Published date:
In October, we held the latest series of ‘Resident Review’ meetings.
Previously known as the Annual Resident Meetings, these sessions were designed to offer residents the opportunity to speak directly to senior leaders from Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT), ask them questions and raise issues which are impacting their lives and their community.
In total, four meetings were held, at the Folk Hall in New Earswick, Hartfields in Hartlepool, Plaxton Court in Scarborough and a virtual meeting held on Zoom. Following feedback from the previous year, the meetings had a different format.
Previously, a significant chunk of the session was filled by senior leaders talking through PowerPoint slides and discussing the detail of the JRHT Annual Report. This time speaking at residents was kept to a minimum and instead almost the entire session was dedicated to listening to what they had to say.
In total, around 80 residents attended one of the sessions. Topics discussed at the meetings varied, they included:
- individual property maintenance and lease concerns
- queries about the development programme
- requests relating to additional gardening and landscaping works
- concerns about traffic speeds through New Earswick
- a query about the real living wage and whether this was being provided by JRHT's contractors
- how catering services could be improved
- suggestions on how JRHT better promote resident involvement opportunities
- a query about what JRHT did to mark National Menopause Awareness Day.
All of the issues and suggestions raised at the session were recorded and have been shared with the relevant people in JRHT to consider and provide a response. These responses will then be collated into a report which will be communicated to residents.