RESPECT

The Government recently launched something called the Respect Standard for Housing Management which highlights the importance of strong housing management in tackling anti-social behaviour and creating a culture of respect. The Standard, which is aimed at council and housing association landlords, is built around six core commitments:

• Accountability, leadership and commitment

• Empowering and reassuring residents

• Prevention and early intervention

• Tailored services for residents and provision of support for victims and witnesses

• Protecting communities through swift enforcement

• Support to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour

The Government feels that a culture of respect is central to creating better communities where people can thrive. They want to ensure that every community is free from anti-social behaviour and all its ill-effects. The Respect Standard creates a clear opportunity for landlords, tenants and communities to work together to achieve this.

Over the coming months we will start to hear a lot more about Respect, as Pennine Housing is committed to signing up to delivering the Respect agenda.

However, tackling anti-social behaviour is something we can all be involved in. As community leaders we can play a key role in working with public services to bring people together, take action and communicate that action back to the community. When this happens people will feel safer and communities will become stronger.

It is important that as a Federation we learn as much as we can about the Respect agenda and then we will be able to communicate to Pennine how they can best work in partnership with tenants & residents to create communities we are all proud to live in.

If you want to find out more about the Respect Standard for Housing Management the Tenant Involvement Section (01422 284520) will be able to provide you with copies of the information which the Government has recently produced.

Pennine Housing will also be speaking about Respect at the Tenants/Leaseholders Conference on the 25th November at the Kings Centre, Halifax. If you have access to the internet then you can also visit the Respect website at gov.uk or go to www.tpas.org.uk.