Developing Scrutiny and co-regulation at Reading

Over the last 12 months we have been working with a group of tenants and staff to consider and respond to the requirements of the TSA including assessing how we measure against the national standards, developing our local standards and designing, and publishing our Annual report.

We have also been working with the tenant group to look at our response to co-regulation and the development of a new tenant scrutiny panel. We will be officially kick starting the process at a joint conference for both tenants and key staff members on 4th March. The tenant working group will be instrumental to agreeing the process of the development of scrutiny panel including:

  • Advertising and recruitment of scrutineers
  • Agreeing terms of reference and code of conduct
  • Training programme
  • How the independent scrutiny panel will ‘fit’ with the existing involvement structure

Although the tenants on the working group will oversee the development of the panel, they will not automatically be members although they will have the opportunity to apply. As they have already developed knowledge and skills over the last 12 months it may be appropriate that a number of them could sit on the panel but that shouldn’t be at the expense of any potential new members and therefore they would have to apply and be interviewed along with anyone else with an interest. TPAS are also providing us with independent advice to assist with this process.

In order to ensure that our involvement processes are fit for purpose and able to play a full and active part in the new co-regulatory requirements, we have also been working with the Federation to review their current practises and how they can best respond to the challenges in housing and represent their members interests.

We are also developing participatory budgeting and looking to hold our first PB event in July.
We are also looking to develop joint tenant training with other members of the Bucks and Berks benchmarking group so that we can share costs, skills and knowledge. This group meets bimonthly to share good practise, exchange benchmarking information and generally keep up to date on new initiatives and policies in resident involvement. For further information please contact either Collette Baker, Mary Hull or Kerry Gray on 01189372730
Or email at Tenant.Participation@reading.gov.uk
 

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