NEWSLETTERS informing housing tenants of management plans are being distributed to more than 11,000 east Durham homes.

The leaflet is the second of its kind to be delivered to Easington District Council tenants and is designed to keep them in touch with its proposed Arms Length Management Organisation (Almo).

Under Almo, the council will retain ownership of its houses but would set up a separate company to run and manage them.

The newsletter, called The Future for Council Housing in the District of Easington, will be put through the letterbox ex of every council-owned home.

The pamphlet will advise tenants on what an Almo is, and what it might mean for them. It will also inform residents how they can become involved and have their say about the issue.

The Government recently said that if tenants were in favour of council's setting up the new arrangements an extra £117m would be made available for the repair and improvement of council homes in the district.

The money would be additional to that which the council already has available and will be used to ensure that all council's homes meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010.

A survey and a pre-paid envelope will be enclosed with the newsletter for tenants, giving residents the chance to become involved in housing matters.

In addition, a number of public meetings and roadshows are to be held to answer tenants' questions about the introduction of Almo.

Meetings will be held at Seaham Leisure Centre on Tuesday, September 2, from 7pm to 8pm; at Pattison Gardens Community Centre, Blackhall, on Wednesday, September 3, from 10am to 11.30am; Easington Club, Easington Village, on Thursday, September 4, from 6.30pm to 8pm; Wheatley House, Wheatley Hill, on Friday, September 5, from 10am to 11.30pm and in Peterlee Methodist Church Hall, on Wednesday, September 10, from 6.30pm to 8pm.