An important part of the Federation’s work is to bring tenants & residents
groups together to discuss issues of common concern. The information
we gain from these discussions is used to inform and develop our
city-wide work.
We hold regular open meetings for all tenants & residents
groups about particular issues of concern such as repairs and housing
management. These meetings provide an opportunity to exchange information
and share good practice as well agreeing a way to take the issues
forward. For information about open meetings planned in the near
future contact
the Federation.
The Fed often tackles a city-wide issue of concern
through partnership work with the council and ‘Your Homes
Newcastle (YHN)’ (the ALMO). Current examples of this work
are outlined below:
Repairs Development Group
The Repairs Development Group is a partnership between tenant
representatives, the council and ‘Your Homes Newcastle’,
which meets every 2 months. The Federation supports tenant representatives
on the group.
The main aims of the group are to monitor and look for ways
to improve the repairs service for all tenants in the City.
If you are a representative from a tenant and residents association
in Newcastle and would like to get involved in the work of
the repairs development group please contact
the Federation.
Tenants Investment Forum
The Tenants Investment Forum is a group of tenants’ representatives
who meet with the council and Your Homes Newcastle every two months
to discuss the priorities for improvements to council housing
and to set standards for all work carried out.
The aim of the forum is to ensure that tenants’ views are
built in to the council’s programme for modernising and
repairing council homes.
If you are a representative from a tenant and residents group
in Newcastle and would like to get involved in the Investment
Forum please contact
the Federation.
Living in Flats Working Group
The Living in Flats working group is a partnership
between tenant representatives, officers from the council and
Your Homes Newcastle, which meets every two months. The Federation
supports tenant representatives on the group.
The main aims of the group are to monitor and look for ways
to improve the caretaking, concierge and porter services
delivered to tenants living in flats.
If you are a member of a tenants group, representing a block
of flats in Newcastle, and would like to get involved in
the work
of the group please contact the Federation.
TIAG (Tenant Involvement Advisory Group)
One of the ways that the Federation meets formally with Newcastle
council to discuss housing issues is through the tenant involvement
advisory group (TIAG). TIAG meets roughly every two months and
is made up of Federation representatives, representatives from
the council. Minutes of these meetings are available from Newcastle
City Council by contacting Democratic Services on 0191 2328520
Ext. 25166.
Best Value
All councils are required by law to review their services every
5 years to check that they are providing best value. When carrying
out these reviews the council must involve the service users to
find out what they think of the service and to identify improvements.
The Federation has fed tenants views into the reviews of the
housing service that have taken place in Newcastle. In particular,
we
have produced reports on how the repairs service and the housing
management service should be improved. Both these reports have
been submitted as part of the best value reviews.
Click on the following titles to download a copy of the "Achieving
Best Value in the Repairs Service, June 2000" report.
Download a copy of the "Our
Vision for the housing management service, October 2002" report.
Tenant Compacts
A tenants compact is an agreement between tenants and the council
which sets out how tenants can have a say in decisions about housing
and related services that affect them.
There are two types of agreements – local and citywide.
Citywide compacts focus on housing issues that affect all tenants
across the city. A local compact is an agreement between tenants
in a specific area and the council which sets out what they want
to achieve locally, such as better ways of working together and
improving local services.
Newcastle Tenants Federation and the City Council first signed
up to a Citywide compact in April 2001. This compact has just
been reviewed. We are also working with the council and YHN
to establish local compacts across the city and have developed
a
model for these compacts. For more information contact the Federation.
On occasions the Federation may develop a campaign
around particular issues. An example of a campaign is ‘Stand
Up For Council Housing’.
The Federation also plays a part in regional and national tenants
groups and campaigns such as NECTAR, TAROE and Defend Council Housing.
NECTAR
North East Council of Tenants & Residents Associations (NECTAR)
is an independent grouping of tenants & residents associations
around the North East of England. To contact NECTAR call 0191
567 9856
TAROE (Tenants and Residents Organisation England)
TAROE is a national organisation run by tenants, which aims to
represent all tenants of social housing from across the country.
The Federation is a member of TAROE.
TAROE has representatives on a number of government bodies and
often acts as a sounding board for national ideas and initiatives.
If you would like to know more about the work of TAROE contact
them at 41/42 Estate Buildings, Railway Street, Huddersfield,
West Yorkshire, HD1 1JY tel: 01484 223486.
Defend Council Housing
The Defend Council Housing campaign is a national campaign set
up to oppose council housing privatisation and to defend council
housing principles - the provision of decent, secure, affordable
and accountable housing to anyone who wants it.
The campaign is run on a day to day basis by a national committee
which is elected at the national conferences.
The Federation is affiliated to the Defend Council Housing campaign: www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk
