A HOUSING chief has angrily denied claims that there are secret plans to sell off Bolton's 20,000 council houses.

Cllr Noel Spencer, chairman of Bolton's housing committee, hit out a Bolton Council meeting last night.

He said that they were committed to "the retention of local democracy and accountability within the ambit of the local authority."

His comments came after Tory deputy leader Cllr John Walsh said that the word privatisation was included in documents presented to a meeting of trade unions and council officials.

He said that the idea was "one which I found interesting and attractive."

But Cllr Spencer quickly quashed any suggestion that it was something the housing department was planning to put into practice.

He said that it was among a number of terms mentioned at a three day event where unions and management discussed ways of achieving "best value" for council service.

He said it came up in a minute on a document describing various options open to local authorities.

But he added: "It is not a policy stance or an option."

He added that the department is currently looking at "alternative funding" for the upkeep of council homes.

As already reported in the BEN, the housing department is looking at securing funding from private financial institutions for carrying out major re-vamps of Bolton's housing stock.

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