THE borough council and Waterways Housing have jointly signed a tenants' charter.

The document lists the key promises made by the council to tenants in the Formal Consultation Document, which was delivered to every council tenant in January.

The key promises, which include £50m of investment in homes, services and communities, and protected rights, would be delivered by Waterways Housing if transfer goes ahead.

The charter gives assurances that all the promises being made about the future of tenants' homes and housing service would be kept.

The board of Waterways and the council would work in part-nership to deliver the £50m programme of repairs and improvements in the first five years.

Councillor Justin Madders, chairman of the Special Housing Stock Transfer committee, said: 'The signing of the tenants' charter proves that Waterway Housing is committed to keeping all the promises that have been made to tenants.

'The council believes that transfer is the best solution. But transfer is not a foregone conclusion - it is for tenants to decide.'

Chairman of Waterways Housing shadow board, tenant David Harding, said: 'I know tenants have been worried about the transfer proposal and the change to a new organisation. However, this charter has been put in place to give tenants added reassurance that they and their homes will be protected and they would get better value for money if transfer goes ahead.

'I am a tenant and understand tenants' concerns, but I would not have got involved with the transfer proposal if I did not think it would make a real difference for the better to tenants' lives.'

If tenants have any questions about the transfer proposal, they can ring the council's free-phone information line on 0800 073 1465 or the independent tenants' adviser, TACT@DOME Consultants, on 0800 919 994.