Tenants will not be reassured by statements that the council has no plans to privatise their homes.

Some councillors will actively oppose privatisation but many will not.

Central government is applying pressure through a mixture of blackmail and bribery and tenants are right to fear the voice of reason will not prevail unless they - the people affected - are given the right to vote "no".

In the case of arm's length management, smaller-scale transfers and PFI, this is not a statutory requirement - it is up to the council to exercise its discretion.

-Ruth Arundell, Defend Council Housing, ruth@rarundell.freeserve.co.uk