All tenants now set to influence multi-million pound homes investment

All of Sheffield’s council tenants have been given a direct and influential say in the management of their homes for the first time, following the setting up of the final five local boards which join five already established in the city. The local boards, set up by Sheffield Homes, each consist of five tenants, two council appointees and four independent members.

 

“These boards are not talking shops. They have real influence in all the key issues and decisions facing council housing in their own locality,” said Peter Morton, Chief Executive of Sheffield Homes.

 

The five new local boards cover:

 

 

A bid of £171m has been submitted to the Government for these areas as part of a citywide multimillion-pound programme, which will enable the Council to fulfil its responsibilities to bring all properties up to the `Decent Homes Standard’. Sheffield Homes can access the money after gaining the maximum`three star’ rating as an excellent service provider, from inspectors. It will cover all council properties whose tenants have elected to stay with the ALMO system, so far more than 90% of the city’s 55,000 housing stock.

 

“This puts our final management plank in place and we are looking forward to working with the new boards and getting all our future plans for the city’s council housing really rolling,” said Peter Morton.  “This is an exciting time for us and all our tenants. As a management organisation, we were always clear we did not want to lose touch with grass roots opinion. The local boards – as has been confirmed with the success of the five we set up last year – are excellent vehicles for that as well as ensuring tenants have a stake in their own future.”

 

The boards meet every two months and have a remit that includes: local investment, local service planning, local tenant participation and local performance monitoring.

 

Resident member, Sylvia Parry, who has just has been nominated as chair for the new South East Area board, said: “The boards make decision-making more visible and accessible to everyone and I’m really looking forward to the input and influence we can now have on local employment and the economy, as well as housing development. Getting some money to spend for the area is the main thing and we’ll certainly be doing our best to ensure all tenants get a good deal out of it."

 

Tenants for the five new boards were elected by postal ballot apart from the Manor Castle Woodthorpe Area Board, where candidates were unopposed. Independent members were drawn from those who responded to an advert and come from all areas and all walks of life. Their presence reflects the arms length status of Sheffield Homes.

 

 

PRESS CONTACT: Neil Anderson on 0114 225 7080