TENANTS are being urged to attend a meeting that will help decide the future of 8,000 council homes.

As part of a review ordered by the Government, Derwentside District Council is looking at options for the management of its housing stock.

Four proposals will be put to residents at a tenants conference next week.

Graham Gowland, one of the project officers, said: "It is vitally important that as many tenants as possible come to the conference to have their say. This event is not run by the council and is a chance for tenants to choose what sort of standards of housing they want."

The first proposal would see an arm's-length management organisation set up to run it. A similar move by Easington District Council involves the authority receiving £23.6m of Government cash to refurbish its properties.

The second option is for a registered social landlord to take over the housing, while the third would see homes upgraded through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme.

The final proposal would see the council retain full control of all its stock.

Tenants will be asked to give views on decent housing standards, such as how often they expect their bathrooms and kitchens to be replaced.

Delegates representing about 30 tenants and residents associations are attending, but the council wants many more to turn up.

The conference will be run by independent body the Tenant Participation and Advisory Service (Tpas).

It is the first step in its appraisal process, which will end with Tpas making a recommendation to the council in August on the tenants' preferred option.

The final decision will take up to three years to implement and will govern the way council homes are maintained until at least 2010.

The conference is in Lanchester Community Centre, Lanchester, near Durham, on Saturday, February 14, 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Free transport and creche facilities are available and there will be a buffet and prize draw. For further details, contact Tpas on 0800 1691814, or Mr Gowland on (01207) 218730.