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What
is the Residents' Forum?
Who
are we?
The Residents' Forum is a group of no more than 14 Westlea residents, who act on your behalf in order to make sure that there is communication between residents and Westlea.
We challenge the Westlea Board and senior staff to make our housing and neighbourhoods better for everyone.
New members are elected, by Westlea residents, at an Annual General Meeting. Residents' Forum Officers are elected by all the DF members at the AGM and stand for a year (with the exception of the Finance Officer who stands for a period of two years).
Members of the Residents' Forum come from various neighbourhoods and a variety of age groups, backgrounds, and abilities. So everyone can offer their services and no one is excluded from becoming a member, as long as they are a Westlea resident.
The Residents' Forum represents all Westlea’s residents. Our Members feel passionate about making a difference where they live and in Westlea Housing Association and have both spare time, enthusiasm and want to
learn more.
Westlea makes it easy for everyone to become involved by giving the members training and support.
What
do we do?
The Residents' Forum focuses on policy and planning for the future, and makes sure we get input and feedback from residents on important decisions. The DF looks at Board papers and takes the group’s opinions back to the Board. They consider major decisions and give their comments. They can recommend that there be more consultation before important decisions are made.
Westlea looks to the Residents' Forum for advice and suggestions for: resident training, ideas for conferences, advice on consultation methods, and ways for residents to become involved, as well as many other activities. So you can see from this that we are a busy bunch working together to improve our homes and neighbourhoods.
We have developed better communication and a stronger relationship with Westlea’s Board and Senior Management. It is good to know that the voice of residents is being heard.
The role
of the forum is to:
- Represent
the residents' views and work with Westlea in a positive way to
make services better for everyone;
- Be consulted on all changes to policies and procedures, including the Resident’s Business Plan, Westlea objectives, and services;
- Decide how residents can be involved in all major projects, decisions, and monitor Westlea’s performance.
- We work with Westlea to further increase our skills by attending various training courses and workshops in order to make us a more effective group.
Our
Logo
We have our own logo. It uses Westlea’s corporate colours
and shows the strength of our relationship with the association and
the Board of Management.
How
much of my time will it take up?
We have at least 6 Residents' Forum meetings a year and these are usually held in the evening. They are held at Westlea’s Head Office. We also attend meetings in the communities.
This means that members need to do a lot of reading and preparation, especially on the months that the Residents' Forum receives papers from Westlea’s board.
The Residents
Forum also has two Team Days. These give us an opportunity to work
and learn together outside a formal meeting environment.
What
we expect from you
If you are elected to the Residents' Forum you will be expected to:
- Attend all
the full meetings of the Residents' Forum. Anyone who misses
three consecutive meetings without good reason may be asked to give
up their membership.
- Attend Team
Days: these give us the opportunity to meet and learn together
as we build team spirit and communication.
- Agree to abide
by the Residents' Forum’s Constitution and Code of Conduct:
these rules govern how we conduct our business and the way members are
expected to behave. You can find a copy online at www.westlea.co.uk
or in hardcopy from the Secretary of the Residents' Forum.
Westlea has a
support package to make sure that being involved does not cost you
anything.
We will pay for:
- If you use your own transport: travel
costs (at 40p per mile);
- Your care costs,
for example if you need someone to look after children or a disabled relative
so that you can come to meetings (paid at the same level as Social
Services);
- Training to be able to use the internet.
Is it
for me?
No-one can answer this question but you.
Being a Residents
Forum member can be hard, but it is rewarding knowing that what you
do can make a difference.
It is a big commitment
and does require more than just turning up for a meeting. Quite a
lot of background reading is involved usually. Meetings are held
in the evening. Training is usually held during the daytime.
If this is something
you really feel you want to do, please don't let anything put
you off. Other Residents' Forum
members and Westlea staff will support you in your role.
How do
I become a Residents' Forum member?
Before you make any decisions on joining, you need to attend a few
Residents' Forum meetings as an observer so that you can see what takes place and whether it would be something that you would be interested in getting involved with. You will be made very welcome. You will need to take the following
steps in order to stand for election as a Residents' Forum member: -
Decide you want to join
-
Contact the Neighbourhood Involvement Team on 01249 466163
and ask for an application form.
-
Get this form signed by two residents who are happy to propose
and second your application.
-
Write a short paragraph of no more than 100 words about yourself
and why you'd like to join the Residents' Forum.
-
Send your application form and your short paragraph to Westlea
and come to the Residents' Forum AGM.
At the AGM the Chair will announce how many vacancies there are.
Click here to read our draft AGM minutes.
Click here to read the minutes of the meeting in May 2010.
Click here to read our constitution.
Click here to read our action plan for 2010-11.
Click here to see our meeting schedule for 2010-11.
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