FIVE tenants have been chosen to play a key role in the future of council housing.

The choice of the tenants is the next stage of proposals by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to transfer its housing stock to a new non-profit making independent housing organisation.

The residents will sit on a shadow board, along with five councillors and five independent experts, all of whom will be unpaid.

The role would see the tenant members representing the views of other tenants as well as setting up the housing organisation.

The tenants have been named as Neil Harrison, of Skelton, who works in commercial retail, Peter Baldwin, of Lingdale, a retired publican, Vinnie Thomas, an active member of her South Bank community, Tedd Moss, of Grangetown, who has extensive experience of the building trade, and Dave Wright, of Redcar, who has six years involvement in tenant participation.

Mr Baldwin said: "This is a real opportunity for tenants to work with councillors and independent experts to give tenants the homes they deserve.

"There is a lot of work to be done, but I'm ready to face the task. We've been crying out for repairs and modernisation to our homes for years, and I want to make sure we get them."

Iain Sim, director of housing at Redcar and Cleveland council, said: "This is the first step towards giving tenants a greater involvment in the running of their homes.

"The tenant board members will act as the voice of tenants when making decisions about the shape of the new organisation. They have a crucial role to play in the future of the borough's housing."

The new organisation will be able to access funds to carry out much-needed repairs to the council's 12,000 houses.

An independent survey has shown that £56m is needed to bring the borough's council houses up to modern standards over the next five years.

The council has looked at ways of raising the money and has recommended transferring the ownership of the homes to the new housing organisation.

But the council is keen to stress the transfer will only go ahead if the Government gives its approval, and if the tenants vote in favour in a secret ballot to be held next year.

If the transfer gets the go-ahead at a vote by all council house tenants, the transfer is expected to happen in December.