A NEW group to run Bury's council houses could bring in millions of pounds for vital improvements.

That's the thinking of the Bury Housing Options Project Board, which has voted unanimously to hand over the running of 9,000 local authority homes to an Arm's Length Management Organisation (ALMO).

The options board, comprised of tenant representatives, councillors, town hall officers and trade union Unison, is asking the council's executive to adopt ALMO as its preferred option. The alternatives are: keeping the status quo, a mass sell-off of council houses, or seeking PFI cash for modernisation.

Under ALMO, the council remains the landlord, but hands over much of the day-to-day running of the houses, from rent collection and allocations to repairs. Tenants would be among the members of an independent management board.

Experts say the council needs £66 million over the next ten years to bring Bury's public housing up to acceptable standards. However, the council is likely to have only £45 million to spend. Setting up an ALMO would mean that Bury could bid for more cash from the Government to bridge the £21 million gap.

However, any extra cash depends on the council's housing management and repairs service getting a "two star" rating from Best Value inspectors. If everything goes to plan, the ALMO could be in charge within two years.

Councillors on the executive meet on July 9 to choose their preferred option. This will be followed by consultation with tenants and employees through the summer, with a final decision taken in October.

Council staff who would be affected by the change are to be briefed on July 10 following the executive meeting.