HOUSING chiefs have reassured people taking part in a crucial ballot that their votes will remain secret, despite admitting that each polling form has a number which allows them to trace tenants.

And the company running the election on behalf of the council has also pledged to keep the votes of individual tenants secret from Blackburn with Darwen Council and stressed it is there to help prevent vote rigging and fraud.

Fears were raised among tenants, 12,000 of whom are being asked to cast their vote to decide whether Blackburn with Darwen Council's housing stock should be transferred to a private, non-profit making company Twin Valley Homes.

A unique reference number identifying each ballot paper is on the voting forms which have started to be delivered to council tenants across the borough.

Some were concerned the number would identify them and allow information about how they voted be used against them in the future.

Jim Buckley of Ulverston Close in Blackburn was one of those concerned and called it "the thin end of the wedge". He said: "If I happened to vote against this transfer then at some time in the future they could hold that against me. It's wrong and should not be allowed to happen." It is hoped the transfer, if approved by the council tenants, would mean more than £107million over five years will be spent on improving people's homes.

Unlike the council, which has massive housing debts, the company would be able to borrow cash from the private sector to fund the improvements.

A recent survey showed that £130million is needed to be spent to bring the council's homes up to scratch.

Phil Richards, head of housing at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said he could understand people's worries but stressed the council would not be told how individuals voted, even though each tenant had their own number.

He said: "It's a secret ballot. Our interest is to make sure people who have not voted have to chance to have their say." He said those who had not voted would be sent a reminder to urge them to take part in the ballot.

He said: "I give people 100 per cent assurance that it's absolutely confidential which way people vote."

He said the ballot would cost around £10,000 to send out the forms and have them counted by Electoral Reform Services which is carrying it out on their behalf.

He explained the organisation had been chosen because they had carried out most of the other ballots for councils transferring their housing stock to private companies, as well as trade union ballots.

Sian Roberts, deputy chief executive of Electoral Reform Services, said the reference number had been requested by tenant groups in the past because it allowed her organisation to track those people changing tenancies and ensure everyone has a chance to vote. She added that the number was also there to prevent fraud and people sending in multiple votes.

The council will not be told the results of the vote until Friday November 29.