CIVIC chiefs have agreed to 'refresh' the council's relationship with Poole Housing Partnership. (PHP)

Borough of Poole's (BOP) cabinet voted to back the current arrangement with PHP, following recommendations from the council's overview and scrutiny committee which met in December.

Speaking after the cabinet decision, BOP's housing and community services portfolio holder Cllr Karen Rampton said: "The independent review highlighted the requirement for PHP to work with the council to further develop strategic priorities for our communities.

"Cabinet unanimously supported the recommendations in the report and welcomed the opportunity to refresh the relationship between the two organisations."

PHP is the arms length management organisation which deals with the day-to-day running of the borough's social housing stock.

There had been calls within BOP to bring management back in-house, in a bid to save money.

Last year consultant firm Campbell Tickell was tasked by the council to carry out an independent strategic review of its management options.

The residents' response was an overwhelming 89 per cent customer satisfaction rating for PHP.

Indeed, a petition backing PHP signed by 350 of its tenants was also handed in a BOP's headquarters.

Avril King, chairman of the tenant involvement and empowerment panel at Sterte Court, said: "I'm a tenant with PHP and the help they've given to our community has been beyond amazing. Whereas, BOP, you have to struggle to get anywhere with them."

Cllr Rampton said: "Cabinet also welcomed the recommendation from the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) to take legal advice in relation to putting in place an earlier break clause than five years.

"This recommendation was made in the context of the Local Government Review when any potential new council will need to make the best possible decisions about the management of its housing stock.

"We will now take specialist legal advice as soon as possible so that discussions can begin between the two organisations about this agreement at the earliest opportunity.”