PENDLE councillors have backed plans to sell off all the borough's council houses.

But no decisions can be made without the support of the majority of tenants who will have the final say in a secret ballot.

The council, like all local authorities, was required to carry out an appraisal of its housing stock by 2005 and set up a working group, which included tenants, to oversee the process.

The group looked at four possible options for the borough's council housing: keeping the council as landlord, setting up an arm's length company to manage it, using the private finance initiative to secure additional investment, and transferring the homes to a new registered social landlord.

At a meeting of the council's executive committee, tenants Elsa Holden and Barry Shields, who were on the working group, told members that they supported the sale of council housing to a social landlord.

Barry Shields said: "We think it is the best way to improve homes to a high standard and building new ones. It would also ensure that management and control of the properties would stay in Pendle.

"Stock transfer best meets the aspirations of tenants now and in the future."

This view was backed by committee members who voted unanimously to recommend that the full council agrees to the transfer.

If the full council gives its approval a ballot of tenants would then be held to seek their approval.

Coun David Clegg moved the recommendation and thanked tenants who had been involved in the working group.

He said: "These tenants need thanking for all the work they have put into this."

Coun David Whipp voted in favour of stock transfer, but added that he was concerned about the £400,000 cost of the ballot if tenants then voted against the proposal.

He said: "We need to make sure we get this right. I am desperately anxious that if this goes to ballot that it is carried. If it isn't, then a lot of money has gone down the drain.

"When it gets to that stage we need to be confident that all the tenants are fully in favour."

Before any recommendation goes to the full council the council's development and scrutiny committee will be asked to examine the options and report back to the executive committee.