Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Housing Futures Customer Group

In order to assist the Council throughout it's recent Options Appraisal a tenants' consultation group was set up in early 2007. Since then The Housing Futures Customer Group has met with officers of the Council and Tristar Homes on a regular basis.

The group was initially formed from membership of existing tenant and resident groups, however, membership is open to all tenants or leaseholders and new members are always welcome at anytime. Members of the group have given their views to the Council throughout the process so far, and will continue to do so now the Options Appraisal has completed and we proceed through the next stages of the proposed stock transfer. Meetings are held regularly and details of meeting dates can be obtained via the Council's Housing Futures team.

Housing Futures Customer Group meetings are facilitated by Engage Associates as Independent Tenants Advisers and 'chaired' by group members. The meetings are also attended by Council officers and other advisers invited by the group.

In October 2008, the group produced a report and presentation which was given to senior council officers and Councillor Steve Nelson (Cabinet member for Housing and Community Safety), which gave their views on the options available.  The groups findings were noted in the Options Appraisal Cabinet report and a copy of the groups report can be accessed via the links below.

The group then went on to continue its work into the next stages of the options appraisal, looking at the types of landlord that would be considered if a stock transfer was to go ahead.  Representatives from the Housing Futures Customer Group worked on this part of the appraisal with Local Councillors and staff representatives, in a Joint Reference Group.

The Joint Reference Group made a recommendation that their preferred partner to which a stock transfer of homes could be made was a "new -style" Tristar Homes operating as a not-for-profit housing association, not as an Arm's Length Management Organisation as it does at present.
A recommendation was also made by the group that the new-style Tristar Homes should operate independently, but form a new housing group with another local independent housing association - Housing Hartlepool.

A report, including these recommendations was put to the Council's Cabinet on 14th September 2009. Cabinet gave approval to proceed with a major consultation exercise to make sure tenants have all the facts about what transfer would mean if the new-style Tristar Homes was to become your new landlord.

The Council will make sure that every tenant receives what is known as an "Offer Document" which will include all the information they need to make an informed decision in a ballot on stock transfer planned for next year. It is important that when you receive this document next year, you take time to read it carefully.  The Council is now working in partnership with The Housing Futures Customer Group to draw up this formal "Offer Document".  

Councillor Steve Nelson recently thanked the tenants and leaseholders in the group who have helped explore the options, and worked with the Joint Reference Group so far.  "They have put in much time and effort and their work will be very important as we move forward," he said. "We'd love as many tenants to be involved as possible - anyone interested should contact us as soon as possible."

If you would like more information about the Group please get in touch with the Housing Futures Team either on freephone 0800 432 0891 or at the contact details on the right of this page

Minutes of Housing Futures Customer Group most recent meetings can be downloaded below, together with copies of the group's Role & Remit and details of their Code of Conduct for meetings. All group members are asked to accept and comply with the code of conduct which has been developed by the group themselves.