A HUGE consultation exercise has started to tell council tenants of changes planned to bring millions of pounds in home improvements.

Redcar and Cleveland borough, which has 12,000 council homes in Redcar and East Cleveland, hopes to switch their care to a new not-for-profit company.

The council says the company would be able to apply for grants, which it is unable to do. The move has come about because the council believes there is a big shortfall in investment in the homes. Most lack facilities like central heating.

On Tuesday an information caravan started a whistlestop tour of 36 visits. It pulled up in Liverton Mines with Mayor Vilma Collins and Barbara Bowater, lead councillor for housing, on board.

Over the next two weeks, tenants can also expect a knock on the door as 60 volunteers start to call on every council home to answer questions or concerns.

The consultations, carried out under strict Government guidelines, aim to give tenants the information needed to vote for or against the new company in a transfer ballot later this summer.

If tenants vote in favour, the new organisation - which would be called Coast and Country Housing - would allow an investment of £155m in the first five years and a further £415m over the company's 30-year life.

Iain Sim, director of housing, said the council was also sending every tenant the 40-page offer document, a newsletter and a ten-minute video. Eric Barton, from the council's transfer team, said informal feedback from tenants suggested they were in favour of the move.

The bus will be at Redcar High Street tomorrow, Roseberry Square at Redcar on Tuesday, Wandhill at Boosbeck on Wednesday and Dorset Road, Guisborough, on Thursday.