WEAR Valley District Council is to vote for an arm's-length management approach to its housing stock.

The council says it cannot afford to maintain its housing stock and achieve the decent homes standard as set out under Government guidelines.

The future of its 5,400 homes has been the subject of heated debate with tenants in recent months.

The council said that two surveys carried out with residents revealed that the majority of people are in favour of the arm's-length scheme and councillors have agreed that this is the way forward.

This will involve the council setting up a non-profit organisation to let, collect rents and repair and modernise council homes.

The council will remain the legal landlord and say the tenants will retain their existing rights including the right to buy, the right to repair and the right to manage.

This issue will be discussed at the housing services committee on Wednesday night.