Cordale’s Allocation Policy was made child’s play for Renton residents. Renton’s Weekindo drama group prepared and performed sketches for Cordale Housing Association tenants, residents and housing applicants highlighting different issues associated with housing allocations.

The event, entitled ‘How kin ah no get a hoose?’ was commissioned by Cordale and facilitated by Renton Community Development Trust (RCDT) and the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS).  It aimed to dispel myths surrounding allocations and gave people the chance to raise any issues and ask questions.

The topic was chosen because Cordale's success in housing has meant that there is a low turnover of properties but a high number of applicants. 

The evening also gave Cordale the chance to seek the views of tenants and residents on any other issues in the village.  Every Cordale tenant,  housing applicants and local residents were invited along to the evening of entertainment in the newly opened CE Centre, which has been renamed Ma Centre.

After each sketch, Archie Thomson, of RCDT, and Jamie Ballantine, of TPAS, invited questions and comments from the audience and Cordale staff were on hand to answer any queries. 

The sketches follow on from a highly successful Baddiel and Skinner type event last year which also encouraged discussion, questions and contributions from the audience in a relaxed setting.  Archie said this year’s event repeated that success.  He added: “The sketches covered typical questions staff are asked by housing list applicants and was very successful with over 70 people attending.  The objective was to help tenants and housing applicants to understand a bit more about the housing allocation policy and why Cordale does what it does.  The feedback from the audience was very positive and this will be fed into Cordale’s decision making process.  I think major praise must go to Cordale for being so bold in taking this method of involving tenants, residents and housing applicants in this process. It was a first for Cordale and once again we are leading by example as I don’t think this approach has been tried anywhere else in Scotland.  Hopefully the young people involved, who were exemplary, will also start to pick up the strands of the allocations process and what their responsibilities are within their communities.”

Renton residents have once again been at the forefront of developing plans for the future of their village.  Cordale Housing Association is producing a plan for housing services and participation in Renton over the next three years but was determined this should reflect the community’s needs and wishes.

The Association, which is committed to putting local people first, invited tenants to take part in a public consultation in a bid to gather their views on the services it provides and also priorities for the future.  The event on Friday, June 1, was based on hit TV show Baddiel and Skinner and encouraged discussion, questions and contributions from the audience in a relaxed setting, followed by entertainment.

Archie Thomson, of Renton Community Development Trust, which facilitated the event, and Jamie Ballantine, of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service, took the couch and the roles of Baddiel and Skinner for the evening while Cordale staff were on hand to answer any technical questions.

Archie hailed the event a huge success, adding: "The audience decided what questions would be asked and a lot of fundamental issues were raised about housing allocations, housing management, participation and future development.  I think the relaxed atmosphere was the reason it was so successful. It made people feel at ease but we did get a lot of formal responses back.  It seems to be a very good way for Cordale to engage with the community.  The responses we received on the night will now form the basis of the housing services plan which will set out the priorities for Cordale Housing Association to address over the next 3 years.  It will also assist the Association in reviewing its current Participation Strategy."

Jamie continued: "The evening was a fun event with a serious message because all the issues people raised will be used to shape the Association’s activities for the next three years.  The Association is keen to listen to what people have to say and this event was a great opportunity for tenants and residents to tell Cordale about their issues, concerns and priorities."

The 2007/2010 Housing Services Plan and Participation Plan 2007/2010 will be published later this year. 

A short telephone was carried out after the event. TPAS were able to speak with 14 of the participants (many of the participants were joint tenants).

Overall participants rated the event as Excellent. One participant said that overall the event was Good.

When asked what they liked most about the event people said:

• Question Answer style was good
• The event was sociable
• A chance to hear what’s going on
• Listening to other people’s opinions about local issues
• A chance to debate
• Opportunity to raise issues that were causing people such as dog fouling
• Really impressed by Archie Thomson
   

When asked what they liked least about the event people said:

• some people went on too much about personal matters
• Nothing – everything was good!
• Could have used more time 

All found the event interesting and useful. All agreed that venue and timing were suitable and all said the catering was excellent.  Entertainment was also considered excellent, and participants supported the use of a local entertainer. Only one person remarked that it was too noisy for their taste.

Most would be happy to see a write up in the newsletter.

Others would like to see the plan.

People would like to to see Cordale Housing Association get more support from the Local Authority on issues such as dog fouling.

Specifically in relation to housing, people would like to know when specifically kitchen units will be renewed.