TENANTS in Castle Point are to be surveyed about why they voted against the transfer of their homes to a housing association.

At the council's cabinet meeting, members voted to approve a consultation likely to take months, involving questionnaires and face-to-face meetings.

However, Wendy Goodwin, councillor responsible for housing, insisted the council was not considering a rerun of the ballot.

She said: "The ballot wasn't a failed exercise. We were directed down this route and a lot of useful information has come from this.

"We need to look at what was the reason they voted no in such great numbers and try to find out what the problems are they have got."

She added a survey of residents ahead of the ballot earlier this year suggested tenants would vote in favour of the transfer and, because of the difference in outcome, it was important to analyse the result of the ballot.

The council wanted to transfer its housing stock to Swan Housing Association as the organisation would have had access more cash to improve the homes. By law the council must bring all of its housing up to the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010.

Mrs Goodwin said: "We have got to look at our budgets and how we are going to manage to bring the homes up to standard.

"It is not something that will happen quickly."