Tenants look set to have more say in council decisions that affect their lives.

The 13,000 residents across the district will be able to get involved through residents' associations, estate forums and tenant management organisations.

They will also have the chance to speak out on budgets and decisions about their homes.

Basildon councillors agreed a consultation period should begin to gauge responses to the idea of tenants having more of a voice.

It is also proposed to set up a new complaints procedure to deal with problems between the council and tenants as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The suggestions have been put forward as a council response to the Government's new Best Value policy.

It requires district councils to set out clear objectives for their housing service taking into account local residents' views and for county councils to do the same for education and social services.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: "Best Value is part of the Government's way of trying to restructure local government.

"The council already does 99 per cent of what the Best Value asks us to do for tenants.

"We are a listening council and what we're now doing is looking at our procedures and seeing how we can improve them by working closely with tenants."

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