Local tenant involvement budgets

The housing team oversee four budgets which aim to benefit tenants, leaseholders and the wider community.

Aerial budget

Telecommunications companies have erected aerials on a proportion of council tower blocks to provide a better signal in the area.

This does not apply to all blocks, but where they have been added, the council receives a small financial income which, after consulting with the tenants in the block, can be used to improve the block or the surrounding areas.

The tenant participation officer (TPO) will inform and consult with the tenants in the relevant blocks

Capital works budget

The capital works budget is allocated to the local housing team in each constituency at the beginning of the financial year.

Following consultation with residents, elected members and council officers, the housing team share project ideas with each LHIB.

The focus of the majority of these projects is on enhancing and improving the local area and quality of life for those who live there.

The approval of projects and associated spend includes elected members and housing teams.

Projects are chosen which aim to:

• provide a community benefit
• reduce crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour
• support other improvement works carried out on the estates, such as regeneration

Examples of previous capital works projects include:

• new flooring
• door entry systems
• fencing
• bollards
• lighting
• new sheds, benches and garden furniture
• creating new access roads

The funding cannot be used to maintain existing services.

All projects must be on housing land.

Community improvement budget

The Community Improvement Budget shares the same criteria as the Capital Works Budget but also encourages projects that:

• are inclusive to all to promote community cohesion and the sustainability of an area
• increase access or encourage resident involvement

Projects are presented to LHIB to talk through and agree.

Tenant empowerment budget

This budget is awarded to projects that:

• encourage greater tenant engagement and empowerment
• give the local community a greater say in the decisions that affect them

It could support activity, such as:

• local training programmes to give people the skills, knowledge and confidence to get involved
• consultation via surveys or visiting conferences
• improved communication via posters or local newsletters
• recruitment campaigns for local housing involvement boards and other forms of involvement
• roadshow events or fun days to promote tenant involvement
• developing new informal ways to get involved that are more inclusive or use technology

There is also a local admin budget overseen by the tenant participation officer (TPO) for items such as

• supporting local events
• room hire and refreshments
• printing
• transport
• other expenses which benefit the work of our volunteers

Page last updated: 1 August 2024