Agenda item

6.1

The Committee received a report of the Challenge for Change Tenant Scrutiny Group containing a progress update against the recommendations made by the Group following its review of community engagement, presented to this Committee at its meeting in September 2014.

6.2

In attendance for the item were Catherine Hill (Manager, Community Engagement, Council Housing Service, Communities), Nassim Koriba (Manager, Communications, Resources) and Tina Gilbert (Assistant Manager, Business Strategy, Communities).

6.3

Tina Gilbert introduced the report, indicating that tenants had been invited to attend this meeting.

6.4

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                There was no specific reference to how Job Centres had been involved as this had been considered to be part of the Council Housing Service’s ongoing work.  The Council does not have any powers to instruct Job Centres. 

·                When people signed up for a Council property, the Council would obtain as much information as possible about that person.  They would also be asked for their preferred method of being contacted, with a significant number of tenants choosing e-mail.  This had resulted in the number of e-mail addresses on the Council’s database growing considerably over the last few years, and had been recognised as the quickest, easiest and most cost-effective method of contacting tenants. They have been contacted by this method to promote tenant participation and activity, as well as being informed of a number of initiatives and campaigns.  In addition, major cost savings in terms of printing and delivery costs had been made in connection with the distribution of the tenants’ newsletter, which is sent out three times a year.

·                The Council Housing Service was very optimistic in terms of the opportunities and benefits Housing Plus could bring with regard to enabling people to live independently in good quality homes.  It could also help to promote those areas which had Tenants and Residents’ Associations (TARAs), as well as providing intelligence to TARAs on a range of issues. 

·                All TARAs had to comply with an agreed policy, which had helped to strengthen the Council’s ability to challenge such organisations when required.  The Council Housing Service worked closely with all TARAs, both to support them and ensure that they acted within the agreed policy.  However, as such organisations were self-governed, it was accepted that issues in terms of their operation could arise.

6.5

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       notes the contents of the report now submitted, together with the comments now made and the responses provided to the questions raised; and

(b)       thanks the officers in attendance for responding to the questions raised and for the excellent work undertaken in connection with Challenge for Change.