Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Adviser on the Estates Mission. 

The report provides the committee with a report on the work of the Cabinet Adviser on the Estates Mission. 

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Adviser on Estates Mission, which was introduced by Councillor Eddie Hanson, Cabinet Adviser on Estates Mission, and he along with Ododo Dafe, Head of Innovation and Improvement, and Marcus Shukla, Portfolio Lead, gave the following key responses to questions:

·       Tenant and Resident Associations (TRAs) played a valuable leadership role in the local community but they also needed to be more open to change, reflect the local community, and be willing to listen to views being expressed by all members (including young people). Where necessary appropriate training should be offered to TRA chairs to enable them to fully undertaken their role.

·       TRAs were fully aware of the support that was available through the Council’s Tenant Participation Team, though further work could be about sharing information to other tenants and residents, especially for estates where there was no TRA.

·       A number of estates had a community hall that was being managed by the TRA and further work could be done regarding improving the way that they managed these premises to ensure that they maximised the community benefit.

·       The Estates Mission programme being run by the Council would be looking at how community assets (including tenant’s halls) were being used, along with how the process could be made more streamlined and user friendly regarding participatory budgeting. Further information on this initiative could be considered by the scrutiny committee at a future meeting.

·       As part of the audit of garages and shed consideration could be given to use vacant ones as bike racks or storage areas.

·       TRAs could consider how unused space on the estate could be used to benefit the local community.

·       The Council was seeking to provide tenants and residents with best practice examples of how TRA’s should be run, and how they could make use of local budgets to enhance their community.      

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted and that the recommendations set out below as outlined by the Cabinet Adviser on Estates Mission, be endorsed by the scrutiny committee:

·       Consider an audit on the garages and sheds we have on estates. Some residents wait for a long time, but then report there are abandoned sheds they could be using on their estates. The Council can allocate them to be used and even start collecting rent for them. As part of this process consideration should be given to vacant garages and sheds to be used as bike racks or storage spaces.

·       Engage with and listen to local businesses on the high street, not just the big businesses. This was what I heard from the majority of the businesses I spoke with.

·       Be honest, fair and consistent with residents. The Council need not prejudge residents, so that residents will feel confident to have a trusted relationship with the Council. Enhanced staff training should be offered on respecting and treating residents on estates with dignity and not on a prejudicial basis. Officers should not use their powers to penalise residents who disagree with them by labelling the residents to other officers as, e.g., “ones to watch out for.”

·       Be seen to be completing tasks to its best and fullest capacity. The Council should reply to resident queries in a timely manner, communicate with residents more effectively, listen to residents. And Council officers should communicate more effectively with other Council officers, especially between departments.

·       Do more to assist disabled residents and residents with special needs who may require special assistance. Only then will we allow them the ability to fully participate, which is their right.

·       Consult with residents when housing officers visit them. Ask them how they want to improve their estates: this information needs to be gathered and investigated with the trends of responses, and then acted upon by the Council. Other Council staff from different departments should meet and get to know residents on estates.

·       Educate residents about their influence to make change through working with the council and co-working relationships. This is especially important when bringing in new agencies to help their estates. It cannot be that estates residents are seen or believed only to be “on the receiving side of charity” or that they “must accept or take whatever they are given.”

·       Provide training for residents on estates on how the council works,including resident involvement on panels when recruiting new staff and having residents involved in decision-making that affects them and their estates.

·       Offer training to Chairs in TRAs and other community groups; provide mentoring opportunities to help them flourish in their role and to be the best they can be in supporting their residents.

·       Promote awards for volunteers in Camden. This should be done even to the extent of e.g., Royal or National awards such nominating for the honours system (e.g., OBE, CBE), especially in recognition of important work done by TRAs/DMCs.