The first step in Richmond Council's plan to let private firms take over the running of its 7,500 council houses will be taken at an extraordinary meeting tonight, Thursday, September 24.

Liberal Democrat councillors, who control the local authority, believe privatisation is the only way to eat into a £33 million backlog of urgent repairs to bring homes up to standard.

Council leader David Williams said: "The reason we have reluctantly gone down this path is because we are unable to fund even the routine levels of repairs, let alone do the modernisation which tenants want.

"It is not our ideal solution because we think councils are in the business of providing public services but we have realised that it is impossible to cope with the backlog of repairs.

"The prime reason for doing this is a better deal for the tenants and the final decision will be made by them."

The extraordinary full council meeting was called following a housing committee meeting held behind closed doors last week at which opposition politicians put the brakes on privatisation of housing.

Councillor Tony Arbour, leader of the Conservative group, claimed the most important decision on housing which the council had ever taken was being "railroaded" through because a government deadline for registering an interest was last week.

And he condemned the council for going ahead with its privatisation plan even before it was confirmed at tonight's meeting.

"That decision suggests David Williams regards Richmond's Liberal Democrat councillors as clones who make Dolly the Sheep look like an individualist," he said.

Mr Arbour dubbed the council leader as the "Twickenham tyrant" who in return flayed Tory and Labour councillors for "cynically" blocking privatisation.

Tonight's full council meeting starts at 7pm in York House, Richmond Road, Twickenham, and is open to all members of the public.

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