A community mutual for the Rhondda
Friday, August 01, 2008
Leighton Andrews AM and the BBC report on yesterday's launch of RCT Homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf. RCT Homes is a 'community mutual' co-operative form of housing, which (along with community gateways) is the Co-operative Party's model for stock transfer for council housing.
RCT tenants voted for this structure, bringing £170 million investment. But beyond the financial incentive, tenants crucially get to make decisions about their housing and their community - something Hazel Blears' white paper aimed to support.
The BBC describes the benefits:
RCT tenants voted for this structure, bringing £170 million investment. But beyond the financial incentive, tenants crucially get to make decisions about their housing and their community - something Hazel Blears' white paper aimed to support.
The BBC describes the benefits:
The RCT Homes model has been promoted by the Welsh Assembly Government as a new concept for social housing with the organisation run as a community mutual organisation.RCT Homes and the five other gateways and mutuals have set up a network - let's look forward to this model of tenants taking power and ownership of their housing gaining strength.
As part of this set-up tenants can become RCT Homes members and decide on the future of their homes, housing services and local neighbourhoods.
Since the membership scheme was launched in spring 2008, hundreds have applied to become tenant members.
As a result, tenants have been playing an active role in the organisation's decisions after being co-opted onto the various groups and panels which run its decision-making process.
Many have already been involved in the process to award the multi-million pound contracts to carry out the refurbishment work by inspecting and interviewing prospective contractors.
This special tendering process has also enabled locally-based businesses to bid for and win these contracts against competition from national companies.
Labels: co-operatives, housing, Leighton Andrews, Wales
1 Comments:
In the UK co-operative housing sector is a valuable part of the co-operative movement but it is sad that it is so small. Hopefully community mutuals and gateways will renew and re-energise this tradition. When rented housing is the only option for so many people, people have a right to expect a choice and voice in this key part of their lives.
commented by 
Bob Deed, 10:31 AM
Bob Deed, 10:31 AM
