Tenant Scrutiny and Co-Regulation

Tenant scrutiny and co-regulation is an essential element of the Regulatory Framework published by our regulator, the Tenant Services Authority with the approach being for tenants, landlords and the regulator to work in partnership to co-regulate the organisation.

Tenant led scrutiny brings residents to the heart of the decision making process, ensuring tenants outside of the Board have a formal role in the self-regulation and gives them the ability to challenge the organisation.

What are the benefits?

The main benefits of self regulation through scrutiny is that it gives real control to tenants in shaping services as well as developing individuals personal skills, knowledge and confidence. Cestria will also benefit through improved performance through tenant driven accountability and increased community confidence.

What is Cestria doing?

We developed a Tenant Scrutiny Development Group consisting of tenants, officers and board members in April, 2011. The aim of this group is to develop a model of Tenant Scrutiny for Cestria, develop documentation and also agree the recruitment process. The work of the development group will be completed once the tenant Scrutiny Committee has been recruited.

The Tenant Scrutiny Development Group has developed the scrutiny model and documentation in preparation for the Tenant Scrutiny Committee. The model and documents including: Terms of Reference; Code of Conduct; Information Protocol; Confidentiality Statement and Request for Scrutiny review were all approved by Board In July, 2011.

Next Steps

After successful interviews 7 candidates were selected for the first ever Cestria Scrutiny Committee. The committee had their first meeting on the 21st February at Lambourne Communal Room. This meeting was used as an introduction to everyone in the group as well as meeting with Gillian McLaren from TPAS who will be the committee's mentor during the initial period of the scrutiny process.

The next Scrutiny meeting was the committee attending a National Federation of Housing Conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham City on 23rd February. This conference was aimed at Scrutiny groups and promoting networking between North East Scrutiny Groups. The group had been given some tasks by Gillian and were to report back at the next Committee meeting on 6th March.

The March meeting was held at Auckland Communal Room and was looking at areas such as tenant involvement and where scrutiny fits into this, an introduction to the performance framework and confidentiality and codes of conduct.

The committee will meet for further sessions in April to discuss Performance Information.