Update from the Engagement Panel meeting on 7 November 2024.
The next meeting is on 10 December 2024.

Repairs Procurement – project update and communication plan

Angela Carr, Responsive Maintenance Manager, started off the meeting by providing the latest update on the repair’s procurement process. Angie Burton, Communications and Marketing Manager, shared the main communication objectives pre- and post-launch of the new service. She detailed the channels they will use until March 2025 and asked the Panel for feedback. Panel members suggested, for example, using notice boards, announcements on MyPlace or recorded messages during call queues.

Annual Rent Review

Jen Griffiths, Customer Service Director, and Steve Irwin, Treasury and Financial Planning Manager, joined the panel to discuss the proposed annual rent increase options. Panel members were invited to share their feedback and preferred options. This will be shared with the Customer Experience Committee (CEC) and the Board. The Board will make the final decision of what the rent increase will be for the year April 2025 to March 2026. Panel members insisted on the sensitivity of the messaging and recommended the organisation be transparent about its budget and spending plans.

Communal cleaning and grounds maintenance

Simon Gray and Paul Conyers, Housing Managers, came to the Panel to share more about their collaboration with aAFD, the new communal cleaning and grounds maintenance contractor. The previous contract was about to expire, and residents had raised concerns about the overall quality of the service.

The services aAFD provide are based on what residents have told us is important to them.

The Housing team will meet regularly with aAFD. Panel members were keen to know how to report any issues with the service; and asked for some clarification on what would be part or not of the contract.

You can learn more about aAFD, their services, and how to give feedback on their service on the Brighter Places website.

If any Brighter Places resident is interested in the panel meetings and would like to attend a meeting as an observer, please contact the Engagement team by emailing engagement@brighterplaces.co.uk.

All residents are welcome.

Engagement team on behalf of Panel members