Knowsley Housing Trust Logo
Knowsley Housing Trust Residents

How KHT is structured

The Main Board
KHT's Board has 12 members, consisting of; 4 tenants, 4 Local Council representatives and 4 Independent local people, chosen for their experience and expertise in housing, finance and other relevant disciplines. By ensuring that tenant representation forms one third of the Board, the Trust has enabled residents to have an impact at the highest level.

Area Boards
In addition to the Board, KHT has Area Boards for each area of Knowsley: Halewood, Kirkby, Prescot and Whiston, and Huyton. Area Boards also consist of four tenants, four Knowsley councillors and four independent people. Under the Board’s direction, they have some decision-making powers and are crucial in ensuring that local people decide how money is spent and what work takes priority in their area .

Over the last 12 months, area boards have also been instrumental in decisions to:

- prioritise a £300m improvement programme and determine how it is delivered
- undertake local environmental projects through a £250,000 match funding contribution with the
  local  authority
- finance an additional neighbourhood warden in an area of high crime
- second an officer from Merseyside Police to the Tenancy Enforcement Unit, which deals with tenancy
  breach and anti-social behaviour
- fund local environment improvement schemes to the value of £500,000 in local communities

KHT's Tenant Federation
The federation is a forum for all tenant and resident group delegates, which meets on a two monthly basis to talk about a range of subjects - which they decide upon. It's also an opportunity for tenants to come along, meet and talk to other tenants, KHT officers and other interested members. Each registered residents group is provided with an annual registration grant of £150 to assist with expenses and also given administration support by the Trust.

Resident Associations
From almost a standing start in July 2002, KHT has supported the development of 58 resident associations, which play an active role within KHT's constitution.

Individual Residents
Individual residents also have a role to play in the running of KHT via individual feedback, participating in focus groups or as a member of the soon to be launched KHT 200, a representative group of KHT tenants and housing applicants. KHT 200 will provide a less formal and more ad hoc method of tapping into public opinion which will complement KHT's existing consultative structure and engage new groups of people. Members' involvement will be tailored to suit their preferred level of commitment e.g. postal ballots, telephone surveys, focus groups, meetings or home visits.