Tonight (6th October) I joined the Zoom meeting of the Housing and Homelessness Panel. I am so glad I did. Bill Graves explained in very simple terms of what will have to change to comply with the rules laid down in the White Paper on Social Housing.
I attempted to read this Paper myself but found the language used confusing and so abandoned it.
There are many challenges being set, but what I was pleased to hear was that the council already meets some of the standards being demanded in the Paper. There is still a lot of work to do and people to be appointed in positions where there are new responsibilities.
There is a need for active participation from tenants and leaseholders and so I hope that all Ambassadors will seriously think about how they can contribute.
This is a chance for us to make our mark and try and make the example set in Oxford City become a model for other social housing providers to aspire to.
Ah, thanks for saying Wendy, its good to hear. That's a pleasure to voice as we continue communicating in such meetings, which is a privilege. It was encouraging too last week, when the councillors expressed their thanks and acknowledgement for the work of the TI team and ambassadors. Yes, to all our voicing! :)
Hi all, just to reassure you, the plan is already written. Apologies if I scared anyone! I think the point I was hoping to get across is that if any of you speak to the councillors please do mention how active we are, and that the team isn't just good, its awesome (word of the month) thats all and also if you get invited to any of these meetings please do come as our visibility is really important.
Yes to those deep breaths. Hear, hear Brenda.
And Wendy, hearing you and oh my, woah!
I can feel the resource issues.
Well, I'm new and so still learning about TI processes... I'm imagining ways forward and what it takes. Am I right to to imagine that planning is happening to translate into actions? Can we be of help?
If of use, I'm happy to lend some planning support to the team,
based on experience of complex goal-directed projects. Naturally respecting processes in place and just an idea in case of use... Let's see.
Unfortunately Valium would only blur the edges and not alleviate the problem. After Bill's presentation the councillors present know the scale of what must be done. The Tenant Involvement team were probably ahead of most of them having looked at the White Paper in detail. We all know the pressures of housing in Oxford and must do what we can to improve the situation. But TI can not achieve this on it's own. As long as you do your best you cannot be asked to do more. So deep breaths in and soldier on!
Just think of it like this - we have a 3 year plan/model and attempting to do this with 5 staff........ can I take valium this early?
I was hoping to join the meeting but got way laid. I too like yourself Brenda had sat and thought I would read it but also found it tough going. I sometimes wish things could be written in a more straightforward form so those who do wish to read can get the gist without losing the thread due to how is written like you and I did.
It is good to hear that some headway is being made but as you say more to do. It would be good if in the long term the work done in Oxford could be seen as a model to work towards for others whilst the city continues to work on the changes that are needed.