A new panel has been launched to give council house tenants more of a say.
Nine residents will review South Holland District Council’s housing services, look at performance, ask questions and make suggestions to help ensure services meet the needs of tenants.
A council spokesman said: “The panel was created to strengthen the voice of tenants and give residents more opportunities to influence decisions that affect their homes and communities.
“The nine members were recruited through SHDC’s tenant engagement programme and have completed training to prepare them for their new role.
“The panel recently held its first meeting where members looked at housing service performance, reviewed tenant engagement achievements from the past 12 months and discussed priorities for the year ahead.
As its first scrutiny project, the panel has chosen to look at how the council supports new tenants when they move into one of its homes.
The review will explore whether new tenants receive the right information and support at the start of their tenancy. Panel members will speak with tenants and council officers, examine the service and identify ways it could be improved for future customers.
Coun Tracey Carter, portfolio holder for strategic and operational housing at South Holland District Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome our new Tenant Influence Panel members.
“By giving their time and sharing their knowledge, experiences and views, they will help us better understand what matters most to our tenants and ensure their voices are heard. The launch of the panel is an important step in strengthening tenant influence, providing valuable insight into how our services are performing and where improvements can be made.
“We look forward to working with members as they begin their first review and help us shape housing services that meet the needs of tenants across South Holland. Their ideas and feedback will help us continue to improve and put tenants at the centre of what we do.”
Meanwhile the district council says its improved insulation and updated heating at 469 of its properties and secured funding to do the same with 740 more.
In the previous round of work, 370 solar panel systems, 47 air source heat pumps, 469 loft insulation upgrades and 151 external wall insulation improvements were installed.
