Tenant Participation Strategy 2025 - 2029

What is a Tenant Participation Strategy?

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 provides a legal framework for tenant participation and our tenant participation strategy is the product of this legislation. Our tenant participation strategy sets out how we will engage and consult with our tenants, what type of resources are available and how we will implement the strategy.

Why are we updating the Tenant Participation Strategy early?

The current Tenant Participation Strategy was approved in 2018 for use between 2019-2029. The tenant participation team, after discussion with tenants, sought approval from Communities Committee to bring a strategy review forward for a variety of reasons including:

• Ensuring our strategy is fit for purpose and reflects tenants' priorities
• 2020 – 2023 posed significant challenges which changed the way we, as a team, operate. These challenges include the Covid-19 pandemic and Cost of Living Crisis.
• Significant progress has been made within the 2019-2029 strategy. This was detailed in an update to Communities Committee in December 2023 and can be viewed in "important links".
• Aberdeenshire Council has also been developing new strategies and priorities that impact our work, such as Place Strategy and Participatory Democracy.
• Development and introduction of new technology which makes the way we engage with tenants.

What are we consulting on?

We would like to consult on themes for achievement of a new strategy.

What is the objective of a new strategy?

The objective is to create a strategy - with tenants - which is written in a way that provides flexibility in how long-term objectives can be achieved. This allows the Housing service the ability to complete identified actions with consideration to the needs of individuals and varied communities.

The updated strategy will seek to make clear that participation techniques will be co-produced with tenants.

What are the main changes?

• Lessons learned between 2020 to present day which have influenced a partnership and flexible approach to participation
• Removal of outdated wording, concepts, and policy.
• Consideration of changes in delivery of services council-wide and within communities
• Inclusion of new policy on a local and national level - such as Place Strategy and Participatory Budgeting
• Demonstrating links of tenant influence on Strategic Decision Making
• Increased information on support and resources available to tenants who wish to be involved

Please take the survey below to let us know if you agree or disagree with the changes being made, and let us know if you have any ideas you would like to see included in an updated Tenant Participation Strategy.