| Introduction |
| |
The
following organisations were represented on the Working
Group for Tenant Participation:
- The Scottish Tenants
Organisation
- Tenant Participation
Advisory Service
- Tenant Information
Service
- Tenant Involvement in
the Islands Grampian and Highland Rural Areas
- Convention of
Scottish Local Authorities
- Scottish Homes
- Scottish Federation
of Housing Associations
- Chartered Institute
of Housing in Scotland
- Shelter
|
| |
| The Working
Group produced a consultation paper, "Partners in
Participation" which issued in October 1998 with the
aim of establishing a consensus on a national tenant
participation strategy for Scotland. |
| |
| Responses
were sought by the end of January 1999 and a total of 67
responses were received from landlords, advisors, tenants
groups, and individuals. Three responses were joint
submissions from landlords and tenants groups, and one
was from a housing co-operative. Responses from the
Scottish Tenants Organisation, Tenant Participation
Advisory Service, Tenants Information Service and Tenant
Involvement in Islands, Grampian & Highland Rural
Areas were composite responses reflecting the views of
their members. |
| |
| The
proposals were generally well received, and the principle
of the development of a national strategy was welcomed by
most respondents. Indeed the draft strategy set out in
the consultation document was widely endorsed. The vast
majority of respondents supported the proposal to
introduce a statutory right to participate, supported by
statutory duties on landlords. |
| |
| Some useful
amendments to the draft strategy were suggested and these
have been adopted by the Tenant Participation Working
Group and have been incorporated in this revised version.
The strategy has been formally endorsed by those
organisations represented on the Tenant Participation
Working Group and was presented to the Scottish Office
Housing Minister, Calum MacDonald, MP who has welcomed
the strategy and given it his full support. |
| |
| Clearly, any
commitment to legislate will require to await the advent
of the Scottish Parliament but a clear recommendation to
legislate will be put to the new Scottish Executive as
soon as they take up office |
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