1. That the importance of the consultation process in supporting the development of the direct delivery programme, and the successes of the Charter of Principles in supporting residents engage with decisions about new council homes at both a borough wide and local level while achieving the milestones that drive the delivery of the new homes programme be noted.
2. That the success of the council’s engagement on building new council homes with a high level of engagement from tenants and homeowners across the borough on community conversations about where we should build new homes and design standards for these homes in 2015 be noted. This has ensured that council tenants and homeowners were at the heart of the council’s decision making on housing investment and renewal on its estates, meeting our commitment in pledge 1 of the Charter of Principles.
3. That it be noted that the feedback on implementing the Charter of Principles indicates that there is a need for modification in the way the council has delivered estate by estate engagement (pledge 2).
4. That the suggested changes to the way the council delivers community engagement on the direct delivery of new council homes (pledge 2) and the following principles that underpin the suggested changes to our processes be approved:
· Tenant and Residents Associations will be at the heart of the council’s decision making
· The council recognises that one size does not fit all and on some occasions the council may wish to modify the way in which it works.
5. That the following modifications to the council’s engagement process be approved:
· Council Officers will prepare engagement plans based on gathering local intelligence much earlier in the process where delivery is based on the council’s estates.
· The way the council engages will be based on the existing framework developed for the recent tranche of sites but will allow a flexible approach where appropriate based on local information.
· The way we engage will also encourage new people to get involved
· Where there is an active TRA, council officers will work with the local TRA to develop the local engagement strategy. This way the council will ensure that the TRA is at the heart of the process and the engagement plans reflect local circumstances whilst acknowledging the need to the deliver much needed new affordable housing to meet growing need.
· When we are recruiting to site project groups we will endeavour to involve residents who may move into the new homes when they are completed.
6. That the following improvements to the council’s communications be approved:
· Council officers will post the outcomes of consultation on the consultation hub, write to the local TRA and members of the project group where formed, making clearer how proposals have evolved to reflect residents’ views, building on best practice to date.
· We will develop a digital platform to enable residents to keep informed about how proposals are developing and about the project groups allowing the opportunity for further feed back.
· Ensure residents who have asked to be kept informed about the progress of the proposals including submission to planning are kept updated.