RESIDENTS have accused their local authority of robbing them of the right to vote on the future of their homes.

The accusation comes after Wear Valley District Council members voted in favour of an arm's-length management (ALMO) approach to its housing stock.

The council says it cannot afford to maintain its housing stock and achieve the decent homes standard as set out under Government guidelines.

The future of its 5,400 homes has been the subject of heated debate with tenants in recent months.

The council said that two surveys carried out with residents revealed that the majority of people are in favour of an ALMO and councillors have agreed that this is the way forward.

This will involve the council setting up a non-profit organisation to let, collect rents and repair and modernise council homes.

The council will remain the legal landlord and say the tenants will retain their existing rights including the right to buy, the right to repair and the right to manage.

Coun Jeff Gale, a member of the council's housing committee said: "We have decided to set up this ALMO to improve our services to customers.

"A recent survey showed that the majority of customers support ALMO. A successful ALMO will bring in millions of pounds to modernise homes."

But Norman Button, from the Woodhouse Close Residents Association, said that the residents do not want ALMO and that they should be allowed to take a vote on the future of their own homes.

He said: "Six to seven people took away the rights of 7,000 tenants to decide on the future of their own homes.

"We have asked time and again for a ballot but the council has not responded. That's because they know that the residents on Woodhouse Close will vote against ALMO if they do."

Michael Laing, director of housing at the council, said that a decision had yet to be made.

He said: "This issue will be discussed in detail at the housing services committee on Wednesday night.

"We haven't made any decision and the options will be put to members then."