OPINION on the partial or total transfer of Waverley's 5,000 council homes to an independent body is still firmly divided, judging by a tenants' meeting this week.
About half of the 16 to 20 tenants, at a meeting chaired by Waverley's director of housing David January, still oppose the transfer of the management of the council's homes to an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO), or the transfer of the management and ownership of the homes to a non-profit making housing association.
According to one of the opponents of the two options, Donald Simpson, of Badshot Lea, who estimated about 20 tenants attended the Church House meeting, the other half either supported change or were noncommittal.
Mr Simpson claims that tenants voted 10-7 to allow Farnborough man Keith Parkins, who is not a Waverley tenant, but vehemently opposes any homes transfer, to stay in what was meant to be a tenants-only meeting, as an "independent adviser".
David January, who estimated "16 or so" attended the meeting, says the vote was "about even", but that he allowed Mr Parkins to stay regardless.
Mr Parkins claims that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott intends to review how housing associations and councils manage public housing.
It has been previously claimed, by Donald Simpson, that Mr Prescott wishes to give councils the same borrowing rights as housing associations.
Currently, councils cannot borrow as much money as housing associations. And this is largely why Waverley believes it needs to go down the ALMO or stock transfer route, in order to pay for £78 million of repairs to bring its houses up to the government's "decent homes" standard, and to pay for other "essential or important" repairs.
Mr January said this week that Mr Simpson had been referring to a failed motion by Mr Prescott at the Labour Party conference last month.
He added that Mr Prescott subsequently said something that indicated he intends a housing review, but, he said, until any change becomes law, the council will continue to consult tenants on the housing options.
The council intends to complete the consultation and analysis of its results by January, at which point it will seek government approval to go for either the ALMO or stock transfer option.
If stock transfer is the favoured option, tenants will be balloted. A ballot is not required by the government for the ALMO option and Mr January believes the council will not ballot if that is the preferred option.
Responding to unfavourable reports about Pavilion Housing Association, Mr January cited eight examples of housing associations - including ones in Hart, east Hampshire and Surrey Heath as - "performing well" with good Audit Commission reports.