Update from the Engagement Panel meeting on 3 September 2024.

We welcomed more new panel members to their first meeting.

Internal Transfer List review

Head of Housing, Sara Bennett gave a background overview of the Internal Transfer List from both legacy organisations and where we are now with the review. Sara gave the panel an insight into the current housing crisis in Bristol, explaining what percentages of properties we can legally offer internally to current residents in agreement with the council.

Sara shared some information which was gathered from residents who were previously on the Internal Transfer List, and their reasons for wanting to move home.  Sara advised we are changing the direction of the review and will now need to focus on:

• Revision (Part2) of Tenancy Procedure
• Advertising 25% of cases where we can as reasonable preference for our tenants
• Risk-based approach
• Severe Damp and Mould cases
• High-level medical and welfare needs
• High-level Anti-Social Behaviour (e.g. Hate Crime and Domestic Abuse)
• Serious repairs (Health and Safety) or other long-term repairs

Panel members supported the revised approach and many positive comments about the need to allocate to a risk-based approach.

Sara gave some examples of how people’s needs would be risk-assessed and how the allocations would work.

Panel member focus time

Led by Senior Customer Engagement Officer, Danielle Jones, panel members were given focus time to think about the next year and how we may want to review some of the panel’s current set-ups. Danielle wanted panel members to have time to discuss the issues below, ahead of next year, as several members have raised issues about attendance and commitments.

• Days/times we meet
• Meeting duration
• Panel blogs
• Website and panel biographies

Panel members in attendance mutually agreed on a way forward for next year. They have each taken away actions to focus on the Engagement Panel webpage over the coming months.

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