Tenants from across Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire came together recently to share their experiences and help shape the future of housing services at the annual joint tenant conference.
Jointly organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, Rykneld Homes and Bolsover District Council, the event brought together council tenants from the three neighbouring areas to discuss what a visible and effective council housing service should look like.
Through a series of interactive workshops, tenants shared ideas, compared experiences and explored how the three landlords can better connect with local their local communities.
One tenant said: “It was interesting to hear experiences from other areas and how different local authorities operate.”
Tenants discussed how visibility must be about more than simply seeing housing staff on estates - they want housing teams to be present to help solve problems, build trust and connect with people who may not otherwise engage.
Another tenant explained: “I found the day informative and it gave me an insight into what happens within the councils.”
Another key theme throughout the conference was the importance of communication. Tenants highlighted the need for clear information about who their local housing officers are, how to contact them, and the support that is available to them, as well as the importance of timely updates on repairs and planned works.
Chesterfield Borough Council was recognised for already offering several ways to get in touch, including named contacts, community surveyors, support hubs and its tenant engagement van. Tenants said the next step should be faster responses, regular drop-in sessions and a stronger presence in neighbourhoods.
Reflecting on the event, one tenant said: “An excellent opportunity to put across ideas and issues with our landlords, gave insight into the work they do and what challenges they face”
The ideas and finding gathered during the day will now be turned into a shared report and clear action plan by TPAS associate Karen Chambers.
The report recommends that the three organisations agree a practical definition of visibility, set a simple communication standard and test quick improvements. Suggested measures include staff role profiles, promotion of named contacts, estate walkabouts, drop-in sessions and updates through newsletters, social media and WhatsApp.
Several priorities have also been identified specifically for Chesterfield Borough Council's housing service. These will be explored further with tenants over the coming months to help shape future improvements and ensure services continue to meet residents' needs.
Councillor Jean Innes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “It’s important that we give our tenants the opportunity to help shape our services and we provide lots of opportunities for Chesterfield Borough Council tenants to get involved.
“The Joint Tenants Conference is an important event that is held each year to allow our tenants to get together with tenants from neighbouring local authorities and share their experiences on what they think is working well and where the think improvements could be made.
“I hope all those that attended enjoyed the event and we are looking forward to continuing to work with our tenants to make sure our services can meet their needs.”
Learn more about tenant engagement opportunities at Chesterfield Borough Council.
Contact the tenant engagement team for further details:
• Email: tenantengagement@chesterfield.gov.uk
• Call: 01246 345147
• Call, text or WhatsApp: 07970 421854 / 07980 899527 / 07930 690276
