COUNCIL tenants in the Stockton area can find out more about the future of their homes from information roadshows next week.

Stockton Borough Council is staging a series of roadshows on a proposal, known as Arms Length, which will change the management structure of council homes.

The shows coincide with the delivery of a brochure on the topic to tenants and leaseholders across the borough.

Under the Arms Length management scheme, a new non-profit making company, made up of a board of tenants, councillors, and independent community representatives, would take over the day-to-day running of the council's housing stock from April 1 this year, in a partnership agreement with the council.

The council would still own the housing, remain as the landlord, and all the tenants' existing rights would remain the same.

Stalls and a mobile display unit will be turning out at Billingham, Stockton and Thornaby markets next week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively, from 10am to 3pm, so tenants can ask questions about the proposal. The roadshow will also visit Roseworth on Tuesday.

The council's mobile housing centre will be going around rural estates to ensure that tenants there have a chance to put any questions they have to staff.

Stockton is just one of eight authorities nationwide to have been chosen to pilot the new approach to the management of its housing stock.

But the scheme, which brings with it additional borrowing approvals of a massive £44.5m to pay for repairs and improvements to council homes across the borough, can only go ahead if it has the approval of housing tenants.

The council and new company would also need to demonstrate to government inspectors that excellent housing services would be provided under the scheme.

Later this month, tenants' views will be sought in a postal survey and vote. Survey slips will be sent out to tenants from next week, and the deadline for responses will be Monday, January 28.

The council has also set up a free hotline to field inquiries, on 0800 028 1764.