What is the North Lanarkshire Federation of Tenants and Residents (NLF)?

The Federation works in partnership with the council and other Registered Social Landlords in the area to develop tenant participation.

The key belief in tenant participation is that the ideas, actions and beliefs of local communities are vital to decision-making processes. They should be central to assist developing housing and related services. The Federation is the umbrella organisation that aims to strengthen and unify the voice of local tenant and resident groups.

The Federation has seven key aims in its constitution, which are to:

1. Have more tenants and residents organisations in North Lanarkshire with the support and resources that they require to operate effectively.
2. Help tenant and resident associations work together and help each other.
3. Make sure that every resident in North Lanarkshire receives excellent housing and related services through working in partnership and upholding the rights of people.
4. Develop tenant participation as a representative social movement of all people.
5. Make sure the opinions of local communities are an integral part of decision making processes, particularly within regeneration, housing and environmental matters.
6. Ensure residents receive the information they need.
7. Secure a meaningful tenant participation budget.

The Federation is managed by an Executive Committee (EC). There can be a maximum of 12 people on the committee who are democratically elected once a year by member organisations and individuals. The committee is made up of chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer and up to eight general committee members. The committee holds regular committee meetings to take forward the workload.

In addition to EC meetings, the Federation is entirely dedicated to listening to key issues and comments of its members. Every year the Federation will hold at least three General Meetings and an Annual General Meeting. These meetings are open to any member and are vital to decide future workloads, and guide and support the EC.

The Federation may also seek the opinions of its members outwith general meetings. It will do this as and when required by the EC and can be done in a range of ways, including structured consultations, public events, attending member group meetings and networking with members.

The Federation wants you to become involved.

If you get involved, you are bringing a range of ideas, aspirations and knowledge about your community. This is vital to improving our communities and homes. It is people like you, with an interest in getting better services and not letting our neighbourhoods become run down that makes up the federation. It is people like you that we need.

There are two types of membership available:

• Individual membership
• Organisation membership

If you do not have a resident organisation in your area then you can join the Federation as an Individual Member. We can also assist you to set up a local tenants and residents organisation in your area and this gives you a chance to have a much more effective input into improving your neighbourhood. Call for an informal chat and a Federation Membership pack.

As an Individual Member you will get the following benefits:

• Invitations to come to at least four general meetings a year.
• There is space for five individual members to sit on the Executive Committee
• Be included on any relevant correspondence.
• Be included on any consultation that we conduct.
• Assistance to set up and develop a resident organisation in your neighbourhood if you want.
• Opportunities may also arise to become involved in NLF working groups or to become an NLF delegate (as and when authorised by the committee).

As a Tenants' and Residents' Association, becoming a federation member will get your organisation the following benefits:

• All of the above individual membership benefits plus:
  • Voting rights at General and Annual General Meetings.
  • Rights to nominate and stand for election onto the NLF Executive Committee.
  • Support, advice and guidance for your residents' group.
  • Opportunities to meet and network with other resident organisations.

Find out more by visiting the North Lanarkshire Federation website or by:

• calling 01698 337601
• emailing NLFederation@outlook.com