Consultation and Resident Involvement

To ensure that our strategies, policies and action plans are shaped by service users and partner agencies we have carried out consultation with a variety of stakeholder groups which include:-

• Residents
• Internal and External Partners
• Community Voluntary and Faith Sector

Here are examples where consultation has shaped our plans and strategies:-

Strategic Housing Priorities
A Housing Forum was set up which included a number of key partners that met on a quarterly basis to discuss what housing issues need be prioritised. The recommendations were based on feedback from partners, community consultation and needs data. The strategic housing priorities are included in the Sustainable Communities Plan.

Older Peoples Action Plan
Residents aged 55 and over took part in a one day consultation event to discuss issues that are important to them and what actions could be taken to help improve services delivered to older people. The feedback received was used to inform the action plan.

Choice Based Lettings Policy
This documents sets out the Housing Allocation Policy for the Pennine Lancashire Group Choice Based Lettings (CBL) Scheme. In order to develop the policy all the partners were consulted to give their views. Residents of Registered Providers gave feedback through Tenants forums. Vulnerable groups were also consulted to ensure the policy was transparent and accessible to all.

Homelessness Strategy
The strategy has been developed following a thorough review of homelessness in the Borough. Pendle has a Multi Agency Homelessness Forum that meets on a quarterly basis. The forum has been consulted on the development of the review and the strategy. A time limited sub group was convened to examine the need for direct access to emergency accommodation and another sub group, the Pendle Young Person's Service Development Group, was formed to look at issues of youth homelessness and to agree actions for inclusion in the strategy action plan.

Domestic Violence Strategy (Pendle) 2009 - 2012
The strategy action plan has been regularly updated by the Pendle Borough Council Housing Needs Manager and formal service reviews have been conducted in December 2008 and April/May 2009. All the partner agencies such as Pendle Domestic Violence Initiative (PDVI) and the service users of Pendle Refuge were consulted to shape the strategy.

East Supported Housing for Older People
Working jointly with the Supporting People team and Housing Pendle we organised a consultation event with residents to discuss their needs and aspirations with regards to supported housing. A similar exercise also took place with internal and external partners. Findings from the consultation have been used to draw up option appraisals for supported housing.

• If you would like to view any of the above strategies please see this link