Resident Participation means residents taking an active part in
the way services are designed and delivered to you. You can be
involved in a significant but less demanding way by filling out
surveys that ask your opinion or views about services, or attending
a meeting about a subject of interest to you. You may wish to get
more involved in the things that happen at your estate and get
involved in your local Residents’ Association. You may
wish to have a higher level of involvement in the way services
are set up and delivered and the changes that may happen within
certain areas. Or you may be a homeowner interested in specific
issues that concern you.
This web page will give you information about all of these
things and how you can find out more.
If you wish to find out if there is an active
Residents’ Association working at your estate, then please
contact Jean Evans, Resident Participation Support
Officer on 020 7332 3224, or email
resident.participation@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
The Residents’ Forum
This is an umbrella group comprising of residents from the
various Residents’ Associations. The Residents' Forum meets every
month for approximately two hours and the main purpose is to
discuss issues of housing that affect all residents.
This group has been reviewing its role and work and is now in
the process of formalising its membership, role and communication
with the City of London and residents.
The Residents’ Forum looks at proposed changes to housing
policy, strategy and operation that affect all residents.
Where residents feel they are unsuccessful getting an issue of
policy addressed by the City of London's housing service to bring
the matter to the attention of the Forum. The Forum may then
raise it directly with the staff or move the matter on further to
the Housing Liaison group, where it can be discussed directly
with elected Members.
One of the concerns of the Residents' Forum has been getting
representation from every estate in order to make the group
stronger.
The Residents' Forum now have their own web site
www.e-voice.org.uk/forum
If you would like to be involved in the Residents’ Forum and
would like to nominate a member of your association to attend then
please contact Jean Evans, Resident Participation Support
Officer on 020 7332 3224 or your local Residents’ Association
for further information.
The Housing Liaison
Group
This group held its first meeting in November 2003.
The group comprises six resident representatives of the Residents’
Forum and six elected Members of the Court of Common Council.
The establishment of this group evolved from meetings of the
Residents’ Forum, which, while reviewing the role of the Forum,
felt that more direct contact with Members of the Community
Services Committee was essential to ensure that the views of
residents were conveyed directly to the Members so they could then
be debated properly.
The HLG will make recommendations to the Community Services
Committee and put forward the views expressed at the Residents’
Forum.
The Community and
Children's Services Committee
The Community and Children's Services Committee is made up of
elected Members to the City of London’s Court of Common Council.
This is where decisions about the Housing Service are approved and
is where the Residents’ Forum and Housing Liaison group seek to
influence the decision making process.
Mr Ken Ayers is the current Chairman of the Community
and Children's Services Committee and is fully behind and committed
to the development of the new participation arrangements.
Homeowners
The Homeowners’ Working Party was established, to address
specific concerns raised by homeowners. Unfortunately, over time
the attendance at these meetings has fallen and the arrangements
for homeowners are currently being discussed by the Residents’
Forum and Housing Liaison Group.
Levels and options for participation
Below is a short guide to give you an idea of the type of
activities you can get involved in and at what level.
It shows the type of involvement ranging from getting
information or filling in a form to attending meetings or actually
taking part in a group that will make or influence decisions.
The letters indicate the level of involvement and degree of
influence; the stars indicate the kind of time commitment involved
with that area.
| I |
Receiving and exchanging information |
| C |
Consulting and listening to views and ideas |
| P |
Participating in debate and discussions |
| D |
Playing a major part in the decision making processes |
| * |
Minimum level of commitment or occasional contact with other
residents or housing staff. |
| ** |
Irregular meetings, participating in surveys or specific
meetings; some contact with other residents and housing
staff. |
| *** |
High level of commitment, frequent meetings with other
residents, staff and elected Members. |
| Options for involvement |
Rating |
Level |
| Residents’ Forum |
*** |
P |
| Housing Liaison Group |
*** |
D |
| Tenants/Residents’ Association (formal) |
*** |
P |
| Homeowners' Working Party |
** |
C/P |
| Local Groups |
** |
P |
| Compact Development Working Group |
** |
P |
| Local Resident Participation Agreements (Compacts) |
** |
P |
| Estate walkabouts |
** |
P |
| Fun day or information day |
* |
I |
| Special needs or interest groups |
* |
C |
| Community initiatives |
* |
C |
| Status Survey |
* |
C |
| Census |
* |
I |
| Responding to articles in Your Homes |
* |
C |
| Social events |
* |
I |
| Telephone and postal surveys |
* |
C |
| Conferences and training events |
* |
I |
Some activities such as the Housing Liaison Group or Residents’
Forum will involve attending regular meetings, reading background
papers and participating in discussions and proposals.
We would encourage involvement in your estate in whatever manner
you feel happy with, whether it is by joining your local Residents’
Association or returning survey forms.
The Government has set a target to ensure that all social
housing meets standards of decency by 2010. Social housing means
homes that are owned by your local authority or a Registered Social
Landlord (RSL). RSLs are also sometimes called Housing
Associations.
A decent home is wind and weather tight, warm and has modern
facilities.
Best Value – this is where housing staff, with residents,
Members and other organisations, look at one of the current
services we provide to ensure we are delivering high quality
services that give you value for your money. .
About this section of the
website
This web page is being updated to bring you more details about
the groups that are working on your estates and how you can contact
them as well as details of the groups that are working to bring the
tenant and homeowner views and interests to the minds of officers
and Members when making decisions about the future of the housing
service and the way it is delivered.
You will be able to read the notes taken at meetings with
residents and Members and other meetings that take place regarding
your housing services.
You will also be able to find out details of training and
development opportunities, how to set up a Residents’ Group, (and
how to apply for funding to help you) or find out about your local
Residents’ Association and who on your estate is involved.
We look forward to the updated information being available to you
at the click of a mouse and hope that you take the time to re-visit
this page and get further information.
For more information about anything you have read or if you
would like to get involved in any of the various existing or
forthcoming consultative groups then please contact: Jean
Evans, Resident Participation Support Officer on 020 7332
3224 or email
resident.participation@cityoflondon.gov.uk.