Volunteers are wanted to give their views on housing issues in North Staffordshire – and they will get £20 of taxpayers’ cash for turning up.

They must attend a focus group meeting to discuss some of the problems facing home buyers in the region to get the cash.

And the taxpayer will also pay the travelling expenses to get people to and from the forums at the Fat Cat cafe bar, in Hanley.

Quangos North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership (NSRP) and Renew North Staffordshire are splashing the cash to attract the 64 volunteers needed for the three-hour sessions.

Participants must register to take part and there is a maximum of eight places in each of the eight groups. Focus group three is already full.

The project is being carried out by research company Arc4, which has been commissioned by Renew and NSRP.

Arc4 project manager Helen Brzozowski said: “Payments like this are very common for research and focus groups all around the country.

“It’s just a financial incentive. A lot of people are interested in housing. The £20 will just help to make it worth their while. It’s not a significant amount of money.

“We held focus groups in Stoke-on-Trent two years ago and paid a similar rate of incentive.”

City Councillor Brian Ward, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “As soon as I heard about this I wanted to know if the payments were at the cost of the taxpayer or the council, but it has nothing to do with the council.

“The research company has been commissioned to carry out the work and they are paying the money out of their pocket.

“Volunteers will have to spend more than three hours taking part in the consultation.

“We are currently building lots of apartments, which work well in London and Manchester, but we need to know if people in Stoke-on-Trent want to live in them.”

John Knight, aged 69, vice-chairman of Union Street and Forest Park Residents’ Association, said: “There are lots of people unemployed in the city and with the tough economic climate a lot of people will be desperate to get that £20.”

To register for a focus group call 0161 228 1689, or email contact@arc4.co.uk.