Aberdeen Glasgow

Annual Report

AyrKirkcaldy

Hamilton Irvine Greenock

Perth

St Andrews

Inverness Dundee

2010-2011 Livingston SelkirkPaisley Edinburgh Stirling Musselburgh

Welcome from David Wood Convenor

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Welcome to our Annual Report for 2010-11.

We revised our mission statement to:

The last year has been a challenging one and TIS has been working with tenants and landlords all over Scotland to look at ways to improve housing services and involve communities in this challenging economic climate. It continues to be essential that tenants have access to independent advice, training and support services to be in a position to influence housing policy, services and standards.

“TIS is the leading organisation promoting and inspiring tenant participation in Scotland. TIS practitioners provide high quality independent advice, training and support services empowering tenants, communities and landlords to develop good practice and influence change throughout Scotland”.

TIS is unique in that we are the only tenant controlled organisation of its scale and size in Scotland. Being a member of TIS not only gives you a say in how the organisation is run but gives you access to a wide range of housing information, advice and expertise. We are very much dependent on the support we receive from tenants and landlords to utilise our services and I would like to thank you all for your ongoing support. Within the organisation, we spent time in 2010 developing our five year strategic business plan to ensure that TIS continues to be able to provide high quality services in the future.

I would like to thank all my colleagues in the TIS Executive Council and the staff team who work hard to make sure that TIS provides services that are “good value for money” and reflect the needs of tenants and residents across the country. They are all committed and dedicated to making TIS the leading tenant participation organisation in Scotland. It is a privilege to be the Convenor of TIS and we look forward to working with you over the year ahead.

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A word from Ilene Campbell Director

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The last twelve months have presented challenges for the housing sector in Scotland and in TIS we have been working with tenants and landlords to embrace these and ensure that tenants’ voices continue to influence housing policy both at a national and local level. The passing of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 has changed the framework of housing regulation, reformed the rights of tenants to buy their homes and introduced the Scottish Social Housing Charter. TIS staff and Executive Council members participated during 2010 in the Scottish Government’s Sounding Boards for stakeholders on the Housing Bill (before it became an Act) and the Charter. This provided us with an opportunity to influence the Government’s decisions on the regulatory framework and the Charter and as a result

tenants are now required to be at the heart of a landlord’s processes for self-assessment. The EC and staff are confident that although 2010-11 has been a challenging year, TIS will continue to lead the way in Scotland by supporting tenants and landlords to influence national housing policy and to achieve positive participation results in local areas. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the EC and the staff team for their hard work and commitment. Thanks also to our members and service users for their ongoing support to make us a leading training, information and support organisation. We look forward to continuing the work we do with tenants and residents, local authorities, housing and training agencies and the Scottish Government to raise future housing standards.

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Annual Conference 12th & 13th June 2010 Raising Standards: 2010 and Beyond

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We were delighted in 2010 to open our conference with a Ministerial Address from Alex Neil MSP, Minister for Housing and Communities. Delegates were able to ask questions and found his address informing and one of the conference highlights. Lesley Riddoch chaired a lively panel session which debated options for investing in affordable housing in Scotland. The guest panel included: Roger Popplewell from the Scottish Government, Gordon Campbell from the Clydesdale Bank, Michael Thain, of City of Edinburgh Council and Fraser Stewart of New Gorbals Housing Association.

Feedback from delegates included:

“One of the best sessions I have attended at any conference” “Lesley injected some welcome humour into a subject which causes and is likely to cause larger scale concern and hardship – directly connected to the short fall in provision of homes” “I loved this session the whole content and debate and answers – a really great session”

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Celebrating Success annual report 2010-11

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The Frances Nelson MBE Award 2010 TIS would like to take this opportunity to congratulate tenants and residents groups all over Scotland for the hard work and commitment they give to their own communities and the wider tenants’ movement. The entries received in the 2010 Frances Nelson MBE Award were of a very high standard and made the job of judging the awards very difficult for those involved. The second Frances Nelson MBE Award was presented during the 2010 Annual Conference. The award differed from year one because it was decided to have one award for large umbrella tenants’ organisations and one for more local groups in recognition of the different types of work such organisations undertake. In the umbrella group category the winner was Edinburgh Tenants Federation. East Gauchallands TARA, Galston was the winner of the local group category and the Onthank Residents Association in Kilmarnock was commended by the judges in the local group category. The work of each group is summarised on the following pages.

Improving Mental Health Services for Tenants Living in High Rise Flats “Two passers-by witnessed the death of a tragic young mum as she jumped from a multi storey block window in full view of her child who was left alone in the house. When emergency services were contacted, the operator asked the Concierge Manager to establish whether the young woman was dead”. This is just one example of the tragic incidents which front line staff all too often have to face, and highlights the need for support for both vulnerable residents and staff in multi storey blocks. Following the tragic suicides, the Convener of ETF, launched a campaign for better mental health services for tenants in high rises, and for improved support for concierges and frontline staff. It took two years for the Council to agree to establish a Mental Health Awareness Group (MHAG), but ETF wouldn’t give up. Tenants made sure the right experts, with the right level of decision making authority from a range of specialist agencies, the NHS and different departments from the

Council came on board. The approach ETF took has been recognised by the Cabinet Office as a Customer Service Excellence Good Practice Case Study and by City of Edinburgh Council’s Health and Social Care Committee as ‘groundbreaking’. Other tenants’ and residents’ organisations can learn from ETF that with good participation processes change can be delivered and that just because issues are not spoken about, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be addressed.

Celebrating Success

Edinburgh Tenants Federation

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Celebrating Success annual report 2010-11

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East Gauchallands Tenants and Residents Association, Galston, Ayrshire Gardening Project East Gauchallands TARA embarked on a gardening project where several vacant pieces of land in their area were leased to the group by East Ayrshire Council. East Gauchallands TARA has successfully turned these pieces of land into attractive, disability friendly and eco-friendly gardens. The association worked hard to involve all members of their community including people who attend the day care centre and receive support for their learning disabilities. The gardening project has been a good example for several new RTOs in East Ayrshire who have been able to use the East Gauchallands experience to set up their own enterprises. Other tenants’ and residents’ organisations can learn from East Gauchallands TARA that while not all the group’s activities are solely

about housing issues this gardening project has had a huge impact on the quality of life on the estate. The visible transformation of the area has raised the self-esteem of individuals within the community which in turn raises their respect for their own environment making it an attractive and desirable place to live.

Tackling Tourhill Road Onthank Residents Association has focused its efforts on the Tourhill Road Area of the estate over the past year. This area contains a block of bedsits which have been used as temporary homeless accommodation over the last few years. The Onthank Residents Association challenged Housing Services and was adamant that something needed to be done to improve the management of the flats. Their determination eventually took them to the Head of Housing who met the group on an estate walkabout. The group also identified a large area of landlocked ground behind the flats that could be accessed if the flats were demolished. Onthank Residents Association provides an opportunity for other tenants’ and residents’ organisations to learn from a group being determined to a reach a solution by applying their local knowledge and devising a feasible proposal as a way forward. Despite initially meeting a negative response from Housing

Services they continued to fight for action to be taken to solve concerning issues within their estate. Onthank Residents Association shows that tenant participation is about dedication, commitment and determination to get something done to improve tenants’ lives.

The 2010 Frances Nelson MBE Award Judges Robert Arthur, Joanne Martin, Harry Woodward, Anne Cook and Cathie McArthur.

Celebrating Success

Onthank Residents Association

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Inspiring Tenant Participation Practice annual report 2010-11

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Our Development Support Projects Our staff provide dedicated administration, outreach, and development support in four local authority areas in Scotland. This provides tenants in their areas with locally based experienced and committed staff to develop and support participation activities within communities. This level of resource enables tenants to successfully influence the decisions of their landlords and develop strong grassroots tenant participation. The work of our four projects is highlighted on the following pages.

Members of East Ayrshire Tenants and Residents Federation were delighted when Provost Stephanie Young presided over the official opening of their new offices at 19 Portland Road, Kilmarnock in August 2010. The Federation’s Executive Committee believes that the office is a great new resource for the local tenants and residents groups across East Ayrshire. It provides access to meeting rooms, training facilities, information, advice and administration support to all groups. Representatives from member groups, local Councillors and staff from East Ayrshire Council’s Housing Service, local Registered Social Landlords and TIS joined the Executive Committee to celebrate this fantastic achievement.

Provost Young congratulated the Federation and its member groups on all the hard work that members put in to improve their local communities and influence housing policy and services across East Ayrshire.

Inspiring Tenant Participation Practice

East Ayrshire Tenants and Residents Federation

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Inspiring Tenant Participation Practice

East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel During 2010-11 East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel (ELTRP) has supported local tenants and residents groups to gather vital community views on a variety of important issues. Local groups have carried out a number of community surveys to identify local issues and use the information as evidence and a tool to influence their members’ concerns. This is a fantastic piece of work as it demonstrates that local groups are working in partnership with their membership, ELTRP, the Council, Councillors and other relevant agencies. The Council’s support of this initiative was crucial to its success. The Service Development Team at Penston House provided each group with reply paid envelopes and this encouraged a high response rate. The Council also displays a copy of each report on its web site and this helps to demonstrate that local groups are active, democratic, accountable community organisations that gather local views.

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The information collected and the results are used by both ELTRP and the Council to monitor their business plans. The summary of results is used as a checking tool on both business plans to ensure that ELTRP is representing the views of its members and the Council is developing services that meets its customers’ needs. The ELTRP Executive Committee also welcomed the information as it provided an additional link with local group activities.

This year the North Lanarkshire Project was delighted to be starting the first year of a new three year project continuing to provide independent development support for the tenants and residents in North Lanarkshire. Nancy Robertson replaced Phil Arnold as Development Officer during 2010. The new project meant an increase in the outreach and admin hours the staff were able to deliver. This has meant that more groups have received support during 2010-11.

Inspiring Tenant Participation Practice

North Lanarkshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Participation Project

It’s been yet another great year for the Federation, and they have continued to go from strength to strength representing tenants and residents across North Lanarkshire. One of the major pieces of work undertaken was continuing to provide ‘Food for Thought’; a series of short, informal training or information sessions with lunch provided. The Federation was very proud when the programme was shortlisted as a finalist for the Chartered Institute of Housing’s award in the ‘Outstanding Achievement in Housing in Scotland’ category. This was a real testament to its success, and recognition that it’s proved to be a really innovative way of providing training and information for tenants and residents across North Lanarkshire. ‘Food for Thought’ was established in 2009, and has now gained widespread recognition. Evaluation of the sessions shows that participants rate the sessions as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good ‘.

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Inspiring Tenant Participation Practice annual report 2010-11

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South Lanarkshire Tenants Development Support Project Over a number of years tenants in South Lanarkshire have developed effective mechanisms for engaging with the Council on a whole range of policy reviews such as the Allocations Policy, the Repairs Policy and the Rent Arrears Policy. However they felt they needed to have more effective mechanisms for consulting on the annual rent increase. In 2010-11 they had a series of consultation events held centrally and locally to allow tenants to give their views on the rent increase proposed by the Council. The Budget Scrutiny Group which had been formed to oversee the consultation process had proposed a Question Time session to close the consultation. This event gave tenants’ representatives the opportunities to put questions to senior Council staff from the Housing Department with responsibility for Investment, Finance, and Housing Management.

As a result tenants’ representatives gained a good understanding of several issues, including: the pressures facing the Housing Revenue Account, the planned investment over the next four years as the Council aims to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard, the plans to complete the Home Happening programme in 2011/ 2012, and plans for rent harmonisation.

In the autumn of 2010, TIS was asked by the Scottish Government to consult with difficult to reach groups on the proposals for the Charter. This work included reporting feedback to the Government from homeless people, young tenants and tenants living in supported accommodation. TIS undertook successful joint working with several organisations in order to complete this consultation for the Government. These organisations included:

Influencing Change Throughout Scotland

Influencing the Scottish Social Housing Charter

» Connor Road Young Persons Supported Accommodation » Project 101 Young Persons Housing Advice Project » Shelter Scotland » The Edinburgh Cyrenians » Jessie Devlin Close Hostel, Dundee » Margaret Blackwood Housing Association We would like to extend our thanks to all of these organisations for their assistance in completing these consultations.

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Innovative Training annual report 2010-11

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Training Events for Tenant Participation and Housing Staff During 2010-11 we held two successful events for staff working with tenants. In September 2010, in Stirling, we discussed the Scottish Social Housing Charter and outcomes. William Fleming from the Scottish Government attended to present the Government’s plans on the Charter to the delegates and gave them an opportunity to ask questions and raise some concerns about the Charter process. “Deal or No Deal” finished off the day in a light hearted and fun manner. In March 2011, in Dundee, our guest speakers were Andy Robinson from the Scottish Housing Regulator, Tim Calderbank from Servite Housing Association and Rena Smith, Chairperson of the Dundee Federation of Tenants Associations. Andy gave an informative presentation about the process of establishing the new regulator and some

of his thoughts about involving tenants in selfassessment. Tim then gave his views from a housing association perspective about the implications of the changes to regulation and the challenges of involving tenants and Rena gave an insight from her experience as a member of the national Tenant Regulation Advisory Group (TRAG) into how tenants want to be involved in regulation. Again the day finished on a light note with a round of “Opportunity Knocks”.

A new venture for TIS during 2010-11 was to run a series of evening sessions for members of housing association management committees. We held events in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Motherwell. The focus of the events was once again the Charter and outcomes and there was some

lively debate amongst delegates about landlords having to find extra resources to implement the Charter when they are already working towards an agreed set of service standards. At the later events feedback was sent to the Scottish Government about the contents of their Charter Discussion Paper.

Innovative Training

Training Events for Housing Association Management Committee Members

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Providing High Quality Independent Advice annual report 2010-11

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Our Independent Adviser Work in 2010-11 TIS continues to provide high quality independent advice to tenants across Scotland. We have built up a good reputation for meeting the requirements of independent advice contracts on time and in an accountable and transparent way. We have acted as independent advisers over the last twenty years in over forty different contracts. Our experience in independent advice is unrivalled in Scotland. Due to the current economic climate and the focus of Government housing policy over the next year there could be an increasing number of housing associations looking to merge with one and other in Scotland.

Servite and Perthshire Housing Associations – Merger During 2010-11 TIS has provided independent advice to tenants of both Servite and Perthshire Housing Associations as the two organisations have produced a business plan setting out their proposals to become one larger organisation. TIS has reported to tenants on the main proposals contained within the business plan which are focussed around three key principles of value, quality and people. Servite and Perthshire Housing Associations already work closely together in Perthshire and both organisations believe that a larger merged organisation will be better placed to withstand current and future financial pressures and to make a positive impact on national and local housing policy objectives.

of Irvine Housing Association during the consultation process to look at the option to form a constitutional partnership with the Riverside Group.

TIS carried out an independent assessment of the Business Case and carried out consultation with tenants and residents throughout Irvine’s areas of operations. Ilene Campbell, Director of TIS, stated “During this project TIS worked closely with Irvine Housing Association and the Tenants Panel to make sure tenants and residents understood this proposal and that information provided was jargon free. A wide range of consultation events were used to get as many people as possible involved in influencing this proposal.”

In December 2010, TIS was delighted to be chosen by West Dunbartonshire Council Tenant representatives to provide independent advice to tenants in the proposed partial stock transfer. TIS has been working with tenants and their representatives in all the transfer areas, providing independent advice to assist them to influence and form an opinion on these proposals. The four transfer package areas proposed for partial stock transfer by West Dunbartonshire Council are the Vale of Leven, Dumbarton, Clydebank East and Clydebank West areas. Council houses will be transferred to Registered Social Landlords if there are successful ballots of tenants.

Providing High Quality Independent Advice

Irvine Housing Association West Dunbartonshire – Constitutional Partnership Council – Partial Stock Transfer TIS provided independent advice to tenants

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Income & Expenditure Accounts For The Year Ended 31 March 2011 2011

2010

£

£

621,843

657,815

Staff costs

510,531

541,301

Other operating charges

123,840

137,445

634,371

678,746

Operating deficit

(12,528)

(20,931)

Other income

250

431

Deficit on ordinary activities before taxation

(12,278)

(20,500)

Tax on deficit on ordinary activities

(3)

(91)

annual report

Deficit on ordinary activities

(12,281)

(20,591)

2010-11

Revenue reserves brought forward

134,492

155,083

Revenue reserves carried forward

122,211

134,492

Operating income Operating costs

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Executive Council Members The following EC Members have served during 2010-11 Alice Bovill St Marys Association of Residents and Tenants, Dundee

Jeanette Boyd Windsor Park Tenants and Residents Association, Musselburgh

Margaret Burke Partick United Residents Group, Glasgow

Frank Dawson Gauchalland East Tenants and Residents Association, East Ayrshire

Alan Dunton

John Jamieson

Rena Smith

Strutherhill Tenants and Residents, South Lanarkshire

Dundee Federation of Tenants Associations

Robert Lewis

David Wood

Netherburn Tenants and Residents Association, South Lanarkshire

South Aberdeenshire Tenants and Residents Association

Cathie McArthur

Lynn Tait

East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel

Southhouse and Burdiehouse Residents Organisations, Edinburgh

Danny Mullen

Allan Todd

Five Sisters Housing Network, West Lothian

Auchinairn and Crowhill Tenants and Residents Association, East Dunbartonshire

Nancy Rennie Milton Albyn Housing Forum, Highlands

Robert Arthur North Lanarkshire Federation

Nungate Tenants and Residents Association, East Lothian

Helen Forrest Clackmannanshire Tenants and Residents Federation

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How to Contact TIS Visit our new website: www.tis.org.uk TIS Head Office

South Lanarkshire Project

128 Baltic Chambers, 50 Wellington Street, Glasgow G2 6HJ. Tel: 0141 248 1242 Email: [email protected]

Room 3, Brandon House Business Centre 23 Brandon Street, Hamilton, ML3 6DA. Tel: 01698 527108

Ilene Campbell Director [email protected]

Kirsty Wells Development Manager [email protected]

Alistair Reid Development Officer [email protected]

Sharon Donohoe Development Manager [email protected]

Jill Miller Service Support Officer [email protected]

East Lothian Project

Lynn Morrison Admin Officer [email protected]

47 Bridge Street, Musselburgh EH21 6AA. Tel: 0131 665 9304

Lynda Johnstone Development Manager [email protected]

Patricia King Development Officer [email protected]

Michelle Callachan On Maternity Leave [email protected]

North Lanarkshire Project

Paul Laidlaw Outreach Officer [email protected]

Jacqueline Wood Temporary Admin Officer [email protected]

Unit 66, Fountain Business Park, Ellis Street, Coatbridge ML5 3AA. Tel: 01236 435844 Nancy Robertson Development Officer [email protected] James Ballantyne Outreach Officer [email protected]

Janet Stevenson Admin Officer [email protected]

East Ayrshire Tenants and Residents Federation 19 Portland Road, Kilmarnock, KA1 2BT. Tel: 01563 524073 Caroline Harte Admin Officer [email protected] design | www.imagesystem.biz