Code of Conduct

UPDATE – 1 May 2018:

As part of a recent ‘Residents Association Healthcheck’ provided by Lewisham Tenants Fund, we were given the new Lewisham Homes Code of Conduct, which provides guidelines for the way we are required to conduct the running of the TRA and Meetings, in order to be fair and inclusive.

However, it does not include any information at all on dealing with and resolving disputes:

 

 

The previous Code of Conduct (below) is more detailed, and refers to the Dispute Resolution Toolkit from the Housing Ombudsman Service.

We welcome residents feedback on the new updated Code of Conduct:

  • leave a comment on this site by clicking the red comment link at the bottom of the page,
  • email us at admin@tannershilltra.org,
  • send a letter to The secretary, Tanners Hill TRA, C/O 9 Deloraine House, Tanners Hill, London SE8 4PY,

or why not come along to our next meeting? 

 

ORIGINAL POST – 6 April 2014:

Below is a summary of the Code of Conduct which is part of the Lewisham Homes Compact – this was being rewritten for the Area Panel, to help TRA’s deal, more effectively and fairly, with disputes between residents/committee members, as well as breaches of the code.

At the end of this document, there are some suggestions from residents and committee members as to how we might improve our ‘conflict resolution’ efforts or support/listen to anyone who has a complaint – if you have any ideas and suggestions, please add them to the list.

The full compact can be viewed at: http://www.lewishamhomes.org.uk/Resources/Lewisham%20Homes/Other%20pdfs/Compact%20Supporting%20documents%20final.doc.pdf

UPDATED – 20 Nov 2015:  This document no longer exists and there is no reference to the LH Compact from a search on the Lewisham Homes website. However, we continue to use the following document as a guideline:-

 

TANNERS HILL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

CODE OF CONDUCT

 

1. Aim

To encourage a sense of community by promoting an equal society and opposing all forms of discrimination regardless of any persons’ race or ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual

orientation or gender and to challenge all forms of discrimination. This aim ensures that:

• Representatives work in the best interests of their association

• All sections of the community are given an equal chance to speak at meetings

• Meetings are conducted in a spirit of equality and informality

2. Roles and responsibilities

Each party must respect one another’s roles, responsibilities and values at all times and

conduct themselves in a reasonable manner. Where disagreements arise, these should be discussed in an open and honest manner and the majority view accepted.

Positions of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary or Treasurer do not mean anyone is in a position of power over another member. All roles should work together for the benefit of the community. Each member should also listen to the community they represent about what people would like to happen, so that groups are as inclusive as possible. When problems arise, this is seen as a dispute and members should contact the Community Involvement Team about the dispute procedure and Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) dispute resolution toolkit.

3. Joint roles and responsibilities

• To work together with mutual respect and with a common purpose

• To take steps to ensure that resident involvement is representative of the rich diversity of

our communities in Lewisham

• To respect the Constitutions, Code of Conduct, Equal Opportunities policies

• To attend meetings regularly and to contribute to ideas/discussions

• To abide by decisions made by the meeting

• To ensure that any views put forward on behalf of the meeting have been formally

agreed by the meeting

• When expressing personal opinions outside of meetings to ensure that this is done

strictly in a personal capacity and not in any situation where they are representing the Group

4. While taking part in meetings everyone should:

• speak through the Chair

• follow the guidance of the Chair in the conduct of the meeting

• be courteous to each other

• respect each other’s views

• refrain from making personal remarks and comments

• allow each other the opportunity to speak

• remember the purpose of the meeting

• work in partnership with all resident members, Councillors and officers in seeking the best possible results

• bear in mind the rights of individuals

• bear in mind the duties of Councillors and Council officers

• operate within the rules of the Constitution

• follow the Agenda

• assist each other to reach effective decisions

Action will be taken against anyone who behaves in an offensive or disruptive manner at

meetings, or who breaches the Code of Conduct towards staff. This includes the Chair.

Discrimination, prejudice or inappropriate behaviour will not be accepted at any time, whether in a meeting, in a Council Office, or in representing the association or committee.

 

5. Specific roles and responsibilities:

For all elected tenants and leaseholders:

• To represent their group, to gather views from people they represent, and to be clear

who they are representing

• To take an active part in Lewisham Homes’ formal participation structure

• To feed back the results of participation

• Not to expect favourable treatment such as completion of repairs or transfer requests

• To use agreed procedures when taking up any issues relating to their tenancy or when

acting on behalf of another individual resident. To ensure that personal issues are not

taken up at the meeting

• To make clear, when dealing with a member of Lewisham Council and its housing

management providers staff, whether they are acting as an individual resident or in their

role as an elected representative

 

6.Dealing with breaches of this code

• Representatives attending the meeting who feel that this code of conduct has been

breached should raise it with the Chair either at the time or shortly after the meeting.

• The Chair will judge whether the person has breached the code of conduct, the Chair will

point out to the person that such behaviour is not acceptable.

• If the unacceptable behaviour persists, a motion will be put to the meeting to exclude the

person or persons from the meeting. Future participation by persons so excluded will be

dependent on a commitment being given, in writing, to the Chair that such behaviour will

not re-occur.

• Continued breaches of the Code of Conduct will result in the person / persons being

excluded from future meetings.

• Complaints that the Chair has breached the Code of Conduct should be reported as

soon as possible after the meeting to the relevant officer servicing the meeting, who

must undertake the action outlined above in place of the Chair.

 

Suggestions:

  • to remind people to speak through the Chair, at the start of the meeting
  • to use a timer or bell, rather than have the Chair ask people to stop talking
  • time limit contributions so everyone, who wishes to, gets the chance to speak, whilst keeping the meeting moving
  • if someone appears to be offended or upset, a member of the committee or resident could follow up, rather than waiting for that person to make a complaint, or not come back again