west whitlawburn housing co-operative

8/2/2019 West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative

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Democratic Enterprise: Ethical busi

West Whitlawburn Housi

Now in its 21st

year, West Whitla

collectively addressing and taki

a waiting list of over 400 peopl

regarded community institutio

through its unique ownership a

Background

We really had no choice, either c

control, seek housing grants froattractive, peaceful and high qu

West Whitlawburn is a local aut

Back in 1989, West Whitlawbur

for social deprivation during th

quality housing, repair services

couldnt take anymore. A numb

the courageous decision to pur

aid of over 12m in grants. With

was left to do was to decide on

control would always rest with

(WWHC) was born.

Operations

WWHC is a Registered Social Lawho are most in need. In contra

ensure that WWHC is considere

government funding.

WWHCs remit is to develop, m

It has grown considerably since

to rent (see table 1). To date, it

surrounding area and has 34 m

the community.

ness for the 21st century Co-operative Edu

Creative Commo

Case Study 4.5

ng Co-operative

wburn Housing Co-operative is a shining exam

ng control of their housing needs. With over 60

seeking tenancy, WWHC has established itself

and continues to successfully deliver services

nd governance structure.

ntinuing to live in unacceptable and deterioratin

Scottish Homes and set about regenerating Weslity place to live.

Phil Welsh, MBE, founding m

hority estate based in Cambuslang on the outs

was an estate in need. Owned by, it was an ar

1980s and residents spoke of their displeasur

and general social issues rampant in the area. I

er of the more proactive tenants formed a stee

chase the 543 flats in the area form Glasgow Cit

the tenants now having control over their hou

a structure to manage the housing, one that w

he tenants. Thus, West Whitlawburn Housing C

ndlord providing affordable housing primarily fst to most other forms of co-operatives, it is no

d a public benefit organisation to gain tax exe

intain and provide affordable housing to those

its inception in 1989 and now has over 600 ho

as spent over 48m improving the housing sto

mbers of staff, not including volunteers who c

cation Trust Scotland

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ple of a community

0 housing units and

as a highly

to its tenants

g conditions or take

t Whitlawburn as an

mber of WWHC

irts of Glasgow.

a with a reputation

with the poor

1989 the residents

ing group and took

y council, with the

sing needs, all that

s fair and ensured

o-operative

or those in societyfor profit. This is to

ptions and

who need it most.

sing units available

ck and the

rry out vital work in


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Table 1-WWHC housing units

Type

2 apartment multi storey flat



2 apartment low rise flat



2 apartment cottage flat

3 apartment house

4 apartment house

5 apartment house

Total

Source: WWHC 21st Anniversary Re

How WWHC functions as a co-

Legal Status

WWHC is registered under the I

Rules

The way in which WWHC is to c

operatives articles of associatio

general meetings, managemen

Ownership

WWHC is a fully mutual housin

co-operative and only tenants c

such as retailers, where it is pos


Creative Commo

1989

No. of Un

0

432

0

0

78

30

0

0

0

0

540

port to Members, 2010.

operative

ndustrial and Provident Societies Act 1965.

nduct its business is set out in its rules. This do

n. It states how the co-operative should deal wi

t committee, audits etc.

co-operative, which means that every tenant i

an be members. This differs from other consum

sible to buy products from the co-operative wit


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2010

its No. of Units

13

406

13

3

68

41

16

50

29

5

644

cument is a co-

th its membership,

s a member of the

er co-operatives,

hout being a


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member. Therefore the tenants

unit has one member, even tho

of the property is given to the t

become a member of the co-op

the owner of the property. The

the housing unit and the co-op

of ownership is difficult for peo

property in that you own the pr

staff put it, How can you buy s

Governance

The highest governing body in

committee is populated by me

The management committees

co-operative and to act in the b

member of the co-operative ca

a one member/one vote demo

of the board of directors in a co

How the committee operates:

The committee must ha An employee of the co- One third of the commi Committee members c The committee must m The committee will ele

committee.

The committee is responsible f

powers to carry out its duties.


Creative Commo

own and control the co-operative. For simplicit

ugh there might be a family of five residing in e

nant if he/she abides by the tenancy agreeme

erative. As long as those two requirements are

tenancy agreement does not grant members th

retains the unit after the tenancy agreement is

le to grasp as it differs from the traditional me

operty yet do not have the right to purchase it.

mething that you already own?

WWHC is the management committee. Despite

bers of the co-operative (currently eleven) not

role is to hire employees to efficiently and succ

est interests of the membership as a whole. An

stand for election to the committee and mem

ratic process. In effect, the management comm

nventional enterprise.

ve a minimum of seven members and a maxim

operative cannot become a committee membe

ttee must retire every year.

n be removed if the majority of the members v

eet six times a year and the quorum for a meeti

t a chairperson, who has the deciding vote in

r directing the affairs of the co-operative and c


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y, each housing

ach unit. Ownership

t and pays 1 to

met, the tenant is

e right to purchase

ended. This concept

hods of owning

As one member of

its name, the

members of staff.

ssfully manage the

one who is a

bers are voted in on

ittee fulfils the role

um of fifteen.

r.

ote to do so.

ng to be held is four.

atters of the

an use all of its


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Figure 1-Governance structure of W

A note on the distribution of

this is stipulated in its rules. Ho

due to operational costs being l

surplus to the members (as in o

Values & Principles

The co-operative Values & Princ

and initiatives of the co-op. The

have put each of the principles

Table 2-WWHC application of the Va

Voluntary and open me

Democratic member

Member economic par

Accountable

Accountable


Creative Commo

HC

rofit: as previously stated, WWHC does not op

ever, it is still possible for the co-operative to g

ower than expected. In this case, WWHC canno

ther co-ops) but reinvests it into the business.

iples are very important to WWHC and influenc

management committee, in collaboration with

into practice:

lues & Principles

mbershipAnyone over the age of sixt

waiting list of WWHC.

control

The membership of the co-

the tenants in the housing.

equal (one vote) and can be

highest governing body in t

committee.

icipationTenants must pay 1 to bec

the co-op. This contribution

Members

(tenants)

ManagementCommittee

Employees

Elects

Hires


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erate for profit and

enerate a surplus

t distribute this

e the operations

the co-ops staff,

en can join the

p consists of the all

very member is

elected to the

he co-op, the

me a member of

cannot increase in


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Autonomy and indep

Education, training and i

Co-operation amongst co

Concern for comm


Creative Commo

value or be transferred.

ndenceWWHC is independent from

and is in complete control o

formation

Any member wishing to sta

committee is provided with

participate effectively in me

strategic decisions. WWHC

of its annual report availabl

-operatives

WWHC has made links with

throughout the UK and furt

also works with a housing c

share best practice and exp

nity

WWHC has introduced a nu

environmental initiatives ai

the community. The co-op

centre with a cafe, youth clu

facilities and an out of scho

WWHC also employs a num

residents to run these servic


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the local council

f its operations.

d on the

training so they can

etings and make

rovides a free copy

to all its members.

other co-operatives

er afield. WWHC

-op in Malawi to

rience.

ber of social and

ed at improving

uilt a resource

b, computer

l care service.

er of local

es.


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Social benefits

WWHC is more than just a landl

particularly principle number s

that WWHC takes its social resp

Every couple of years, WWHC c

satisfaction tenants have with t

Table 3-Tenant satisfaction survey

Tenants Surveyed

The Co-operative as a Landlo

Percentage of tenants who are

landlord

Quality of Services


the services provided by the Co

Advice and Assistance


and assistance that they receiv

Concierge Service and Securit


repairs service.

Repairs Service


Value for Money

5.5% of tenants do not believe

value for money.

The Neighbourhood

Percentage of tenants who beli


Creative Commo

ord. It adheres to the co-operative values and p

ven, and its status as a Registered Social Housi

onsibilities very seriously.

nducts a Tenant Satisfaction Survey to ascertai

he services provided.

2004

20%

d

satisfied with the Co-operative as a

96%

satisfied with the overall quality of

-operative.

87%

satisfied with the quality of advice

from the Co-operative.

91%

y System

satisfied with concierge services the 80%

satisfied with the repairs service.80%

hat their rent represents good 76%

eve that West Whitlawburn is a

86%


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rinciples,

g provider means

n the level of

2006 2008

16% 12%

99% 100%

98% 100%

96% 97%

92% 98%

90% 93%

86% 94%

N/A 91%


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good area to live in.

Source: Tenant Satisfaction Survey

Additional Services

In 1995, WWHC acquired fundin

West Whitlawburn Community

and provides vital services such

Out of School Care Serv Cafe Citizens Advice outreac Two youth clubs

Perhaps most important is the

cameras and 67 house alarms f

Whitlawburn is a safe and secur

Future plans

WWHC has recently completed

foreseeable future are focused

most importantly, continues to

has also supported the establis

service (namely broadband and

1 Whitcomm Co-operative Ltd.


Creative Commo

Summary 2007/8

g from the National Lottery Charities Board an

Resource Centre. The centre acts as a hub for th

as:

ice for the children of parents who work during

h centre

oncierge service provided by the co-operative.

r elderly and infirm tenants, the concierge ens

e place for members to reside.

building an additional 100 housing units and it

n ensuring the co-operative remains solvent, s

provide a service that is in the best interest of it

ment of a separate co-operative to provide co

phone) to the residents of WWHC.1


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constructed the

e local community

the day.

With over 140 CCTV

re that West

s objectives for the

ustainable and

s members. WWHC

munications

west whitlawburn housing co-operative

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