Wokingham

‘Do we want to be more actively involved in managing our housing service?’ That’s what tenant representatives are asking after they indicated to Wokingham District Council that they would like to explore the idea of tenant management. And so, through independent advisers Solon, tenant representatives are asking all tenants and leaseholders to get involved in finding out about Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs).

A TMO allows tenants to take responsibility for the day-to-day management and repair of their homes and estates. Wokingham council would remain the landlord and tenants would retain their secure tenancy. In the Wokingham district, tenants already get involved in the housing service through their tenant representatives, residents’ associations, tenants’ monitoring board and Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAGs). A TMO would extend this involvement to a formal management agreement between the council and a TMO.

Executive member for Wokingham social care and housing Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons said: “This is something that our tenant representatives have said they would like to explore further, so we are supporting them as they ask fellow tenants and leaseholders for their views and input. Supported by their own independent advisors, tenants are setting up a steering group to look at the issue and are asking others to join them.”

Every Wokingham tenant and leaseholder is being sent a newsletter by Solon, outlining what a TMO is, what its responsibilities might be and what steps are involved should tenants decide that they would like to pursue the idea.

“We are very much looking for tenants to say how far they would like to pursue this idea. Tenant representatives have told us that they would like to learn more about what it could involve and we will be interested to hear how they would like to proceed,” said Cllr Helliar-Symons.

Tenants or leaseholders wanting to find out more are invited to the following meetings:

# Luckley Oakfield School, Wokingham Tuesday February 13 at 7pm

# Rainbow Community Centre, Winnersh Thursday February 15 at 7.30pm

# Gorse Ride Residents’ Association, St Mary’s and St John’s Parish Rooms, Finchampstead Tuesday February 20 at 7.30pm

# Whiteknights County Primary School, Shinfield Wednesday February 21 at 7pm

# Shinfield Parish Hall, Shinfield Wednesday February 28 at 7pm

# Palmer School, Wokingham Monday March 5 at 7pm

# Loddon Hall (The Annex), Twyford Monday March 12 at 7pm

# Woodley Residents’ Meeting, Crescent House, Woodley Tuesday March 13 at 6pm

# Woodclyffe Hall, High Street, Wargrave Saturday March 31 at 11am

Tenants are also being invited to join a trip to visit other TMOs in London on Saturday February 24.

Responsibilities that could be taken on by a TMO include day-to-day repairs and maintenance; cleaning and caretaking; collecting rents; letting homes to new tenants; ensuring tenants are consulted and kept informed; employing staff to deliver the service and managing budgets for these services. It is up to each TMO to decide what it would like to cover. It could be possible to start off with some areas and expand into others as the TMO progresses.

The initial stage of the process (known as the promotion stage and covering the formation of the steering group, meetings and events to gather tenants’ views and visits to other TMOs) is expected to take until May 2007. At this stage, Wokingham tenants will decide whether to pursue the idea any further.

Anyone wanting more information, or to book a place on the trip to the TMOs in London, can call Áine or Jane at Solon on 0800 169 4406.

Wokingham District Council