Ref. 26205-21LETTERS have been sent to residents living in council-run houses across the borough offering cash of up to £1,000 to move.

The letters say the borough is 'desperately short of housing', waiting lists are lengthy and the authority wants to identify what type of incentive would persuade people to move to non-family residences.

The 1,455 letters asked whether residents would consider moving to a smaller property if the council promised to give them higher priority over others on the transfer list, £1,000 cash, payment of removal expenses, £500 worth of decoration vouchers or paid off rent arrears up to a maximum of £1,000.

But so far the council has had a five per cent response rate with just 20 people indicating they would be prepared to take up the offer.

John Taylor (Lab, Central) said: "I'm continuing to inquire as to the background of the letter and where the budget is should anyone wish to take up the offer."

Swindon Council currently has around 850 families in temporary accom- modation ranging from private lettings, which costs the council on average between £450 and £500 per month, bed and breakfast accommodation, which costs around £50 a night and council housing, which costs around £60 a week.

The authority has around 11,000 council houses and there are about 5,000 on a waiting list.

Swindon Council spokeswoman Sarah Deacon said: "This letter relates to a project set up by the housing needs task group. The group looks at the different ways in which we can try and combat homelessness.

"In May, to help establish what would motivate these tenants to move to smaller accommodation, we started a survey. At this stage no budget has been aside we're just trying to obtain what is needed as an incentive and get the required information."

The council has a statutory duty to house families who fulfil certain criteria, like those with mental health problems, those with vulnerable children and women who are pregnant. Arlene Griffin, the council's housing needs manager, said: "We would be lax not to explore all our needs because there is just not enough social housing to go round."

Former railway worker, Jimmy Fisher, 78, has rented a London Street house for the past 11 years, and was one of the residents to receive the letter. He said: "We've never had any problems with the council before, but they keep telling us they're broke and they don't have any houses, so where is all this money and these houses coming from?"

The letter came out of the blue we like this house, we're settled and don't want to move no matter what sort of incentive is offered."