Perth and Kinross Tenant Participation Strategy 2024-27
Perth and Kinross Council · 2 October 2024
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 2 October 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee 2 October 2024. PERTH AND KINROSS TENANT PARTICIPATION STRATEGY 2024-27 Report by Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities (Report No. 24/277) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the newly revised Perth and Kinross Tenant Participation Strategy for 2024-27 and its implementation. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Committee is recommended to: (i) Note the approach and development of the Perth and Kinross Tenant Participation Strategy 2024-27. (ii) Approve the Strategy and its implementation as outlined in the Action Plan (Appendix 1). 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Section 5: Development of the Strategy • Section 6: The Strategy • Section 7: Implementation • Section 8: Conclusion • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 Section 53 (1) of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 2001 places a duty on Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to prepare a tenant participation strategy which includes an assessment of resources required and a statement of the resources to be made available. The Strategy must demonstrate how, as a landlord, how the Council intends to communicate with, and listen to tenants. 4.2 The introduction of the Scottish Social Housing Charter through the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 requires Perth and Kinross Council to report annually to the Scottish Housing Regulator annually on the Charter Outcomes.
Page 2
4.3 Whilst the involvement of tenants and other customers is central to achieving all of the Scottish Social Housing Outcomes, the Tenant Participation Strategy (the Strategy) focuses on Charter Outcome 3: Participation – Social landlords manage their businesses so that tenants other customers find it easy to participate in and influence their landlord’s decisions at a level they feel comfortable with. The outcome describes what landlords should achieve by meeting their statutory duties in relation to tenant participation, the ways in which social landlords gather and consider the views and priorities of their tenants; how they shape their services to reflect these views; and how they help tenants and other customers to become more involved. 4.4 The existing Strategy 2018-21 was approved by Housing and Communities Committee on 24 January 2018 (Report 18/18). This was the first time that Perth and Kinross Council had asked a tenant led group to scrutinise tenant participation activities and to support the development of the Strategy. The Tenant Participation Strategy Monitoring and Implementation Group monitors the implementation of the strategy action plan and the achievement of its aims and strategic outcomes. A summary of achievements can be found within Appendix 2. 4.5 As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability for Perth and Kinross Council to meaningfully consult and engage with tenants in the development of the new Strategy, the current Strategy was not reviewed until March 2023. 5. DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW STRATEGY 5.1 A tenant consultation and engagement programme was implemented to seek tenants’ views and use their feedback to inform the Strategy development. This ensured that the Strategy was genuinely co-produced by tenants. 5.2 An early engagement survey was developed to ensure tenants across Perth & Kinross could express their views on the: • extent to which tenants currently get involved in TP. • barriers to getting involved. • main issues tenants want to get involved with. • ways in which tenants want to get involved. 5.3 A Tenant Participation Steering (TPS) Group was also set up. This Group consisted of over ten tenants, tenant participation staff and housing service leaders. 5.4 The Group held two half day TP Strategy development meetings along with a Group workshop. The purpose of these sessions was to identify and agree the main issues, the key priorities, the outcomes to be achieved through the revised Strategy and to finalise a new menu of opportunities for tenant involvement.
Page 3
5.5 A TP Strategy conference was also held to encourage wider tenant involvement and to ensure the delivery of a genuinely co-produced strategy. The purpose of the event was to sign off the Strategy vision, key priorities, and action points that would inform the Strategy programme over the next three years. 6. THE TP STRATEGY 2024-27 6.1 The agreed vision for the new strategy is that “Tenant Participation in Perth & Kinross offers everyone an opportunity to work together, be listened to, influence decisions on the issues which matter most to them and improve housing outcomes.” 6.2 The Strategy includes four key priorities as agreed with tenants: Priority 1: Creating a culture of tenant participation across staff and tenants. Priority 2: Improving communication and keeping tenants informed of the decisions which affect them. Priority 3: Ensuring everyone has a say in the housing decisions that matter to them. Priority 4: Ensuring tenants and communities lead the way in improving neighbourhoods and places. 6.3 The strategy includes 11 sections each of which provide additional information on, for example: • the vision and purpose of the Strategy • the development of the Strategy including consultation and engagement • our current approach • the Strategy priorities • our menu of opportunities • delivering the priorities and outcomes 7. IMPLEMENTATION 7.1 The Strategy will build on previous achievements in tenant-led scrutiny and strategic involvement. From creating a culture of tenant participation, through greater involvement of all housing staff, this will encourage and promote more tenant engagement at a local level. 7.2 A communication plan will be developed to promote the Strategy to all tenants, staff and key stakeholders. This will include the publication of an easy-read summary and a menu of opportunities for tenant involvement – ensuring all tenants’ voices are heard.
Page 4
8. CONCLUSION 8.1 This report presents a new Perth and Kinross Tenant Participation Strategy for 2024-27 and ensures that tenants remain at the heart of influencing decisions on housing related services. 8.2 The Scottish Social Housing Charter clearly defines the importance of tenant consultation, engagement and participation across the housing service function. This new Strategy outlines how meaningful tenant engagement and involvement can result in better service experiences, improved outcomes and how this will be achieved for all Council housing tenants in Perth and Kinross. Author Name Designation Contact Details Michelle Dow Service Manager (Housing and Communities) EPLCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk (01738) 475000 Approved Name Designation Date Elaine Ritchie Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities 11 September 2024 APPENDICES • Appendix 1 – Perth and Kinross Council Tenant Participation Strategy 2024- 2027
Page 5
ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial None Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment Yes Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance Yes Risk None Consultation Internal Yes External Yes Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This report supports all of the priorities within the Community Plan 2022-27. (i) Reducing Poverty (including child poverty, fuel poverty and food poverty) (ii) Mental and physical wellbeing (iii) Digital participation (iv) Skills, learning and development (v) Employability Corporate Plan 1.2 This report supports the objectives within the draft new Corporate Plan:- (i) Children and young people grow up safe, respected, well-educated, and confident in their ability to realise their full potential; (ii) People and businesses are increasingly able to prosper in a local economy which support low carbon ambitions and offers opportunities for all; (iii) People can achieve their best physical and mental health and have access to quality care and support when they need it; (iv) Communities are resilient and physically, digital and socially connected;
Page 6
(v) Perth and Kinross is a safe and vibrant place, mitigating the impact of climate and environmental change for this and future generations. 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 n/a. Workforce 2.2 n/a. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 n/a. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. The Equality Impact Assessment undertaken in relation to this report can be viewed clicking here. This section should reflect that the proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: (i) Assessed as relevant and the following positive outcomes expected following implementation: ▪ Services that are the focus of this report provide positive outcomes for tenants. ▪ Services are designed in partnership with those who benefit directly from them. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. This section should reflect that the proposals have been considered under the Act and no further action is required as it does not qualify as a PPS as defined by the Act and is therefore exempt.
Page 7
Sustainability 3.3 n/a. Legal and Governance 3.4 The Strategic Lead for Legal and Governance has been consulted on this report. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 Strategic Leads and senior managers have been consulted on the content of this report. External 4.2 The Tenant Committee Report Panel was consulted about this report and a hybrid meeting was held to allow tenants to question Lead Officers. The Panel that this was an excellent report and outlined well the future for Tenant Participation in Perth and Kinross. The Panel further acknowledged that this was more than a two-way process between tenants and housing staff. References throughout the report to initiating a “change of culture” at all levels of the Council were commended. 5. Communication 5.1 n/a. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 None.