TACT Independent Member

Thank you for considering joining Tenants and Council Together (TACT). TACT is our tenant-led scrutiny and assurance board. It helps tenants and leaseholders hold Winchester City Council's Housing Landlord Service to account and shape better services.

We're recruiting one independent member. You will examine evidence, ask thoughtful questions and help turn what tenants experience into practical change. We will provide induction, mentoring and ongoing support. For the independent role, we're looking for relevant professional expertise and the ability to offer objective scrutiny and constructive challenge.

Why TACT matters

The Regulator of Social Housing's Consumer Standards say landlords must give tenants meaningful opportunities to influence and scrutinise their strategies, policies and services. Landlords must also provide clear performance information and accessible support so tenants can hold them to account. TACT is central to how we meet these expectations in Winchester.

hold us to account for safe, good-quality homes and services

review performance, complaints, Tenant Satisfaction Measures, policies, strategies and budgets

check whether services are fair, open, respectful and offer value for money

bring evidence and tenants' lived experience together

recommend practical improvements and monitor whether change happens

£1,200, paid quarterly, Ask constructive questions, test the evidence and speak up when something could be safer, fairer or more effective.

Change

Focus on practical improvements and help us turn scrutiny and tenants' experiences into action.

Curiosity

Ask why, notice what may be missing and consider different perspectives before reaching a view.

Challenge doesn't mean confrontation, and you don't need to be the loudest person in the room. Good scrutiny includes listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions and being willing to learn.

How the Board works

TACT brings together lived experience, independent expertise, elected leadership and senior accountability. The Board includes four tenant members, two independent members, the Lead Cabinet Member for Housing as Chair, and the Strategic Director or their substitute as a non-voting member.

Meetings usually take place on weekday evenings at Winchester City Council offices. We prefer members to attend in person, but we can arrange hybrid attendance when needed to make meetings more accessible. Dates are planned in advance.

Allowance and support

£1,200 annual allowance, paid quarterly

reasonable travel and agreed out-of-pocket expenses

induction, mentoring and ongoing learning

digital support and a laptop loan if needed

papers in an accessible format or printed copies on request

reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and Board membership

childcare and agreed printing costs in line with the Terms of Reference and relevant policy

Opportunity to develop as Vice-Chair

We're particularly interested in applicants who may want to develop towards a Vice-Chair role. You don't need chairing experience. Please say in your covering letter if this interests you, and tell us about any experience or qualities you could build on. Training and opportunities to practice chairing will be available.

Independent member role profile

The independent member brings external expertise, independence of thought and objective scrutiny. You must be independent of Winchester City Council's Housing Landlord Service and able to act in the interests of tenants and leaseholders. You don't need to live in the district, but you must be able to meet the role's attendance requirements.

We particularly welcome independent applicants whose perspectives are currently under-represented on boards, including younger professionals, women, people from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people and disabled people. Appointment remains based on the published criteria.