Tenants have their say on future of council housing

About 50 tenants attended an inaugural conference organised by the Tenants Panel, with support from Chester-le-Street District Council and the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS).

It is hoped that future events will draw even larger numbers of residents.

Tenants' chairwoman Sue Robson said: "Tenants are firmly in the driving seat when it comes to making a decision about the future management of council housing in Chester-le-Street.

"This conference was just the first of many other events that will involve tenants across the district."

They have been urged to decide the future management and ownership of the 4,632 council-owned properties, to reach the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010.

The appraisal process, called the Housing in Your Hands initiative, was approved by the council's executive in May.

Four options were considered at the conference by the tenants.

They include the council continuing to own the housing stock and remaining as the landlord, subject to resources being available, to achieve decent homes by 2010.

Another option for the tenants is a Private Finance Initiative. This would mean forming a separate company and using money from private companies to fund improvements to the housing stock.

The other two options are an Arm's Length Management Organisation, forming a not-for-profit company that would manage and maintain the stock and a Large Scale Voluntary Transfer.

Under this scheme, the council's housing stock would be transferred to a new, not-for-profit, Registered Social Landlord.

The options appraisal is expected to conclude next May.

Councillor Isabel Smith, portfolio holder for housing, said: "Tenants are at the heart of council housing, so it is important for both the council and the Government that they are involved in decision making about the future of the homes they live in.

"Hopefully, we will have more younger tenants involved in the process as they are currently not adequately represented."