Independent Tenant & Leaseholder Advocate Board Member

Tamworth Borough Council

Independent Tenant & Leaseholder Advocate Board Member

(1 x voluntary vacancy)

Background

On a voluntary basis, we are seeking a housing professional or similar, to become an Independent Tenant & Leaseholder Advocate member of the Housing & Homelessness Board for Tamworth Borough Council.

The Board oversees Tamworth Borough Council’s responsibilities as a Registered Provider of social housing (RP) to ensure that it meets the Regulator of Social Housing’s (RSH’s) consumer standards and maintains a focus on the good quality of homes and the empowerment of tenants & leaseholders.

The Independent Tenant & Leaseholder Advocate board member’s role on the board is to represent tenants and leaseholders as a whole and are required to put the wider interests of all first. This is a pivotal function that has real drive and influence on the scrutiny and strategic aims of the Council’s housing services.

Board meetings take place quarterly, and there will be reading to do before each meeting to prepare. In addition, there will be monthly tenant meetings/events to attend. As a board member, we will support you to be involved in a way that suits you.

Application should be made in writing to the Head of Housing Management & Neighbourhood Resilience, and candidates will be interviewed by a panel made up of Housing & Homelessness board members including tenant members. A representative from the Council’s corporate management team will also be in attendance.

Key Responsibilities

As an Independent Tenant & Leaseholder Advocate board member, you will be expected to contribute your skills, experience, and qualifications to help the council come to the best housing decisions. Working well with others, being willing and able to reflect on things that are working well, areas that are not working well, and things that may need to change or improve are key skills that can make the role fulfilling and productive.

Appendix 1 sets out the full details of the key responsibilities.

Eligibility

You will not be eligible to become an Independent Tenant and Leaseholder Advocate board member if you:

1. Aged under 18 years of age.
2. Are an employee of Tamworth Borough Council.
3. Are an elected member of Tamworth Borough Council.
4. Are closely associated with anyone who is now a member/employee of Tamworth Borough Council.
5. Have significant business dealings, including significant business dealings (contractual arrangements) with Tamworth Borough Council, which could be seen to be prejudicial to a person’s independence or represent a conflict of interests during the previous 3 years, prior to application.
6. Have a connection with any political group or be engaged in any party-political activity.
7. Must not be the holder of a significant office in an organisation being grant aided/supported by the Council.
8. Are subject to county court judgments in favour of Tamworth Borough Council.
9. Have been issued a formal letter or notice seeking possession for breaking one or more conditions of your tenancy.
10. Are in ‘unmanaged’ rent arrears or have former rent arrears without an agreed payment plan in place.
11. Have been convicted of a criminal offence that may damage the reputation of Tamworth Borough Council.
12. Have contact restrictions in place in line with the Council’s Customer Feedback and Complaints policy due to behaviours that have been identified as unreasonably persistent.
13. Have been reported for anti-social behaviour issues to the Council within the past 12 months.

Applicants must also be prepared to publicly declare and register any interest they have on the same basis as members of Tamworth Borough Council and observe the requirements of the Council’s Constitution in performance of their duties in their capacity as an Independent Member.

Remuneration

This position is unremunerated, but reasonable travelling expenses associated with the role will be reimbursed in line with travelling allowances as per part of the Council’s constitution.

Term of office
The Term of Office is three years. After their first term has expired, they can be appointed again through the agreement of the Council for a second term; however, if they wished to serve further terms after this then their further appointment will be subject to a competitive selection process.

Application process
Applications should be made in writing, completing an A4 statement outlining how you meet the criteria outlined in the key responsibilities (Appendix 1) and a copy of your CV to Mrs. Lee Birch, Head of Housing Management & Neighbourhood Resilience at Lee-Birch@tamworth.gov.uk.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 16^th March 2025.

For general enquiries about the position, or specific information, please contact Mrs. Lee Birch, Head of Housing Management & Neighbourhood Resilience on 07891 052148.

APPENDIX 1

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES – Voluntary Independent Tenant & Leaseholder Advocate Board Member

Experience & Qualifications

1. To be able to demonstrate an understanding of housing and community issues.
2. To be able to demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory framework within which the council’s housing services operate.
3. A proven history of involvement in improving services is desirable but not essential.
4. It would be advantageous to have experience of involvement with local community or other representative groups.
5. Level 4 Chartered Institute of Housing qualification or similar is desirable but not essential.

Skills & Abilities

1. The ability to absorb key information and to positively question and challenge.
2. A willingness to read and absorb information outside of and prior to meetings.
3. Be able to weigh up issues and make balanced, reasonable and proportionate judgements.
4. The ability to participate and contribute positively to meetings with good communication skills.
5. The ability to interpret performance data and review performance and suggest improvements.
6. A commitment to participate in training and development. Able to work positively, in partnership with the Council to deliver quality services.
7. Good listening skills – thinking about what others say and considering their views rather than imposing their own.

Knowledge
Have knowledge of the housing sector and the Tamworth area.
Work in, or have experience and knowledge in any of these areas:

1. Resident and community engagement/empowerment
2. Council Housing Services
3. Strategic asset management, property maintenance planning and procurement
4. Building health and safety compliance
5. Environmental sustainability and decarbonisation
6. Finance and accounting
7. Audit, risk management and controls assurance
8. Governance, regulation and stakeholder accountability
9. ICT, data, digital services and cybersecurity
10. Housing for older people

Requirements

You will not be eligible to become an Independent Tenant and Leaseholder Advocate board member if:

1. Aged under 18 years of age
2. Are an employee of Tamworth Borough Council
3. Are an elected member of Tamworth Borough Council
4. Are subject to county court judgments in favour of Tamworth Borough Council.
5. Have been issued a formal letter or notice seeking possession for breaking one or more conditions of your tenancy.
6. Are in ‘unmanaged’ rent arrears or have former rent arrears without an agreed payment plan in place.
7. Have been convicted of a criminal offence that may damage the reputation of Tamworth Borough Council
8. Have contact restrictions in place in line with the Council’s Customer Feedback and Complaints policy due to behaviours that have been identified as unreasonably persistent.
9. Have been reported for anti-social behaviour issues to the Council within the past 12 months.

Person Specification & Personal Attributes

To be successful in this role, it is important that you can demonstrate or evidence the following personal attributes:

1. You will have a particular interest in the Council’s commitment and ability to deliver high-quality homes and landlord services.
2. A willingness to listen and talk about things.
3. Represent tenants and leaseholders as a whole and are required to put the wider interests of all first.
4. Act in the best interests of tenants and leaseholders.
5. Act in a politically neutral manner always.
6. Maintain confidentiality.
7. Be free to attend regular meetings.
8. A willingness to work as a team showing support to others.
9. A willingness to contribute and to ask questions, focused on seeking assurance and on supporting continuous improvement.
10. Understand and support the role and remit of the board.
11. To sign up to and abide by a code of conduct.
12. A commitment to promoting equality and diversity.