The council wants tenants to have a greater say in the service

The MP says the council has brought forward its ballot of tenants over plans to hand over its 9,000 homes to a housing association.

Shoreline Housing Partnership has been set up to take over the service.

Leaders at North East Lincolnshire council say they must go ahead with the hand-over as they have no money to deal with a massive repairs backlog.

But Mr Mitchell claims the authority are not allowing a decent time for debate.

"The ballot papers have already gone out and they are asking people to vote early - that's ahead of their own timetable," he said.

"I think they want to rush it through and give the impression it is more or less inevitable so the people will vote for it, without giving time to allow for the opposition case."

The council says it wants tenants to have a bigger say in the running of their homes if the move is approved.

The proposed company will have a board made up of five tenants, five council nominees and five independent members.