“Improving our relationship with Tenants & Residents” FFOTRA AGM 23 rd February 2016 John Mills Head of Housing Services Th!nk Change
Content • My role as Head of Housing Services • Changing the culture of Housing Services • Improving our relationship • What we need to do together - collaborative approach • Updates – Outcomes from 2015 Tenant Conference – 2015 Allocations Policy Review • Next steps Th!nk Change
My role • My role is to lead … not to manage • So if I need to ‘lead’ and not ‘do’, what does leadership mean for the Head of Housing? – Seeing the bigger picture for housing – Influencing that picture – Raising Fife’s profile nationally (CIH, ALACHO, TPAS/TIS, Scottish Government) – Changing the focus/culture of Housing Services – Focussing on our tenants & residents Th!nk Change
Changing Housing Services • We need a culture change: – Moving to a ‘make it happen’ approach – Less bureaucratic – More face2face in the field or direct contact with tenants/customers – More communication with tenants and staff (4x Down Your Street every year; monthly Home Truths) – Ensuring tenant satisfaction rates are ‘best in class’ Th!nk Change
Changing our relationship with tenants & residents • Council Priorities: – Tenants at the heart of Housing Services – Equal partnership with the Federations / progress through discussion and agreement rather than conflict – Growing the capacity of the tenants’ & residents’ movement – Implementing the 2015 Tenant Participation Strategy Th!nk Change
What we need to do together – collaborative approach • Build trust relationships with the Tenant Federations • Constructive dialogue and action through: – Fife Tenants’ Forum – Tenants’ Scrutiny Group • Develop 7 Area Tenants’ & Residents’ Forums • Stimulate tenant & resident engagement and participation / new methods • Increase investment in tenant participation / supported by efficiency • Housing Services taking more of a direct role in tenant participation / Tenant Participation Officers Th!nk Change
Updates – 2015 Tenant Conference • Example of positive engagement between tenants and staff on: – Allocations / community / services / rents / investment / satisfaction • Agenda shaped by tenants / potential for greater tenant role in 2016 event? • Feedback summarised in a report • Feedback informing Council decisions Feb 16 Th!nk Change
Updates – 2015 Allocations Policy Review • 9 policy improvements/options agreed by the Policy Advisory Group • Executive Committee agreed to consult • Scottish Government has delayed the 2014 Housing Act statutory guidance to June 2016 • Policy options need to be proofed against the guidance • Formal consultation will follow later in 2016 Th!nk Change
Next Steps • Federation grant funding to be considered by Executive Committee March 2016 • TRA funding to be agreed April 2016 • New support for Tenant Forum • Progression of Scrutiny Group training • New frontline staff structures April 2016 Th!nk Change
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