9 - New elections to housing area panels announced

 

They consist of five councillors nominated by the respective political parties in proportion to the political make up of the area and five tenants elected in accordance with each area panel’s constitution.  To ensure that these panels reflect the needs of all customers, two tenant panel members stand down each year to give other tenants the opportunity of becoming a panel member.

 

There is a panel for each of the borough’s give areas.  These are Brierley Hill, Central Dudley, North Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge.

 

The panels objectives are to act as a focus for local service delivery and to enable local councillors and tenants to influence decision making. Meetings are held in public, and tenants are encouraged to attend as observers.

 

Councillor Michael Evans, cabinet member for housing, said:

“Area Panels are an initiative we are extremely proud of which allows our customers to have a say in the running of our services.  They are an opportunity to influence policies and procedures for such things as tenancy conditions, anti social behaviour and community safety bids.”