Agreed: December 2020
Due for review: December 2021
1. Purpose
1.1 The Street and Small Block Champions acts as the representative body for residents who live in street properties and blocks that are not part of a larger estate.
1.2 The Street and Small Block Champions makes proposals on all matters relating to the delivery of housing services for street properties and small blocks..
2. Activities of the Forum
2.1 Street and Small Block Champions will:
- Identify priorities for service provision
- Ensure that residents’ views are reflected in the design and provision of services.
- Make better decisions by responding to resident priorities
- Continually improve the tenant/leaseholder and landlord relationship
- Be a sounding board for new projects and pilots
- Improve communities and neighbourhoods
- Make sure that all people have an equal opportunity to get involved
- Look at using new technology to increase engagement and representation
- Be a vehicle for increased networking and the sharing of ideas
3. Membership
3.1 Membership of the forum is open to all residents living in council housing street properties and non-estate blocks.
3.2 Residents can only be Chair of one resident-led service improvement group, or forum. Residents can only be Vice Chair of one service improvement group, or resident-led forum. This is to increase opportunities for representation and involve more residents in leading the groups and forums.
3.3 Members are required to:
- Work co-operatively and constructively as part of a team
- Undertake on-going training, as appropriate to the role
- Set aside the time necessary to attend meetings (two per year)
- Abide by the Code of Conduct which undertakes to deal firmly and promptly with any cases of discrimination, harassment or prejudice
4. Equalities & Diversity
4.1 The council believes in a fair society that gives everyone an equal chance to learn, work and live free from discrimination, harassment, and prejudice and recognises that the diversity of our community is an asset to our borough.
4.2 The council will ensure no-one is discriminated against based on their age, class, disability, employment status, ethnic or national origins, race or colour, HIV status, marital status, religious or political beliefs, responsibilities for children or dependants, sex, sexuality, trade union activities and unrelated criminal convictions.
4.3 The Street and Block Champions Forum will recognise the existence and importance of the different lifestyles within our communities. The Group will work to ensure that no Group or individual will be directly or indirectly discriminated against.
4.4 The council will ensure relevant support is provided so that the membership of the Group is accessible to all. Members must abide by the Code of Conduct which undertakes to deal firmly and promptly with any cases of discrimination, harassment, or prejudice.
4.5 All members are required to undertake relevant training.
5. Frequency of Meetings
5.1 The Street and Small Block Champions Forum will be held four times per year. Street and Block Champions are asked to attend a minimum of two meetings a year to remain as a member. Meetings will take place in the evening.
6. Quorum
6.1 A quorum of 5 members will be required for the Street and Small Block Champions Forum meeting to take place. Inquorate meetings should be noted. Recommendations from these meetings will usually be ratified at the next quorate meeting but in the case of urgent deadlines, recommendations can be agreed via email, at the discretion of the Chair.
7. Officer Support
7.1 The Forum will be provided with officer support in terms of taking meeting minutes and compiling meeting papers.
7.2 Meeting papers will be sent by email to Street and Small Block Champions members seven calendar days before the date of the meeting. Minutes from the previous meeting will be included with these papers.
7.3 The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham aims to be the greenest borough. As part of this drive, we won’t be sending out hard copy papers unless there is a specific request and a proven need for these by individuals. Papers will be available at the meeting.
8. Chairing of Meetings
8.1 The Forum will elect a resident Chair and Vice Chair to carry out a one-year term before a further election is required.
8.2 The Chair and Vice Chair of the meeting should be available to discuss either in person, by phone or email to plan the next meeting agenda/review previous meeting actions with the Resident Involvement Team prior to the next meeting. The method of working with us on this will be decided by the Chair and Vice Chair.
8.3 Nominations for the position of Chair and Vice Chair can be received in advance of the AGM in writing, or at the AGM before the election take place.
9. Planning for Future Meetings
9.1 Street and Small Block Champions members will agree an outline agenda for the next meeting, based on resident and officer suggestions and actions that have been agreed at the meeting and the ongoing forward plan document.
10. Accountability of the Forum
10.1 Where possible, all recommendations will be agreed by consensus at forum meetings.
11. Recommendations and Actions
11.1 All recommendations of the Forum will be presented to the Housing Representatives Forum, when agreed by the Street and Block Champions Forum.
12. Training
12.1 Training and support will be made available to members as required.