WAVERLEY officers predict that a massive cash boost of £1 million proposed to be put into a housing scheme for teachers, emergency services and health workers, could benefit just 20 households.

In a report to be presented to Waverley Borough Council's executive committee on Tuesday, officers recommend the hefty sum is injected into a housing scheme known as "Do It Yourself Shared Ownership".

This scheme, which despite receiving more than £200,000 this year, has housed just 12 key workers, allows housing association tenants to buy a share of their home and to pay the rent to make up the remainder of the property's value.

Homes worth a maximum of £145,000 will be considered for the scheme.

If the proposal is given the green light, Waverley officers say it will "allow approximately 20 essential workers in local services to purchase their own property who would otherwise be unable to do so".

The £1 million is proposed to be set aside from the local authority social housing grant and to be used over the years 2002 to 2003 and split over the years 2004 and 2005.

But the officers report also highlights the potential impact on the proposal of a recent government initiative aiming to force debt-free councils such as Waverley to redistribute assets from the sale of their council houses to less affluent areas.

The report states: "the Bill's progress will be closely followed."

The proposal to use funds from the grant on the key- worker scheme comes in response to the disturbing results of a housing needs survey carried out by the borough council last year.

This survey showed households need to earn a minimum average of £30,000 per year to afford "even the cheapest property in Waverley".

As well as looking to inject the £1 million, Waverley officers have proposed to widen the range of occupations to be considered as housing priorities.

Previously, teachers, health workers, and a few other Surrey County Council employees such as firefighters were included under the "key worker" umbrella. Now officers propose to widen the group by including people such as bus drivers, care workers and social workers.

Members of the executive will discuss the proposals at their meeting on Tuesday night.