l The transfer of stock ownership to a landlord or trust

l A public/private partnership.

Report author David Cowley said: "The current financial resources for this service are stretched to the limit and there are improvements to our housing stock which cannot be financed.

"These financial pressures will result in the council having to face difficult decisions in what service it is likely to be able to deliver to tenants in the future."

Retention of the stock seems unlikely, as the report stresses that the council currently has insufficient resources to meet needs.

The Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) would keep the properties under council ownership but would establish a non-profit-making company, which could attract additional Government funding if it meets required standards. But the report states that there is no guarantee of these additional resources.

The third option would be to transfer ownership to a registered social landlord or to set up a trust. However, a ballot would have to be held and this would leave the council facing costs of £500,000.

While the report states that this option would bring in greater investment, it concedes that tenants would lose rights, such as the right to buy.

Finally the council is suggesting a public/private partnership, whereby the council would retain control but would lease out the service for 30 years to allow landlords to refurbish, maintain and finance the housing stock.

The report will be discussed at Monday's meeting of the council's policy committee.