All A Board!

Northern Area Housing Board tenant chair, Gabriel Doherty talks about area housing boards to Paul Wilson.

Gabriel's recent presentation to a Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) meeting about area housing boards was well received.
"I volunteered to deliver the presentation because I have been involved with the boards since the first planning stages in 2005 and through the consultation period," says Gabriel.
"Now I am a member of one of the seven boards.
"I wanted to give the audience the history and background to the boards, their achievements, successes and frustrations, what influence they have, about the pace of change and that they monitor and approve spending – having control over specific budgets, like the area fencing budget.
"I explained what the boards can do for their area by getting involved in a wide range of activities.
For example the Northern area is involved in a Public Finance Initiative proposal – to fund the redevelopment of Orchard Park.
Our involvement at this stage has been to look at the outline proposal from the housing service that went in for consideration and we gave our thoughts, ideas and concerns."
Gabriel talked about how the area housing boards and the Tenants' Forum service improvement groups worked together.
"I think there is common ground and issues of interest.
We are all working in the best interests of local tenants and residents," says Gabriel.
"Some issues need looking at on a citywide basis, whereas others need more of an area focus." So what about the future of area housing boards?
"I think the terms of reference are quite comprehensive, but I don't think everyone fully understands the powers and the influence that area housing boards can exercise," says Gabriel.
"It's a big learning curve and I think as time goes on, the boards will become more successful and influential as more local people get involved, either by becoming members, or attending meetings and helping to make positive changes for all."

tenant news in brief

Your house – your home As a visitor to the Lord Mayor's Gala in East Park on Saturday 16 May, don't forget to call into the Tenants' Forum marquee. As you walk through the marquee, you will learn more about what the Housing Service offers and have the opportunity to take part in a variety of competitions. Come and join us! Training Courses The Tenant Participation Team offers advice and a range of training opportunities for people interested and involved in tenant and community engagement. The courses will help you learn new skills or develop existing ones. Contact the Team on 300300 for further information. Tenants' Forum The next Tenants' Forum meeting on Thursday 21 May, 7pm-9pm at the Guildhall has a representative from Gateway as the guest speaker. For more details ring 300300 and ask to speak to the tenant participation team or email: tenant.resident@hullcc.gov.uk New members are always welcome. Tenant News Quiz night Would you like to chance your luck at a quiz? The Thornton for the Future group is running monthly quiz nights at the Goodwin Club, Walker Street. This month it is on Wednesday 20 May, starting at 7.30pm. For further information, email patm@goodwin-centre.org. TARA meetings Lindsey Place and Arcon Drive Tenants' and Residents' Association meet at 2pm, the last Friday of every second month at Whitelees Court, Arcon Drive, Anlaby Road. Their next meeting is Friday 29 May. All local residents are welcome. Did you know? 'The Key to our Future: The Tenant Compact and Involvement Strategy' explains the many different ways you can be involved in, and contribute to, decision making within the Housing Service. Copies are available from the Tenant Participation Team by ringing 300300.

Junior patch walkers - LPTV style

LPTV's outside broadcast team took to the streets of Longhill, as they joined local housing officers on a patch walk of their area.
Longhill Primary School children have their own unique television station, called LPTV.
As part of the school's ongoing community education project, taking part and filming the patch walk increases their understanding of community matters.
The programme will be broadcast during a school morning assembly.
The six junior patch walkers, Lewis Murray, Jordon McLaren, Jack Hales, Lois Drinkall, Victoria Holliday and Adam Witney, were joined by staff from the school, two housing officers and two community wardens.
The team of eagle-eyed presenters, reporters, photographers and camera operators, were soon on the look out for things that spoiled the estate.
They did not have far to go before they found their first piles of litter on Shannon Road.
As the party made their way from Shannon Road to Beckington Close, passed the Catholic Church off Douglas Road (soon to become a community boxing club), Frome Road to Eastmount Community Centre and then Longhill Information Point, they found

• drinks cans and bottles, discarded cigarette and crisp packets, broken tree branches and general litter
• churned up grass verges, damaged grates, roads and footpaths
• graffiti on lampposts, fences, walls, street signs and a 'for sale' sign
• green areas covered in litter, broken glass, hidden wire and dog dirt
• vandalised properties and broken or removed fencing
• fly-tipped household rubbish

The housing officers recorded every item so they could take action about them back at their office.
So what had the children learned from their walk? "We have learned that everyone, not just the council, is responsible for looking after our estate," they all say.
"That people of all ages are responsible for the damage and the litter we filmed and photographed; that we must take care of our environment and tell as many people as possible about the effect that not looking after the environment has on children, animals, the community, the estate and the council's money."
If you are interested in taking part in a patch walk of your area, call 300300 and ask to speak to a tenant participation officer.

Volunteer Tenant Inspector Benefits: expenses paid, a great addition to your CV and a chance to influence the Housing Service Tenant Inspection is an important way of ensuring that council tenants are getting the best service possible. Tenant Inspectors have the freedom to investigate the chosen subject area as they wish, ask difficult questions and make recommendations to improve services. We are looking for enthusiastic, committed council tenants who want to influence the quality of the Council's Housing Service by volunteering as Tenant Inspectors. In return, we will provide comprehensive training, guidance and support. For more details, or to register your interest in becoming a Tenant Inspector, contact STAR on 485918 or email star@goodwin-centre.org. Alternatively, visit our stand at the Lord Mayor's Gala in East Park, 16 May.

You said The Disability and Publicity Monitoring Service Improvement Groups realised that the minicom number used by the deaf community to contact the council was not publicised in Hull in print.

We did The magazine now prints the minicom number under 'Ways to contact Hull City Council'.