Leaseholders Customer Services Panel

This panel was formed in 2004 when it was recognised that Leaseholders were under represented and needed a voice. The aim was to encourage greater participation by Resident Leaseholders in the Management of their homes.

There are 10 panel members who meet at least 4 times per year. The meetings are held at various locations within the Borough of Poole, reflecting the different areas in which panel members live.

The Leasehold Panel includes:

• Resident Leaseholders
• A non-resident Leaseholder who lets their flat
• Tenants and Residents Associations who may nominate one leaseholder representative per association
• Election of half the Panel at the Leasehold Annual Forum in November each year for a term of up to 2 years.

The Panel's achievements to date include:

• Appointment of Leasehold Services Officer
• Legal Service charges review
• Facilitated setting up Hasler Road Residents Association
• Building Insurance cost review
• Responses to Draft Leasehold/Commonhold Bill
• Offering Direct Debit for leasehold service charges

A variety of topics have been discussed and these include:

• Monitoring Legal Services income and expenditure
• Market testing residential building insurance costs
• Performance monitoring bench marking services 
• Quarterly reports on progress with cyclical and capital works expenditure
• Reports on reactive repairs carried out on time and of the specified quality
• Service charge and Capital Fund arrears
• Cleaning Service monitoring
• Promotion of Sinking Funds as an option
• Annual Forum
• Dedicated Leasehold Handbook
• Dedicated articles in 'At Home' magazine

Panel members are also invited to participate on working parties such as Best Value Reviews and the HSP (Housing Strategy Panel), the purpose of which is to formulate policy along with Senior Management. The recommendations of this group are then taken to the Cabinet, the decision making body of the Council.