LACK of action of the future of council houses in Warrington is costing tenants dearly, opposition councillors have claimed.

Rising rent charges and reduced maintentance programmes are the price council house residents are having to pay while the merits of transferring homes to a new landlord are debated, said Lib Dem councillor Ian Marks.

The cashflow problems regarding council housing were identified by an independent report two years ago, the a meeting of Warrington Borough Ccouncil heard.

The GUARDIAN understands that a switch to a "not-for-profit" landlord, governed by residents, councillors and housing officials, remains the favoured option.

And Clr Marks accused members of the ruling Labour group of deliberately "slowing down the process" because they opposed housing association involvement.

Clr Marks said: "The delay is costing many in terms of high rent increases and reduced maintenance. And it is costing the whole council because we are foregoing a large capital receipt for the houses."

And Clr Peter Walker claimed that tenants should have been allowed to make their choice - between the council and an alternative landlord - two years ago.

It was also feared that - because the council had missed the November deadline for the current round of housing transfers - that rival bids by city authorities would result in Warrington missing out next year.

Council bosses in Birmingham, Glasgow and Sunderland were considering the options for their housing stock and only a limited number of properties would be allowed to transfer out of council control next year.

But Clr Mike Hughes blasted: "What is the point of going into a process which is going to cost £750,000 when at the end of the day the tenants do not want it."

Clr Hans Mundry, the Labour chairman of the housing policy panel, said surveys outlining tenants' wishes would be received by next February or March.

He added: "We have got to feel firm in our minds that the tenants wish us to do this."

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