Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Housing and Health on the Tenant Involvement Strategy.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Health on the Tenant Involvement Strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Assets and Property Services and Deputy Leader outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

• Under the Regulator of Social Housing’s Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard, Registered Providers (RPs) must take tenants’ views into account in their decision-making about how landlord services are delivered.

RESOLVED that the updated Mid Devon Housing Tenant Involvement Strategy and Equality Impact Assessment contained in Annexes A and B respectively as recommended by the Home Policy Development Group be adopted.

(Proposed by Cllr S Clist and Seconded by Cllr J Lock)

Reason for Decision:

Homes and social housing were a clear priority within the Corporate Plan. The Council would work closely with its tenants to ensure they felt safe, secure and happy in their homes. The Council would monitor and continue to improve overall tenant satisfaction and work with its tenants through engagement events and the broader Tenant Involvement Strategy. This would ensure they were informed and had clear opportunities to comment on and shape the housing service they received.

Note:* Report previously circulated.

To receive a report from the Head of Housing and Health updating the Tenant Involvement Strategy.

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Health. Under the Regulator of Social Housing’s Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard Registered Providers (RPs) must take tenants’ views into account in their decision-making about how landlord services are delivered.

The contents of the report were outlined with particular reference to the following:

·       The Tenant Involvement Strategy for 2025-2030 set out a clear vision for strengthening tenant engagement over the next five years, ensuring tenants have a meaningful role in shaping the services they receive.

·       Tenant involvement was at the heart of delivering an excellent housing service. The Transparency Influence and Accountability Standard, introduced in April 2024 required the Council to work more closely with tenants to ensure their voices shaped the way the Council delivered services. This was not just about meeting regulations but about building stronger, more engaged communities and ensuring the Council was accountable to our tenants.

·       The strategy was built around four core principles which were strengthening engagement and participation, communication and insight, accountability and fairness, respect and diversity. This built on progress made since 2021. The Council had come quite far since its last strategy, engagement had improved, it was more meaningful, tenant’s were being listened to who had never had interactions with the Council before. The year ahead would see co-opted tenants joining the Homes PDG. All round the service was better aligning its commitment to continuous improvement. However, there was still more to do to ensure all tenants felt engaged and able to participate in a way that suited them. The hope was that this strategy would help support that.

·       Included as well was a one year action plan, this would be updated yearly as the next 5 years progressed to ensure the service was implementing this strategy as agreed.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:

The updated Mid Devon Housing Tenant Involvement Strategy and Equality Impact Assessment contained in Annexes A and B respectively be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr A Glover and seconded by Cllr J Cairney)

Reason for the decision

As a registered provider (RP) of social housing, the Council was obliged to take account of the standards contained within the revised regulatory framework which was administered by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). This stated that RPs must take tenants’ views into account in their decision-making about how landlord services were delivered.

Note: * Report previously circulated.