Localism Act
Plain English Guide to the Localism Bill (updated 15th November 2011)
Introduction to Neighbourhood Planning - A free session organised in collaboration with Locality.
5pm-7pm
Monday 19th March 2012
Springwell Gardens Community Centre
More details on this website soon. Contact us to book your place.
South Yorkshire Tenants and Residents Network responses to the social housing consultation were compiled following a special workshop attended by 36 tenants and residents on Tuesday 30th August 2011 at Barnsley Tenants Resource Centre. A wide variety of views and opinions were shared amongst everyone present at this meeting around tenure, powers of scrutiny, tenant panels and 'affordable rents' .
The Network understands that this is the biggest shake up in social housing in 50 years and it aims to create a fairer system that devolves power from the state to the tenants and residents. Network members firmly believe that by South Yorkshire tenants working together it provides a good opportunity to get our opinions across and to influence what happens in the future. As a network, we are in favour of the devolution of power as long as it is managed correctly in line with strict guidelines. A fairer system is always welcomed but we have concerns around the implementation of it and the effect it may have on certain sectors of our communities.
In particular, South Yorkshire Tenants and Residents Network supports the continuation of lifetime tenancies. Security of tenure ensures a council house is not just a house but a home. We believe that allowing tenants to have a secure ‘lifetime’ tenancy without stipulations on tenancy period will ensure that communities will be sustainable and will work towards the ‘Big Society’ ethos and the principles of the Localism Bill.
South Yorkshire Network of Tenants and Residents are an informal alliance of Barnsley Federation, RotherFed, Doncaster Federation of Tenants and Residents and tenants and residents from Sheffield.The final document was signed by Joan Whittaker Chair of Barnsley Fed, Andy Kerr Chair of Doncaster Federation and Peter Collins Chair of RotherFed
South Yorkshire Network Report to CLG (pdf )
Old News
A workshop on 1st March 2011 attended by over 32 people discussed the implications of the Localism Bill for the voluntary and community sector in Rotherham . The Localism Bill is a major government initiatives aiming to decentralise power from central government into communities, individuals and councils.
The session was opened by Janet Wheatley Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Rotherham. After a short presentation explaining the key points of the Bill, most of the morning was in workshops compiling feedback from Rotherham community and voluntary groups. The morning finished with a short speech about partnership working by Cllr Mahroof Hussain of Rotherham Borough Council on the Council’s response.
The meeting is real evidence of the growing strength in the last few years of the vol/com sector in Rotherham with both voluntary and community organisations collaborating and officers and volunteers working effectvely together. Thanks must go to Nikky Wilson and Voluntary and Community Voices Network (VCVN) who ensured the session went as well as it did. The positive outcomes of the workshop is real evidence that the VCVN project has made a real difference in Rotherham, helping build capacity and work together, volunteers and staff, on matters that affect us all.Cllr Hussain pointed out that the approach to community empowerment taken in the Bill is very different to the approach we have taken in Rotherham. Locally, our approach has been about partnership and co-operative working, with the Council providing capacity building and support to communities and organisations. The Bill takes a different approach; nowhere is “partnership” mentioned, its all about challenge.
Steve Ruffle from RotherFed closed the session thanking the Voluntary and Community Voices Network (VCVN) for the excellent work they had done jointly organising the session, hoping that such joint working will continue.
Real Power for Communities Campaign