Open Representation

What is it all about?

The traditional involvement of Tenants has been through the development of groups or associations. These are based on meetings with minutes, elected officers and set of rules or constitution. Best Value places a much greater emphasis on housing providers to involve Tenants. There is a possibility that this may lead to an inequality of opportunity when a tenant, who wants to become active, is unable to identify or generate interest in their area or community to form a group. For the individual, option for involvement may just mean joining focus groups, returning surveys or attending general open meetings. The downside to this is a lack of accountability of those involved and the sense of not belonging to a 'group'.

When the Best Value road shows were held last year, a number of people came forward and wanted to get involved. The support for linking these Tenants together in a group could be identified and the idea of open representation was developed. Open representation involves writing to all tenants in the agreed area or community and proposing that tenant to represent the views of that area at future meetings with Signpost. Every twelve months a letter repeats this situation in the same way. This letter will include an outline of what the open representatives have been involved with during the previous twelve months. It will also list any future targets.

This encourages new tenants to get involved and provides an opportunity to object to the proposal and at the same time maintains communication consultation.

The development of Tenant activity and the creation of a Tenant's Forum have been well documented in the newsletter. A group of Forum members are currently working on developing a constitution. This will link the open representation into a 'group' with accountability. It will be underpinned by equality of opportunity and will relate to all Tenants. In time the draft constitution will be proposed for adoption via full consultation in the newsletter. Open representation helps to reduce the challenge of a dispersed rural stock. It opens up individual involvement in an accountable and democratic way. It is innovative and different and rises to the challenge of Best Value. Through the Tenant's Forum open representation links tenants to traditional involvement which may otherwise not have happened. So..... "If you would like to find out more about being a tenant representative please contact David Moreland on 01258 484823 e-mail david.moreland@sha.co.uk"