Agenda item
Proposed changes to Area Housing Boards
This report proposes to move from the current Area Housing Board structure to a model based on a more open style consultation approach which will continue to focus on scrutiny and monitoring by residents of housing service delivery but will aim to significantly increase the numbers of council tenants participating in such events.
Minutes:
Members considered the report which proposed to move from the current area housing board structure to a model based on a more open style consultation approach which would continue to focus on scrutiny and monitoring by residents of housing service delivery but would aim to significantly increase the numbers of council tenants participating in such events.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the four existing Area Housing Boards (“AHBs”) be dissolved and replaced with a new structure, as outlined in the report circulated, as a forum for consultation with council tenants;
(ii) that the new open forum structure be established with no geographical boundaries within the borough of Brent;
(iii) that four meetings be held each year on a rotating basis in the same geographical areas as the current AHBs, e.g. Wembley at the Town Hall, Harlesden and Brentfield/St Raphael’s at Gwyneth Rickus building, South Kilburn at a new venue to be found and North Kilburn (East Brent) at Willesden Library Centre;
(iv) that the Aims of the new structure be:
a) to involve customers in the provision of housing services,
b) to monitor the performance of housing management and contractors of BHP/Council’s housing management service and other parts of housing services,
c) to develop new ideas and methods for solving council housing problems,
d) to influence the practices and policies that determine the provision of housing services,
e) to consider the wider community problems and find solutions to them,
f) to advise BHP/council’s housing management service on local priorities for the provision of housing services and the allocation of resources,
g) to advise BHP/council’s housing management service in the development of its business strategy/area strategy,
h) to liaise with other groups and organisations.
(v) that there be open membership to the new structure for monitoring, consultation and debate on housing issues, i.e. membership to be open to all residents in tenant or leasehold properties that are managed by BHP on behalf of the council;
(vi) that councillors be invited to attend the open forum;
(vii) that there be no voting rights for any attendees at the open forum;
(viii) that the purpose of the new structure be to consult, inform and empower tenants and leaseholders in the management of their homes;
(ix) that each year in June one representative from each registered tenants’ and residents’ association be put forward to join a forum organising team established by BHP/council’s housing management service to seek advice on the composition of agendas, the format of the open forums and shaping outcomes from open forum sessions; the forum organising team to meet at least eight times a year and there be no voting rights for any attendees;
(x) that meetings be organised and led by officers from BHP/council’s housing management service with any person being allowed to speak during open discussions and workshops (BHP officers, BHP board members, officers from the council’s housing management service and members of the forum organising team may introduce individual agenda items and may lead workshops);
(xi) that invitations to attend the open forum be publicised in the residents’ quarterly newsletters ‘Partnership News’; BHP’s web site; flyers; at residents association meetings; by email; personal invitations to all councillors; and by other appropriate means of communication;
(xii) that the proposed new forum structure be called “Talkback”;
(xiii) that paragraphs 10.12 to 10.20 of Article 10 of Part 2 of the Council’s Constitution be amended on the terms set out in Appendix 1 to the report circulated.
Supporting documents:
- 110826 FINAL Area Housing Board Report, item 10. PDF 106 KB
- 110815 FC Report - Area Housing Boards appendix1, item 10. PDF 65 KB
- 110819 Equailty Impact AHB restructure for Full Council 12 09 11 (3) Appendix 2, item 10. PDF 97 KB