A PROPOSAL to transfer the council's housing stock to a new Trust has moved a step forward.

Halton Borough Council has gained a place on the Government's housing transfer list, it has been announced.

The list comprises authorities whose applications meet its requirements for transfer. Halton is one of only seven in the North West to be accepted.

A place on the list had been held open for the council while it produced the full details needed for its application. Only a small number of councils get on the list, which allows local authorities to ballot its tenants on the transfer.

Halton has unveiled a proposal meaning tenants' homes would benefit from about £141m of repairs and improvements in the first decade, if residents give the proposed transfer the thumbs-up.

Under the plans ownership and management of the council's 6,900 homes would be transferred to Halton Housing Trust - a new independent, notfor-profit housing association set up with the help of the council.

A survey has shown that council homes in Halton need about £329m spent on them in the next 30 years to bring them up to modern standards and maintain and improve them in the future.

However, the council does not have the cash, and Government rules prevent local authorities from borrowing all the money needed to carry out the work.

But the proposed Trust would be able to borrow the money and pay it back over 30 years through revenue from rents.

Tenants' rights and entitlements would be protected. Residents would still have the right to buy their homes and their entitlement to claim Housing Benefit would not be affected.

Diana Terris, the council's executive director for social care, housing and health, said: 'We are delighted to be on the list.

'The Government's decision to include us on the 2004/05 programme means we can move forward and place our proposal in front of tenants.

'A lot of hard work has already gone into developing the proposal for tenants and we are continuing to work hard to ensure that tenants would get the best deal possible, if transfer goes ahead.'

Paul Mullins, operational director for housing, said: 'The council believes transfer is the way forward and our application's acceptance on the list is a step closer to a brighter future for our tenants.'