Housing team scoops award for scrutiny work
The council's Tenants Scrutiny Group has scooped a top award at this year's Tenants Information Service’s awards.
The Tenants Information Service (TIS) National Excellence Awards: Inspire to Achieve, which took place on Saturday 9 June in Cumbernauld, saw housing organisations, tenants, residents, and community groups recognised for their outstanding work and commitment within the Scottish housing sector.
East Lothian Council won the Scrutiny Excellence award, which recognises excellence in scrutiny practice by a housing organisation that others can learn from and that will inspire future tenant scrutiny in Scotland. It rewards exceptional tenant led scrutiny activities that create an outstanding improvement or change to individuals, the wider community, the housing organisation and housing service.
TIS Chief Executive, Ilene Campbell, said: “The way that the council’s Scrutiny Group works to develop scrutiny is thorough and robust. East Lothian Council has made efforts to gain views from tenants about the value of being involved, and results indicate that tenants are clear they have an impact on improving services and gaining personal benefits. Their recent Scrutiny Approved Accreditation success shows that scrutiny is embedded within the organisational values.”
The award follows last year’s recognition by TIS and Scotland’s Housing Network when the council was recognised with a Gold Standard award for its work involving tenants in the delivery of its housing services. The highest level of award was given following a review of the council’s tenant scrutiny framework which includes mystery shopping visits, auditing information that the council publishes on its Housing policies, and involving tenants in surveys, estate inspections and consultation events.
Councillor Jim Goodfellow, Cabinet Spokesperson for Housing and Community Wellbeing at East Lothian Council, said: “This award is really fantastic news, and I pass on my congratulations to all of those who have been involved. This much deserved award recognises the commitment and dedication of our Housing staff, partners and tenant volunteers, all of whom work exceptionally hard to continually improve upon and deliver the excellent service that our tenants expect.”