Wokingham took a stride forward for social mobility and equality last week as its tenants’ charter was renamed the residents’ charter.
Unlike some local authorities which have sold off their housing stock, Wokingham still owns many council homes.
In fact there is strong support from across the political divide for retaining affordable housing stock in Wokingham.
The number of homes in Wokingham’s stock increased from 2560 in 2021/2 to 2627 in 2024/5.
Steve Bowers, chair of the tenant and landlord improvement panel said the covenant between tenants and council had been renamed from ‘Tenants’ Charter’ to ‘Residents’ Charter’.
The top aspiration listed in the charter is tackling stigma, particularly in the form of unfair beliefs about social housing.
But the new charter also lists four other aspirations: creating effective partnerships, communicating with residents in ways that suits them, accessibility and inclusion for all, and maximising engagement.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen said: “I was born and brought up in a council housing estate. The community there was fantastic. Nobody had very much, but they all helped each other.
“Not having any stigma about housing – people who are born and brought up and live in council housing is really important because everybody is all the same.
To a round of applause, she concluded: “We’ve all got the same weaknesses, we’ve all got the same strengths and there’s nothing different about people brought up in council housing.”
