Resident Engagement | Westminster City Council

Estate inspections - Informal walkabouts on your estates. They normally take place between 10am and 4pm. You’ll have the chance to point out issues in your area (optional)

Resident Panel - This is a group of up to 20 residents who meet monthly and provide scrutiny and monitoring of housing service updates and performance. They steer the Resident Forum, chairing the Forum and setting the agenda for future meetings. Time commitment: 10 to 12 hours per month. (optional)

Resident Forum - The Resident Forum is open to all residents and is chaired by a member of the Resident Panel. To recognise common challenges and opportunities across everyone living in Westminster housing. They take place monthly hybrid and in person. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours per meeting. You can come to meetings regularly, or as a one-off. (optional)

Resident Association Chairs Group - Is open to the elected chairs or a nominated person from each local resident group. The chairs group meet quarterly. These meetings are a valuable networking and peer support forum for local leaders. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours every three months. (optional)

Task and Finish Group - Residents work collaboratively and intensely with housing staff to scrutinise specific parts of the housing service, understand key challenges and develop solutions. The findings and recommendations are presented to the Resident Panel and Resident Forum. These meetings are normally on a weekly basis for a fixed period of approximately 6 to 8 weeks. Time commitment: 4 to 5 hours per week (optional)

Communications and Publications Group - Work with housing staff and our colleagues in the communication team to help decide what goes in our newsletters, on the website, and in letters. Help to make sure information is clear and easy to understand. This can be done online or in person. Time commitment: 1 to 2 hours every other month (optional)

Building Safety Group - Meets two to three times a year to discuss building safety across Westminster’s housing. At this group you will have the opportunity to network with other residents from across the borough, to influence our building safety approach and future policies. Time commitment: 3 hours every 3 months. (optional)

Procurement Group - Residents know what they want to see from contractors, balancing value for money and quality of work. Therefore, it makes sense to have residents helping us to select the contractors we will use to carry out work. Residents are involved in the different stages of procurement. We offer training to any resident involved, to ensure that money is spent in the right way. Time commitment: ad hoc basis but could be full days when required. (optional)

Recruitment Group - There are opportunities for residents to help us with the recruitment process for some of our senior appointments in the council. You will be offered training and have a role to play in making sure we get the best possible people working at Westminster. Time commitment: ad hoc basis but could be full days when required. (optional)

Complaints Group - You can work with us to scrutinise data on our complaints, to look at information about the type of complaints we receive and how we are using them to improve our services. You can also help to ensure our complaints process is clear and accessible to all residents. Time commitment: 1 to 2 hours every other month. (optional)

Westminster Housing Online - Have a say on housing services at a time that is convenient to you.  We will send you short surveys by email, asking for your feedback on a range of different topics. We will use the data to help decide on changes in policy and set agendas for our Resident Forums. There are no meetings to attend, and no obligation to respond if you don’t have time.   Time commitment: around 1 hour a month (optional)

Coming to your Community - To make sure that we are hearing from as many of our residents as possible, we know that we need to bring our service to you. If for any reason you struggle to leave the house, we can arrange a home visit. That could be with your housing officer, incomes officer or someone from leasehold services. (optional)

Young Voices - Young people represent around 40% of the residents living in Westminster Housing. Our youth advocate team is here to help provide opportunities, listen to your views, and act on what you tell us. (optional)

Resident Engagement - Contact us