Sun shines on successful Tenants’ Day
John Browne, the
secretary of the Redland Residents’ Committee welcomed everybody
and reminded us of the importance of tenants, staff and Board
members having the opportunity to meet together face-to-face, share
ideas, and listen to each other.
Angie Paton, Vice Chair, reported on important Redland
Residents’ Committee business and introduced the new committee
members.
The session that followed was led by Managing Director, Louise
Swain, who asked the question, ‘How do tenants want Redland to
invest in services in the coming years?’ Tenants were invited to
look around displays presenting different options for investment
and the results are shown below.
Tenants were given two tokens to spend on their biggest
priorities. 61 people took part.
- Reduce the environmental impact of Redland’s homes (and save
money) – 29
- Focus on people not properties by enhancing the services we
already provide – 10
- Improve accessibility to existing and future homes – 23
- Use a higher specification of components in homes – 25
- Neighbourhoods and external environment – 29
Your choice
- We also asked tenants to say if there was anything more
important to them that was not mentioned in the displays, and these
points were made:
Improving maintenance of external areas – 4 comments
- Redland managing the behaviour of tenants who break the rules –
2 comments
- Specific features such as transom windows, LPG heating systems
and showers – 5 requests
- Redland to be more understanding of tenants – 5 comments
This feedback will influence the business planning process and
will be considered at the Board strategy day in October.
The day went on to cover money matters in a thoughtful and
interactive session led by Tim Horsman from the Citizens Advice
Bureau. In this session, tenants recognised the importance of
having accurate information at your disposal, with a pub quiz style
exercise to find out how much we really know about our rights as
citizens.
Meanwhile,
the children were flexing their musical muscles in an energetic
samba workshop run by Samba Sulis, in readiness for their
performance to the adults later on in the day. The children also
explored some of their own aspirations for homes of the future and
created a colourful ‘voice wall’, as well as creating beautiful
kites to fly on the beach in the afternoon.
Thanks to all the contributors, including Royal National
Institute for the Deaf, Citizens Advice Bureau, Samba Sulis, the
Winter Gardens staff, Redland staff and RRC Social Committee
members for helping to make this a fun and informative day.