New tenants’ board created for Wealden residents

The Wealden and Tenants Together Housing Board will see tenants, council officers, councillors and independent members come together in a bid to involve tenants in the decision-making process, monitor the performance of the housing service and strengthen local democracy by actively engaging customers in shaping and taking decisions on housing services.

Through the board, tenants will be able to influence and shape the services delivered as well as co-design policies and strategies.

The new group will consist of two recruited tenant representatives, two recruited independent board members, Wealden councillors and senior Housing staff. It will be chaired by the lead councillor for Housing and Benefits, which is currently Wealden’s council leader, Councillor Rachel Millward.

The council will be running a recruitment process in the coming weeks and inviting tenants and professionals with relevant experience to apply for the opportunities to participate on the board.  

Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), lead councillor for Housing & Benefits and leader of the council, said, “The introduction of the social housing tenants board will empower our tenants and help us to be more transparent as we deliver more housing for our communities.

“The focus of the board is co-production, which means working with the community as we make changes. The recruitment process will be an open application process for tenants and independent members and training, and a modest allowance will be provided throughout the term that they hold the post. Board meetings will be held quarterly and will be face to face or online.”