A COUNCIL'S programme to bring its houses up to national standards will take an important step forward in the new year.

Tenants of Chester-le-Street District Council will be asked to decide on the future management and ownership of the council-owned properties, which must meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010.

Residents have been urged to turn out to a meeting at the town's Red Lion pub from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, January 22, to discuss the Stock Options Appraisal.

The meeting, presided over by the Tenant Participation Advisory Service, forms part of a consultation for a five-year programme of improvements - and follows a series of roadshows.

A programme worth £3.5m, ending in March, has already seen the replacement of 200 windows and doors, and the installation of 215 new heating systems and 169 new kitchens and bathrooms.

David Hucker, interim director of housing and community services, said the full programme was worth at least £20m for essential work.

He said that consultation with the tenants had shown that they would prefer to see the full replacement of all windows, doors, kitchens, bathrooms and central heating systems.

Mr Hucker said: "To achieve this across the council's stock of 5,000 homes would lift the cost to £50m, which the authority has no means of funding."

Mr Hucker said that the first option to be considered by residents would see the council retain ownership and management of the homes, but this would not meet people's desire for more funding.

Residents could also opt for an arm's-length management organisation, which would mean the council keeping ownership but contracting out the management of the housing stock.

Mr Hucker said another option would be a total stock transfer to a not-for-profit registered social landord. This, he said, would be the only realistic way of achieving the full £50m programme.

If the meeting decided on a large-scale transfer, it could not take place before a full ballot was carried out.

Porfolio holder for housing and community services Councillor Isabel Smith said last night: "This is an exciting time for the council and its tenants. This is the first time we have been able to look at a comprehensive improvement programme for our council housing.

"In previous years, this has been done on an annual basis leading to constant re-tendering and a stop-start approach.

"The needs and aspirations of the tenant are paramount to the stock options decisions."