Agenda item - Environmental Improvement Survey

7.1          Janet Dowdell, Tenancy Services Operations Manager, introduced the update on the new environmental improvement survey to collate resident ideas for neighbourhood improvements for HRA land and presented a heatmap to showcase the current number of responses across the City. Once the data was collected the Field Officer Manager would present the results to community meetings and discuss the proposals with residents, councillors and Housing staff to decide on new future projects.

7.2          Residents stated that a substantial number of tenants would have difficulty accessing the survey online, where many lacked computers or Wi-Fi, and that many residents did not know this survey existed. Residents stated that there should be more than 90 posters in total as that doesn’t cover the number of blocks across the City and that residents who were partially sighted would not look to community noticeboards and visits should be arranged to notify those people of the survey.

7.3          Janet Dowdell responded that all the Housing staff had been briefed on the survey and said that visits to tenants could be arranged and there would be an article in Homing In. An alternative to completing the survey online, residents who had difficulties could either visit or ring the help desk or customer services for a member of staff to assist or complete the survey on their behalf.

7.4          In response to the Chair commenting that the survey was already half-way to the response deadline, Janet Dowdell stated that the survey was still live for 2-3 weeks.

7.5          In response to leaseholders asking whether Housing could circulate email links of the survey via the leaseholder database, Ododo Dafe stated that this would be difficult due to Government Data Protection Regulations (GDRP) and that they could only circulate information to people who request information and not for promotional purposes.

7.6          Leaseholders stated that the LAG could work to create a leaseholder circulation list, to which other leaseholders complained that the database was for housing management and the survey linked to how leaseholder money was spent.

7.7          Glyn Huelin proposed that there was an opportunity to refresh the contacts and resolve the GDPR issues for the leaseholder survey at the LAG.

7.8          In response to the Chair asking whether the consultation period could be extended, Janet Dowdell stated that this could be possible.

7.9          Councillor Gibson raised concern over vulnerable residents being excluded from the survey by not providing paper copies which should at least be an option, that the return was lower than if more options were provided, and that community engagement would be removed between residents.

7.10       Ododo Dafe explained that Housing would provide paper copies if they had more resources, as providing hard copies was costly, however this initiative did promote environmentally friendly practice. She explained that Housing were encouraging residents to access the internet through efforts such as Wi-Fi provision in council blocks and their intention was not to exclude.

7.11       Residents suggested that Housing could email the block’s scheme managers and they could communicate with tenants and that local libraries could be utilised which would combat the problems of access to the internet and lack of face-to-face engagement,

7.12       Ododo Dafe agreed there was more they could do to maximise participation such as tweeting and making use of senior housing managers for a wider audience, Janet Dowdell added that the project group were meeting half way through the survey to reflect and discuss options to improve the impact of the survey and the item would return to a future Panel.

7.13       The Chair stated that beyond the initial two-year trial there would be further opportunities for engagement.

7.14       RESOLVED – That the Panel agree to note the update.