Our Housing Service is committed to tenant participation. This is because we believe that listening to what people say helps us to improve our services and reflect local views and opinions in the decisions we make.
We regularly consult with East Ayrshire Federation and local tenants and residents groups. However, we recognise that not everyone is, or wants to be, a member of a group and so have established the East Ayrshire interested tenants and residents forum as a means of consulting with individual tenants and users of the Housing Service.
East Ayrshire interested tenants and residents forum
This is a forum of people who have expressed an interest in housing matters and a willingness to be consulted periodically. Consultation will normally be by postal survey or online, however individuals have the opportunity to participate in other ways.
Advantages of being a member
For the Council, the main advantage is that we have a group of people who are interested and willing to share their views and opinions with us, giving us a reliable means of gaining valid feedback on our services.
For members there are a number of benefits:
- the opportunity to directly influence housing services
- improve your knowledge of housing services
- participate in training
- meet like minded people
Members of other panels across the country have reported feeling valued and appreciate the opportunity to make a contribution to their local community.
Who can become a member
Anyone that uses East Ayrshire Council’s Housing Service can join the forum. There may be times where we seek only the views of East Ayrshire Council tenants, for example, consultation on rents or repairs.
Membership is on a voluntary basis and you can become a member by completing our online application form which provides us with some information about you, your home and your areas of interest.
What is expected of members
We will send you a postal or online survey asking you a short series of questions about the services we provide. You are not obliged to reply but we would appreciate it if you did. If applicable we will provide a reply paid envelope with every survey we send to you so that it does not cost you to reply. We do not offer any form of payment for completing surveys but we will from time to time offer a prize draw as an incentive.
What we do with the information
Your personal information will be held in secure files and only used in accordance with Data Protection regulations.
By becoming a member of the East Ayrshire interested tenants and residents forum, you understand the following:
- We will use the information that you have provided for the purposes of administrating the East Ayrshire interested tenants and residents forum and to contact you to consult and seek your views on a number of Housing related issues.
- With your permission we will also share the information that you have provided on the application form with The East Ayrshire Federation (EAF) who also consult and seek the views of tenants and residents on a range of housing related matters. The EAF is the umbrella group representing Tenants’ & Residents’ Associations in East Ayrshire.
Results of the surveys will be published in our tenants' newsletters which are sent to every tenant and also on our website. We will not publish any information in a way that would identify you as an individual unless you give us your permission to do so.
Other opportunities
Yes, the application form asks if you would be interested in participating in group discussions or attending events. If you state that this would be of interest to you then we will invite you to attend consultation events and conferences from time to time. We do not pay you to attend these events but we do reimburse reasonable expenses such as travel or childcare.
Find out more
If you have any further questions or would like to speak to someone about the East Ayrshire interested tenants and residents forum please contact the Customer Liaison Team.