Leaseholders Customer Services Panel

This panel started four years ago when it was recognised that Leaseholders were under represented and needed a voice. Encouraging greater participation by Resident Leaseholders in the Management of their homes.

There are 10 panel members who meet at least 4 times per year. The meetings are held at various locations within the Borough of Poole, reflecting the different areas in which panel members live.

The Leasehold Panel includes:

• Resident Leaseholders
• Tenants and Residents Associations who may have one leaseholder representative per association
• Half the Panel is re elected at the Leasehold Annual Forum in November each year for a term of up to 2 years.

The Panel's achievements to date include:

• Appointment of Leasehold Services Manager
• Legal Service charges review
• Facilitated the setting up Hasler Road Residents Association
• Building Insurance costs review
• Responses to Draft Leasehold/Commonhold Bill
• Direct Debit for leasehold service charges

Following our April 2002 panel meeting we discussed a number of issues which included:

• Monitoring Legal Services income and expenditure
• Market testing residential building insurance costs
• Performance monitoring bench marking services such as:-
• Quarterly reports on progress with cyclical and capital works expenditure
• Reports on reactive repairs carried out on time and of the specified quality
• Service charge and Capital Fund arrears
• The Cleaning Service monitoring
• Promotion of Sinking Funds as an option

Panel members are also invited to participate on working parties such as Best Value Reviews and the Housing Strategy & Policy Planning Panel, the purpose of which is to formulate policy along with Senior Management. The recommendations of this group are then taken to the Cabinet, the decision making body of the Council.