North Lanarkshire Council has announced another opportunity for tenants to get involved in their housing service at their annual tenants' conference.

The conference is taking place on Saturday, 4 November, at Airdrie Academy, from 9am – 12.30pm and is described as an excellent event for tenants from across North Lanarkshire to attend and provides an opportunity to hear first-hand of important issues impacting on housing services, and to give their views to help shape future services.

'Changing Places - Our Shared Ambition', is the theme for this year's conference and some of the areas for discussion include, our new housing supply, antisocial behaviour, fire safety and estate walkabouts.

The conference is just one example of the opportunities tenants have available to them to play a key role in housing services. And, our recent Tenant Participation Review sets out how we'll continue to support and further develop tenant participation and customer engagement across North Lanarkshire.


Other ways we involve tenants include, tenants' and residents' groups; tenant-led estate walkabouts; tower strategy sub group; social media, surveys and working groups.

Our review, which involved a period of consultation with tenants, residents and staff, sets out plans to increase participation opportunities, improve tenant satisfaction and engage with difficult to reach groups. We'll do this by bringing the tenant participation outreach and administration service in-house and provide external consultation services for tenant scrutiny and tenant led events, reporting and training.

Pamela Humphries, Acting Head of Housing Solutions, said: "Our review looked at ways to improve the opportunities available to tenants to participate in relation to its housing services. Our aim is not just to improve these levels but to make sure all our tenants have the chance to be part of future consultation and are at the heart of our decision making."

The committee also approved the continuation of funding to the North Lanarkshire Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations which plays a critical role in the development and delivery of tenant participation across North Lanarkshire. We'll continue to work closely with the Federation to maximise tenant participation opportunities.

Maureen Duggan, Chairperson of North Lanarkshire Federation of Tenants' and Residents Association, added: "North Lanarkshire Federation works in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council to develop housing services for all tenants and residents in North Lanarkshire. We believe that tenant participation and engaging with local communities is vital to decision making processes and should be central to developing housing and related services."

(MH)