A GROUP of residents is among those chosen to play a key role in the future of an area's council housing.

Five Redcar and Cleveland Borough tenants have been appointed to sit on the shadow board of a new independent housing organisation.

The board was established in the wake of last month's announcement by the borough council that it plans to transfer the ownership and management of its 12,000 homes to the organisation. It will also include five councillors and five independent experts.

The tenants' role will be to represent their fellow residents and help the organisation to become established.

One of those chosen, Vinnie Jones, of South Bank, near Middlesbrough, said: "I think the board is a good idea and it will most certainly give tenants a strong voice. I'm looking forward to contributing and I think it will be very exciting."

An independent survey has revealed that £56m is required to bring the authority's council housing up to standard.

It is anticipated that the independent organisation, which unlike the council, is in a position to borrow money from elsewhere, will do so to finance the necessary improvements.

Iain Sim, the borough director of housing and direct services, said: "This is the first step towards giving tenants a greater involvement in the running of their homes. They have a crucial role to play in the future of the borough's housing."