A COUNCIL is one of 40 local authorities which are pilotting an exercise to find out more about local people's special requirements.

The exercise, which comes under Stockton Borough Council's Supporting People programme, is part of the Government's plan to transfer funding for housing-related support services to councils from April 2003.

To prepare for the transfer, the council must develop a strategy over the next 12 months.

This should enable it to develop services for people, including the elderly in sheltered housing, and those in their own homes who need help to remain there.

It will also include young homeless people who need a stable home with practical and emotional support.

The exercise involves support service providers, and voluntary and statutory organisations.

The council has already identified more than 80 providers, and more than 150 schemes or services in the borough, who must all be asked for details of their work.

After the initial needs mapping exercise, there will be regular consulations, with the aim of gradually improving understanding of the pattern of support needs over a number of years.

The information gained from the exercise will be used to build up a picture of the needs of vulnerable people and to identify gaps in current services. It will also be used to help in the process of developing new and improved schemes where possible.