Two council tenants have been appointed to Stroud District Council’s Housing Committee.
Becky Adams and Mike Richter will represent the views of more than 9,000 Stroud District Council tenants by using their own experiences as tenants, along with feedback from others.
They have the opportunity to advise and be involved in the management of the council’s housing service, the formulation of policies and the making of decisions about how housing services are delivered.
Tenant representatives attend and are involved in discussions at housing committee meetings, but cannot vote.
Becky and Mike were selected by a panel comprising tenants, members of the Housing Committee, officers from the council’s housing service and an independent facilitator.
They have already started working closely with both council members and officers, attending committee meetings and groups looking at tenant empowerment, repairs, bringing empty homes back into use and the programme to improve the energy efficiency of council houses, so reducing carbon emissions.
Becky lives in Stonehouse and has been a Stroud District Council tenant since March 2020. She said:
“I feel very fortunate to have been selected as a Tenants’ Voice representative and have been inspired so far by the steps taken to involve tenants in council decisions and increasing communications. I would like to help tenants to make the most of the opportunities available to them and give a voice to those who are not able to. I look forward to attending more focus groups and getting stuck in.
“After being a postal worker for many years communication is certainly my thing. I currently work for the NHS on the mental health team so I have valuable skills on hand.”
Mike lives in Dursley and has been a council tenant for more than 12 years. He is retired, and volunteers as a duty manager at the Cotswold Canals Trust Bookshop in Brimscombe. He said:
“Having dealt with various departments of the council with some success l feel l would like to help tenants if they are unable to find the right person to address their problems or concerns as it is sometimes difficult to get heard.
I am very interested in renewable energy and schemes to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Cllr Mattie Ross, Chair of Stroud District Council’s Housing Committee, said:
“A warm welcome to Becky and Mike, who I am sure will make a valuable contribution to how we communicate with our tenants. At committee, their questioning reports and being part of the debate will give us a valuable insight, and influence the decisions made.
“Their appointments show how Stroud District Council is committed to providing more opportunities for resident involvement in housing decisions.”
Stroud District Council was one of the first social housing landlords to appoint tenant representatives to the housing committee in 2016, which has since become a requirement by the sector’s governance body, the Regulator of Social Housing.
Council tenants can get in touch with Becky and Mike at tenant events, or by email at volu524@gmail.com or phone (messaging service) on 07970 952214.
Tenant representatives do not get involved in individual tenant’s complaints, which can be raised through the council’s complaints procedure.
