The consultation has started with an online forum and it is easy to join the discussion by taking part in an online survey.

South Lanarkshire Council’s Budget Scrutiny Group (BSG), comprising of tenant representatives from across the area, has for a number of years been responsible for engaging with the council to review the housing budget and consider the financial challenges faced by tenants and the council. The group has also taken a lead role in co-ordinating and delivering the annual consultation on setting rent.

The BSG and the Tenant Participation Co-ordination Group, who have strategic responsibility for ensuring the development of effective tenant participation in South Lanarkshire, met through Zoom to begin the rent setting consultation for 2022-23.

The event provided the opportunity to discuss with council officers the current budgetary position including the impact of Covid-19 on the housing budget. Also discussed were the factors which need to be taken into account in setting the rent levels for 2022-23 to ensure the council can continue to invest in improving existing homes and continue to build new council homes.

Councillor Josh Wilson, chair of the housing and technical resources committee, attended the event to discuss this important issue with tenants and hear their views.

Councillor Wilson said: “It’s always good to hear directly from tenants and their input and feedback is invaluable to this process. We will take the points raised on board moving forward as part of the consultation.

“As the group considered how best to design this year’s approach to consulting on the rent levels for 2022-23, the continuing impact of Covid-19 meant that the key focus would again be an online survey.

“The survey is available on the council website and is being widely promoted through social media platforms. We now want to hear from as many tenants as possible, so I would ask them to have their say by completing the online survey.”

Tenant and chairperson of the Budget Scrutiny Panel, David Downie, added: “With the continuing pressures faced by both the council and tenants, the Budget Scrutiny Group having their say on what happens has an increasing importance on rent setting.

“The council takes into account the views of the TPCG and the Budget Scrutiny Group which is greatly appreciated. As tenant representatives, we regard this as an important role and do what we can to represent the interests of all tenants not only on the rent setting but on all aspects of the Housing Service.”

The consultation closes on Monday 13 December 2021 and the responses received will be collated and reported to the committee early in the new year.