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V26-539 : FIRST CALL HOUSING CONSULTANTS - PRESENTATION

The report of the Director of Housing and Environmental Services outlined the progress to date by FIRST Call Housing Consultants with their work looking into Tenant Participation in Waveney, which had been awarded funding by the DETR.

To supplement the report, Mr. Barry Marlow of FIRST Call attended the meeting to present their findings so far. Mr. Marlow felt the DETR had some confusion over the definition of 'an estate'. Whilst these were obvious in large urban areas, they found groupings in smaller towns and the rural areas less easy to grasp. Once defined though, FIRST Call's brief was for promotion to create opportunities, which could ultimately, though unlikely in Waveney's case, lead to Tenant Management.

Mr. Marlow asked for the acknowledgement of the help and support of tenant groups and individual tenants to be recorded, without whose input the initial survey would not have been possible.

Mr. Marlow ran through the results and feedback so far received from each estate / grouping:

Beeches Estate FIRST Call were surprised that 18% of tenants were unaware of the existence of a Residents' Association. Next step was a newsletter with options.

Roman Hill Was found to be the most progressively minded. An Estate Agreement was to be explored, where the various agencies - the Council, Police,
Education, Social Services etc. - made a service delivery commitment
on paper. This would be a pilot scheme for others in Waveney, with a
target completion date for April 1999.

Gunton It was felt may follow the Roman Hill model.

Whitton Was found to hold a stranger position. The Community and Social interaction was strong, but the Tenants Association appeared
unstable. FIRST Call recommended a recruitment drive to give the
Tenants Association a broader base.

St Peters Court Had originally been grouped with several other nearby Council properties. Whilst this originally had seemed acceptable, results from the Tenants of the Court indicated they wished to be regarded as a
separate entity.

Carlton Colville Would again be targeted by a newsletter. FIRST Call felt calling meeting may raise little interest. Perhaps a fete or carnival may
generate interest to get the ball rolling.

Town Centre Courts Such as Spruce, Wesley, Manor, Caxton; with no common theme, a different approach was need for each. FIRST Call had been
pleasantly surprized by interest from younger tenants at Caxton and
Spruce Court to form an Association.

'Ten Villages' The 351 Council properties in the villages of Mutford, Hulver, Henstead, Uggeshall, Stoven, North Cove, Barnby, Gisleham,
Kessingland and Wrentham had been grouped as a further 'estate'.
Feedback from a survey in August 1998 was now being gathered.

In conclusion, Mr. Marlow felt the overall message coming from Government was that the involvement of tenants would be given greater prominence.

Councillor Whitlow asked what powers the Estate Agreement would have. Mr. Marlow replied that the document gave no legal binding, but presented a high moral two-way commitment.

Councillor Robertson was pleased with FIRST Call's findings that the younger Courts would be interested in some form of association. If this proved the case, this too could be a model on how to engage younger tenants interest.

Councillor Taylor welcomed the 'ten villages' initiative, but wondered if problems would be encountered by the varying sizes. FIRST Call agreed that this could be the case. Their circular had seen no major issues raised, but they would be looking for common themes to emerge that would better link some villages to others.

Councillor Whitlow asked what initial reactions had been encountered on the doorstep. FIRST Call had circulated their newsletter first, and on following this up had told the tenants they were not directly funded by Waveney and this was their chance to air their views. FIRST Call had been both pleased and astounded by a return rate of 40% to their questionnaire.

Councillor Ley asked what was FIRST Call's next step and their timescale. Mr. Marlow replied that there was no set agenda and consequently no timescale, as it was the next moves by the tenants that would dictate these.

The Chairman thanked Mr. Marlow, both for his attendance and the work in progress FIRST Call had already generated.

RESOLVED

That the progress report on FIRST Call's work with Tenant Participation be warmly welcomed and received.


Volume 26 Minute 539

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