Tenants have become equal partners with Bradford Council in a historic agreement signed up in City Hall.

The scheme means the housing books will be thrown open and tenants will see how their rent is spent.

They have also been promised an equal say on what happens on their estates, instead of being told what will happen.

It was said to follow "spectacular housing mistakes" in Bradford, which did not involve the tenants.

Bradford Council is the first metropolitan authority in Britain and the first council in Yorkshire to launch a tenant participation compact scheme - a new Government initiative to give residents a major role.

And Yorkshire and Humberside Government officers who attended the launch said the model would go to the Department of Environment and Transport in the Regions in London where it would be used as an example to authorities wanting to set up their own schemes.

Bradford North MP Terry Rooney said at the launch: "There have been some spectacular mistakes in housing made in Bradford by the politicians and professionals. The tenants haven't made the mistakes because they are not looking at votes and budgets. They have down-to-earth common sense which will be very useful."

He said there had been tension in the past but trust on both sides was important for it to work.

The project follows a year-long consultation with thousands of tenants about concerns and targets for the future.

The programme covering the next two years could see tenants getting a direct feed into political decisions, being able to measure the Council's performance and getting a say in services.

Chairman of the district's Tenant Federation John Rawnsley said they would monitor the project to ensure that targets were implemented and would take action if it failed.

The Council's Executive Member for Homes and Environment, Councillor Jim O'Neill, said: "I am delighted that through the efforts of our officers and the partnership with the district federation, we are the first metropolitan authority to sign up the compact."

Peter Hatherall, vice chairman of High Rise Tenants and Residents Association, Thorpe Edge, said the agreement was good news.

"It's an excellent idea and hopefully it will mean we have a direct say on what happens," he said.

"In the past we've seen ridiculous things done. There were some flats that were fitted with new double glazed windows and balconies - to be knocked down 18 months later. Hopefully, this will mean we can stop that sort of thing happening again.

"Also when we are given rent rises people would know exactly where the money was going and would probably less likely to object."

Mr Hatherall added residents living in Thorpe Edge would like to see more money spent on repairs. Because we actually live here we know exactly where the money should be spent," he said.

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