Shapps in £8m Pledge To Allow Tenants to Manage Own Homes

England's four million council housing tenants hold the key to improving their own neighbourhoods, said Housing Minister Grant Shapps. Mr Shapps argued that some of the best examples of people contributing to the Big Society can be found on England's council estates - looking out for their neighbours and making efforts to make their streets better places to live. Yet only two per cent of council properties are run and managed by the tenants themselves. So the minister has backed tenants looking to build the Big Society in their neighbourhoods with up to £8m government cash. This money will be used to set up Tenants Panels where the key decisions to improve the local area can be made - such as how quickly repairs should be made, measures to make their streets safer and children's play schemes. The panels can also be used to hold landlords to account. The Minister is also planning to reduce bureaucracy and red tape to make it easier for tenants across the country to use their Right to Manage their council-run properties, take responsibility for managing their home from their landlords and take control for themselves. Read more on the CLG website.