COUNCILLORS have sidelined a plan to appoint a £30,000-a-year officer who would publicise the transfer of council homes to a private company.

Members of Blackburn with Darwen Council's housing committee approved the rest of a £130,000 plan which may lead to the transfer, but baulked at the prospect of appointing a public relations officer.

Councillors did, however, leave the door open for the appointment of either an officer or an agency to be made later in the year - provided the Government gives its permission for the council to start the process of housing transfer. The rest of the £130,000 will be spent on:

A housing condition survey, which the Government insists on seeing done before giving permission for transfer.

A so-called "tenants' friend" to offer tenants impartial advice before they decide on whether they want to see a transfer take place.

Consultants who specialise in stock transfers and will oversee the legal aspects of the transfer.

The council also needs to spend cash on drawing up a strategy should tenants vote to retain the council as their landlord.

Labour Coun Michael Barrett said: "I understand the need to appoint consultants and I am keen on the idea of a tenants' friend. "What we are not happy about is we can't see the need at this stage to appoint a public relations officer for £30,000.

"If we look at what has happened up and down the country, some of these public relations companies which are brought in have one agenda, which is selling our tenants that transfer is the only option out there.

"We already have public relations within the town hall."

Liberal Democrat Coun David Foster agreed that an officer should not be appointed straight away but asked for assurances that, should the council get permission for stock transfer, procedures will immediately be put in place for an appointment to be made.

Conservative Coun John Williams said he hoped Labour's decision not to appoint a public relations officer straight away was not a sign of "back tracking" from the decision to pursue a stock transfer strategy.

Labour Coun Mike Madigan replied: "We are not back-tracking. What we are saying is that we are not convinced our public relations department is overworked."

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