Graeme Foster from the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) gave an fascinating speech about he current state of play at the TSA during our Residents Scrutiny Conference on 8 July. During his speech he made the case for increased tenant participation during the changes and spending cuts the government is intending to make. He said:

"Scrutiny is not just something that is a nice to have it must have a focus. It must be there to support business and it must drive improvement and if it has those things, then scrutiny is something that is going to survive the tests of spending cuts. What we have found especially with the local offer trail blazers is that tenants are the most militant people when it comes to value for money."

Graeme also talked about the possible demise of the TSA but stated that many of the standards around co-regulation will remain the same despite what happens to the TSA. He said:

"The new government policy is beginning to emerge. We have some ideas already that there will be an emphasis on localism. It's about empowering local citizens and it's about government being involved only when it is absolutely necessary and trying to devolve power to people on the ground. That chimes with what you are trying to do on the ground with residents scrutiny and what we are trying to do centrally with the TSA."

Graeme also informed delegates at the Residents Scrutiny Conference that it would be business as usual for the time being. He added:

"One of the key messages from a TSA perspective is we'll still be expecting local offer plans in October and we will still be expecting local offers to be in place for April. Whether the TSA stays or goes one of the key messages is don't take you eye off the ball, set you own agenda and make the assumption that the framework or large parts of it will be staying."

For more information on residents scrutiny go to our Residents Scrutiny and Advice Centre on TenantBook.co.uk