CASTLE Point Council has created a high-impact campaign in its latest push to convince council tenants to tranfer to a housing association.

The council has given tenants an 87-page glossy brochure and professionally-made DVD outlining the benefits of voting for a takeover by Swan Housing Association.

The brochure, funded by the council, tenants' rent and Swan, gives details about tenants' rights and the improvements they can expect if the transfer goes ahead.

These include new modern kitchens and bathrooms, which will be installed in a rolling ten-year programme, according to need.

The council is currently carrying out only emergency repairs to properties, despite a reserve of more than £1million.

However, chief executive David Marchant said the authority could not use any of that money on council property and the best hope tenants have of getting well maintained homes lay in the transfer going ahead.

Mr Marchant said: "We can only spend money from the housing revenue account on properties. That is the money that is ring-fenced for council housing and there is not enough in that account.

"I don't think people realise we have to give £1.8million of tenants' rents back to the Government, but housing associations don't have to do that."

The brochure warns budget cuts of £300,000 would have to be made if the transfer did not go ahead. It also warns up to 12 staff may have to go.

However, Mr Marchant insisted the council was not scaremongering. He said: "It is not about threatening people. It is about being honest. It's about trying to table the real issues so tenants can make up their minds.

"If they believe their interests are best served by being under the council, then they have to make that decision. But we have to ensure they have all the information to enable them to make their minds up."

Tenants have until Monday, February 4, to return a form indicating how they might vote in a future ballot.

What if residents vote 'yes'?

If the transfer goes ahead, a local not-for-profit registered social landlord, Swallow Housing, would be created by Swan Housing to run the council homes.

It would have more than £20million to carry out a gradual ten-year programme of housing improvements, rather than the £11million the council says it has in its budget for the job.

In the first five years, the most urgent refurbishments would be carried out to bring properties up to and beyond the Government's decent homes standard.

Tenants who have already carried out modernisation in their homes would not see their work replaced, and they would retain the right to buy their properties.

The council says rents would be no different than under the council, and tenancy agreements would protect tenants' rights.

The housing association says it has also earmarked £3million to improve security for tenants, including more secure play areas for children and the installation of CCTV.