REPRESENTATIVES of local authorities across the country came to Basingstoke to learn useful lessons from the Borough Council.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which achieved Beacon status this year for providing affordable housing, invited delegates to The ARK Conference Centre at Basingstoke hospital to share expertise.

The Beacon Open Day showcased the council's partnership with local housing associations and launched an interactive website profiling its work.

More than 100 delegates took part in workshops and a bus tour of housing developments in the borough, including Binfields, Victory Hill and the regeneration of Oakridge.

Councillor Laura James, Cabinet member for housing, health and homes, said: "We were delighted to be one of four local authorities to achieve Beacon status for affordable housing.

"Our policies make a real change and a real difference to people's lives."

She added: "The e-learning tool is going to be an incredible tool for people to access, looking at what we have achieved and sharing our experiences."

Fiona Cruickshank, director for the Housing Corporation in the South East, addressed the delegates and praised housing provision in Basingstoke.

Ms Cruickshank said: "The only way we are ever going to provide places where people want to live now and in the future is if we - the Housing Corporation, councils and housing associations - work well together."

But council chiefs acknowledged they cannot rest on their laurels and still have problems to sort out, including finding homes for more than 5,000 people still on their housing register.

First published: Monday, October 10, 2005