Issue - meetings

This report sets out the draft Tenant and Leaseholder Engagement Strategy and supporting Building Safety Engagement Strategy, both of which are required to fulfil the obligations of Social Housing landlords as per the Regulator for Social Housing Consumer Standards and Building Safety Act (2022), with approval being sought to formally adopt both strategies, following a process of consultation and engagement.

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)    Approve the Tenant and Leaseholder Engagement Strategy, as presented in Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)    Note the feedback from formal consultation on the engagement strategy and how that feedback would be used, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

(3)    Approve the Building Safety Engagement Strategy, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 24 June 24

Councillor Knight (Cabinet Member for Housing) introduced a report presenting the Tenant & Leaseholder Engagement Strategy and supporting Building Safety Engagement Strategy both of which it was reported were required in order to fulfil the Council’s obligation as a social housing landlord under the Regulator for Social Housing Consumer Standards & Building Safety Act 2022.

In presenting the report, Councillor Knight outlined the six promises contained within the Engagement Strategy which had been developed to set out how the Council would seek to listen to, and meaningfully engage with its tenants and leaseholders in order to assist in shaping the delivery of services and ensure those living in social housing within Brent were protected and able to have their say as part of recognised good practice for social housing landlords.  The promises contained within the Strategy (as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report) were all underpinned by a series of actions to support their delivery with members advised that these had been developed following an extensive process of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, as detailed within section 6 of the report.  This process had included a range of activities including roadshows, a tenant and leaseholder open day and engagement event with the Housing Ombudsman, with an analysis of the consultation outcomes included in Appendix 2 of the report and the new standards developed in response designed to provide greater emphasis on treating tenants with respect, acknowledging diversity, and adapting communication styles in order to be able to work more proactively with tenants to promote social, environmental, and economic wellbeing within their communities and neighbourhoods.

In addition, Cabinet noted the new requirements also outlined within the report on building owners to demonstrate their ability to identify and manage safety risks in high rise buildings.  This included the need for landlords to establish an engagement strategy on how it was proposed to communicate with tenants and leaseholders in those buildings and identify their needs regarding building safety, with the resulting Building Safety Strategy detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.

In commending development of both strategies and wide ranging and extensive nature of the engagement and consultation undertaken to support the process, members were keen to recognise the importance and value in ensuring that meaningful engagement with the Council’s social housing tenants and leaseholders continued.  This was not only as a means of empowering them to influence the way services were provided but also, given the current housing crisis and pressures on social housing, as part of a more fundamental restructure of the way housing provision overall was being delivered.

In welcoming the commitments outlined within both strategies Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)    Approve the Tenant and Leaseholder Engagement Strategy, as presented in Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)    Note the feedback from formal consultation on the engagement strategy and how that feedback would be used, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

(3)    Approve the Building Safety Engagement Strategy, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.