Agenda item

To receive a report from Cheryl Russell, Director of Landlord Services and Nat Stevens, Resident Involvement Manager on the role of TRAs’ and TMOs’ in wards.

The commission received a report from Nat Stevens, Resident Involvement Manager and Hakeem Osinaike on the following points.

·  123 TRAs’ and TMOs’ in the borough, managing 4600 properties in total; TRAs’ carry out 2600 inspections every year.

·  8 TRAs’ supported communities with food, shelter clothing during the winter of 2023; 17 TMOs’ in Southwark showing some highest satisfaction results in tenants’ surveys.

·  Significant increase in no. of TRAs in Southwark; Draft Resident Engagement Strategy is out for consultation; strategy puts residents’ involvement as the main approach for landlord services.

·  Regulator appreciated the number of TRAs’ in Southwark and support and resources provided by the council, however there is room for improvement.

The commission then asked questions on the following themes.

·  Increasing resident involvement in TRAs’ with a focus on young people as part of the resident engagement strategy

·  Strategic ways of supporting TRAs’ and residents who carry out unpaid work in the management of estates.

·  Importance of the growth in numbers of TRAs; Skills required for TRA Chairs; Strengthening TRAs and providing more resources for their role in the community.

·  Increasing visibility and signposting of TRAs through community events; Attracting more young people to TRAs by providing training;

Nat explained to the commission that there are 46 organisations in the ‘Get Involved’ grants, the Southwark Black Tenants Forum who approach communities to increase participation in activities such as mental health, well-being drives and summer activities for young people. The council is working on digitalisation of services to attract young people.

The commission heard from the Nat the council appreciates the enormous amount of work carried out TRAs’ and their unpaid volunteers, volunteers often undertake massive initiatives such as breakfast drives for 300 people. The council supports the TRAs’ with grants and revenue generated from housing supplements and also provides training for TRA Chairs’.

Hakeem informed the commission that it’s important to have existing TRAs’ delivering quality service and support to residents rather than just having more TRAs.

Nat explained to the commission that the people in committee of TRAs’ and TRA Chairs are highly qualified academics and accountants with the requisite skills sets. Furthermore, in Sept 2022 there were only 7 TRAs in Southwark which has now increased to 123 TRAs. Specialist trainers have been brough on board to upskill TRAs’. Southwark has a very high number of TMOs (17) when compared nationally. The average on the Black Tenants Forum is 23 and community events help in galvanising support and encouragement for people to join TRAs. Efforts are also being made in digitalisation and technology for TRAs’, 80 laptops are being provided to 80 TRAs’.

The commission then asked further questions on the following topics.

·  Inaccuracies in council databases maintained for TRAs and TMOs; Reviving defunct TRAs and their responsibilities of community spaces.

·  Income for TRAs being reinvested in the community; Learning from the closure of TMOs

·  Auditing of TRA finances with regards Coronation and Xmas Grants; Election of TRA Chairs and Committee members; Major works on estates and

involvement of TMOs in light of the Grenfell report.

·  Resident Participation Fund of £900k breakdown including TRA funding of £178k per annum; Specific support to TRAs and TMOs; Resident involvement in drafting of resident involvement strategy; TMO contract monitoring toolkit working effectively.

The commission heard from Nat that council databases for TRAs and TMOs are in a constant process of being updated and new TRAs are being established for the defunct TRAs. The council has also been approached partner organisations who want to work with TRAs to revive them.

Nat explained to the commission that the council is undertaking steps to ensure that TMOs’ adhere to their contractual obligations. Training and support is also being provided for TMOs to manage their finances diligently.

Hakeem informed the commission that efforts are being made to more effectively manage TMOs in the council’s role as a social landlord. All recommendations from the Grenfell report are being implemented in the management of TMOs.

Nat agreed that management of grants to TRAs is not perfect, but work is ongoing to ensure proper accounting of grant finances ensuring right bank accounts for transfer. The TRA funding of £198k per annum is allocated based on the no. of properties in the estate and their activities. TRA support and resident advice and SGTO Grants amount to £220-£220k, Homeowners advice service funding is £16-17k, gig funding £250k and training and support is approximately £100k.

Nat informed the commission that it has been agreed with TMOs’ that the contract monitoring checklist will be followed and shared with officers for governance. 500 residents across 46 estates were consulted on the Draft Resident Involvement Strategy.

The commission then asked further question on the following themes.

·  Disputes between TRAs and TMOs and the council role in mediation (JMB & Bermondsey Street).

·  Financial policies and processes for TRAs for financial management.

The commission heard from Nat that legislation does allow non-resident leaseholders to be a part of TMOs. The council through landlord services actively pursuing mediation with Leather Market JMB and Bermondsey Street to avoid litigation. TRAs are offered a suite of training from accounting to management, SGTO have been helpful in auditing TRAs.