June 2017
ALL THE LATEST NEWS, VIEWS & ACTIVITIES FROM MHA STAFF
REMEMBER... EBuzz is put together following John’s briefings every other month. This is your newsletter and it would be great to hear some of your stories! If you have anything you want to share, please get in touch with Louise Davies via In House, 01495 761104 or email: louise.davies@ monmouthshirehousing.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you and hope you enjoy this edition.
John’s Briefing s ' e v e t S
Board
The latest Board meeting was held on Wednesday 24th May with the regulator from Welsh Government attending. The regulator did a presentation to Board about the new regulatory framework which focusses more on co-regulation and puts the onus more on Boards and organisations themselves to make statements of compliance about how they comply with the new performance standards.
We have to produce an annual compliance statement and this shows how we fare against each of the standards. A draft compliance statement was produced for Board to consider, but there are still some areas that we think are a work in progress. We will be submitting our statement in July and expect our regulatory assessment to be around September time.
Performance
Performance for Quarter 4 and Year to Date is looking good with only one KPI failing to meet target,
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which was for re-lets at 35 days against a target of 25. This was frustrating but reaffirms the time we are spending in these properties getting them back up to standard. Effectively it was a very good set of performance which puts us in the top three in most categories across Wales and even top in some of those. We are very proud of what we have achieved so far. We are now comparing our performance to similar housing associations and RSL’s in England as well as housing associations in Wales.
Complaints & Compliments
There were 5 formal complaints which went to Stage 2 in quarter 4. We also had 21 compliments. We do have more informal complaints and Board are keen to know more about these and how we dealt with them. Please remember to log informal complaints on the spreadsheet via inhouse.
Value for Money Strategy & Policy
It’s important that we have a VFM strategy and look at how we embed the policy throughout the organisation and optimise resources. Welsh Government will be issuing guidance about how we score and monitor this. In England, housing associations have to produce a statement in their annual reports and accounts and this could also become mandatory in Wales in the future.
Self-Assessment
At each Board meeting we look at a particular aspect of selfassessment. At the latest meeting the Board looked at delivery. The Board discussed Housing & Communities and the impact of Welfare Reform and how we deal with this. It’s important that we look at the issues facing our tenants with the introduction of Universal Credit and how we deliver services going forward. An example of how Universal Credit could affect our tenants is the fact that they will
have a one lump sum payment each month rather than weekly or fortnightly payments. For people in paid employment a monthly payment would be normal, but for others this could mean that they would have to look at budgeting in a slightly different way. Some quite intense work will need to be carried out to help and support our tenants through the changes.
Tenant Involvement Review
The tenant involvement review was well received by Board and the regulatory team. The presentation showed how we will review and engage with tenants over the next 12 months – 2 years. There are a series of actions which will take place and the nature of engagement will change. The Tenants Forum won’t exist in its current form going forward, there will be a different kind of network group which will take place twice a year as well as maximising digital methods.
Pensions
Pension provision is really important so we’ve had an external consultant looking at the pension schemes currently held at MHA. As you are aware we have had a significant uplift in contributions and an annual lump sum is now required in addition to the uplift. The scheme is becoming very expensive. Board considered the options and the outcome was that the defined benefits will be maintained for existing employees on the Local Government Pension Scheme and no change to Social Housing Pension Scheme at the moment, whilst still affordable. We will be consulting staff and unions on the issues so you all have a clear picture. A change is being considered for new starters whereby they won’t get the defined benefit but will
instead get a defined contribution. This would be based on MHA & the employee paying an amount and will then define what their benefits will be. This is quite a significant change in approach and Board will consider a report detailing proposals for changes to the pension scheme in July.
Welsh Government – Schedule 1
We have to report to Welsh Government any instances of payments or benefits to related individuals or businesses known by members of staff. Two items were reported which were based on two lettings through the allocations process of which both were related to staff.
Brookside, Caldicot Development
A £3.5 million contract has been agreed for the redevelopment of Brookside. There will be 25 new units on the land and work should be starting in June.
Oakley Way, Caldicot Development
The Oakley Way new development will be going through planning fairly soon. That whole area of Caldicot will be seeing massive regeneration and lots of investment. It’s been a fantastic refurbishment project and we have received lots of positive feedback from tenants.
Wonastow Road, Monmouth
This is a development by Taylor Wimpey and Barrat Homes. We have paid £1.2 million this week and we will be getting around 22 units in June. The development is going on at a pace and eventually we will receive 102 properties over three phases. Some of which will be sold under low cost home ownership and some social housing. The social housing needs to comply with WHQS and we have had an input on the property specifications.
Disposal of properties
Board agreed for the disposal of five properties. Three properties in Llanelly Hill will be disposed of along with one in Monmouth and one in Caerwent. The properties all needed more money spent on them than what we consider to be viable. The money from these sales will allow us to buy 1.5 – 2 properties to replace them.
ONS Reclassification
The Office for National Statistics reclassified housing associations as part of the public sector, if the situation remains unchanged this could cause serious financial issues for MHA as our debt would be classed as public and not private debt thus the amount we draw down will be determined by public finances (not good) and not our own (which are better). Welsh Government are looking to repeal that through statute. This will take place following the election. This happened in England but they were very quick in repealing this through statute and changing this back so that RSL’s were back in the private sector.
Business Plan
Each year we meet with Barclays to discuss our agreement. Under the agreement we can borrow up to £45 million and so far we have only net borrowing of £20 million (we have paid off a lot of debt over the years). Each year we have to justify to Barclays what we are planning to do with the money. We have a debt line which is on increase until it peaks at requirement at just over £40 million at some point in the future. We need to maintain that facility as we are going to be spending over £16 million on developments this year and quite a substantial amount on developments next year. Continued overleaf
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Civica CX Update
Civica CX agreed to provide us with a hotfix which have hopefully fixed a lot of the issues that we had during testing. We’ve had the hotfix and are now continuing to test the system and checking that it is doing what it is supposed to be doing. There is one issue which hasn’t been fixed so there will be another hotfix that will have to be issued. If the issues are resolved we will be on target to go live in October.
Welsh Water Changes to Charges
From 2 October 2017 we will not be collecting water rates from our tenants. The risks for us as an organisation have become too great. Letters have been sent out to tenants to inform them of the changes. An email has also been sent out to all staff with an FAQ sheet. If you have any queries please direct tenants to Alison Smith. Further communication with tenants will follow in the coming months.
Board Members
Four tenants will be standing for election in the coming months to fill one tenant Board member position. (See who these are on pg 34) There are also potentially seven independent candidates who will be interviewed over the next few weeks. Two of our council nominees will also be leaving as one did not stand for election and the other stood but did not get elected. We are currently talking to MCC about council involvement on the Board going forward.
Cyber Security
You may have seen in the news last week about the attacks on the NHS systems. MHA have a number of different programmes and the security is up to date on all of these. Scammers are very intelligent and can clone information to create false invoices and documents which can be attached to emails, once these are opened or click on a virus starts to impact the systems. If you receive an email with any attachments or links which you have doubts about, whether it be at home or in work, do not click on them. If you have any queries please speak to the IT Team.
In House
Operatives should now be able to access In House if you have a PDA. Further in house sessions will be delivered at Toolbox Talks in the coming months. If you have any questions or do not have access on your PDA, please speak to IT.
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Don't
Forget! EBuzz is written by you for you and staff are encouraged to send in their stories.
If you have a story you'd like to share, please contact one of the EBuzz representatives below:
Graham Harvey Emma Assender Cath Murray Domini Barnes Emma Gallo Jessie O'Connell Nathan Cook Louise Davies
News In Brief Congratulations Stacey Congratulations to Stacey White who welcomed her new daughter, Cariad Elizabelle to the family on 31st March. Cariad arrived safe and sound at 20.01, weighing 6lbs 7oz.
Happy Birthday Lorna Lorna Selmer reached the milestone of 30 on the 30th May, Lorna now feels "grown up" and is already looking forward to her 40th.
Weddings
Romance is Alive Congratulations to Alex Caswell who popped the question and was accepted by Eden Hall last August. He got down on bended knee whilst on a walk in the Brecon Beacons. Eden thought he was tying his shoe lace – but after seven years of chasing she wasn’t too surprised to finally have been asked! Well done Alex and Eden!
Wedding Bells Mared Dafydd was busy conducting her own set of risk assessments ahead of her wedding in Crickhowell in May. We’re thrilled to wish her and ‘Jonsey’ all the best for their marriage.
Not Long Now Kate Bradbrook and Bill Fitzpatrick will be tying the knot on 29th June, Mariam Elmirghani's big day is on the 1st July and Graham Harvey is getting nervous for his forthcoming nuptials in July!
Here are a selection of “Pickles” that you have awarded to your colleagues recently: Abigail Lewis has ‘pickled’ Helena Smith for… "being a really supportive colleague when I was having a particularly bad day and generally being a great team member and a pleasure to work with. (Also for bringing in chocolate cakes).” Emily Townsend has ‘pickled’ Nadine Fletcher for… "helping me by speaking to tenants at Old Hereford Road to ensure the Befriending Afternoon Tea Club can go ahead this afternoon! Life Saver!!” Abigail Lewis has ‘pickled’ Justine Whitcombe for… "going way beyond the call of duty supporting a tenant that would not engage effectively with the MHA Debt Advice service for over a year with great results.” Abigail Lewis has ‘pickled’ Kerris Winter for… "teamwork: going beyond the call of duty to encourage reluctant tenants to engage with Moneywise on numerous occasions making my job easier and helping me get good outcomes.” Do you think your colleagues should be recognised for their additional work efforts? Going above and beyond customer expectation and showing a good service. Then award them a pickle via In House. A prize will be awarded to the employee with the most deserved pickles during the quarter. 5
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Old School Close officially opens! We officially opened Old School Close in April and with the help of Mayor Dave Evans who cut the ribbon we celebrated our latest completed development. Rachel Houghton who moved from Oakley Way said; “When we got the keys to the new place we felt like we had won the lottery!” The development which is a mix of one and two bedroom flats and houses is one of many developments happening across the county, with more to come in Raglan and Abergavenny as well as elsewhere in Caldicot.
COMPLIMENTS Mrs Chapman would like to thank Maria Williams for...
”helping her to sort out the insurance issue at Drybridge Park. She is really grateful.”
Mrs Van Steenis would like to thank all of the staff at MHA for...
”their kindness throughout her tenancy, particularly in relation to the Service Testing Team of which she was a member.”
Ms Mulley would like to thank Claire Dunning for...
”being so prompt dealing with John’s application. I would like to express to you just how lovely it is to speak to someone as helpful as you have been. It has been a rare treat and I appreciate it very much.”
Mrs Brusch would like to thank John Frost, Dave Maloney, Dave Rees, Les Hoskins, Tracy Riggs, Darren Alm, Marc Weaving, Nick Brown, Carwyn Lothian, Ian Price & Mike Metters for... ”work carried out on an extension, they have provided me with a fabulous workable kitchen and a bathroom. Throughout the period of development the team showed respect, consideration and thoughtfulness to help me survive the natural chaos and difficulties of living “on site”. Dave Maloney, the on-site project manager could not have been more helpful and committed, along with the teams professionalism and skills, a level of finish has been achieved which they should all be proud of. I had a vision of how I wished for each room to look and my vision was achieved.”
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Did That Really By David James
Less than a month ago, there I was writing about my first trip away with my wife for 29 years, my first cycling holiday abroad, really not knowing what to expect, as it didn't seem real at the time. Looking out today at the rain, speaking earlier to my daughter who is now in Majorca with the temperature at 26°C, I am already longing to return. Next time though, if I want to keep up with the Jameses, I need to be a lot fitter and be much better prepared. The old adage, "fail to prepare, prepare to fail", didn't quite apply to me as I managed to get through it, but boy it was close! Arriving in Majorca mid-afternoon on Tuesday 2nd May, we caught the bus together with our bikes, firstly into Palma and then we caught a connection to Port de Pollenca. Total cost of the transport for the two of us was just 22.50 Euros. I was already tired from the journey, but knowing my wife was really keen to get out on the bikes, I quickly put them together and we set out on a quick 45km cycle around the north west of the island. Luckily I took lights with me as it was almost dark by the time we returned to the hotel. The following day Christine was up early eager to get out again and she had already planned the route. 100+km with nearly 2000 metres of climbing. Considering until a few weeks ago the furthest I 8
had cycled was 67km this was going to be a tough day. Nevertheless I made it back in time to spend a couple of hours relaxing by the pool, before going out for a meal and consuming copious amounts of delicious local red wine - doesn't wine always taste better drinking it where it is produced? After such a tough first full day in the saddle, the last thing that crossed my mind for our next ride was to
Happen? cycle across to the other side of the island to the San Salvador monastery, a round trip of close to 150km! Needless to say that's what Christine thought would be the best thing to do, so that's what we did! Arriving back at the hotel exhausted and sunburnt I would have been quite happy to do absolutely nothing the rest of the 'holiday'! The last two days though I still ended up riding my bike. We did an easy (according to Christine) 70km on Friday and then another 110km on Saturday before we left, which included a climb of 8km. So now I know what it's like to try to keep up with the Jameses! It's flipping hard! I know the 'holiday' or as I like to describe it the 'training camp' was really enjoyable and something I won't forget in a very long time. As well as obviously doing me the world of good by helping me get much fitter, the sense of achievement making my way up some of those climbs is something I am quite proud of. The most famous climb 'Sa Colobra' is nearly 10km at an average gradient of 7% - I thought about stopping lots of times, but each time I thought about my disabled daughter Bethan knowing she would never get the chance to do it so I kept going. I was really quite emotional when I got to the top after an hour of riding constantly uphill!
Unfortunately since I've been back I have been unwell so I've not been on my bike, but I am really looking forward to start riding to work again to see if I am fitter and faster than a month ago. I also realise I need to continue to cut down on my cake, biscuit and sweet consumption - even though I missed being in the office for my birthday I would have usually brought cakes in at the first opportunity, but instead of spending the money on cakes I decided to sponsor Joe Worgan and Sarah Needs for their respective charities instead - I am sure people will understand. From being over 100KG to around 87KG I don't want to go back in the wrong direction! At all ages we continue to learn and I certainly learnt a lot about myself during my 5 days in Majorca: I learnt I can push myself harder than I realise; I now know that my physical fitness definitely improves my mental well-being; and I certainly know that for everything you need to prepare, but the more you prepare the easier the task ahead; I might even book another cycling holiday so we have something to look forward to later in the year, but I will be applying the Jill Morgan 'climbing Kilimanjaro' school of preparation so next time my wife and I are at more similar fitness levels.
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By Emily Townsend
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A month doing the funky chicken down under Last month I was lucky enough to go travelling around New Zealand for a whole month. I travelled on the Kiwi Experience ‘Funky chicken’ pass, which allowed me to meet lots of other solo travellers. It was the most adventurous, beautiful and inspiring month of my life and it has definitely given me a new outlook on life. Christchurch This city is still devastated by the 2011 earthquake and it made me quickly realise I definitely wasn’t in Wales any more. Everywhere I looked there were buildings half fallen down and the road ripped up. It made me appreciate community development and regeneration on a huge scale. I loved the pop up stalls and malls that covered the city!
Hamilton I spent Easter weekend with my cousin. He took me exploring to some beautiful places including Bridal Veil Falls and Raglan Beach (I wish our Raglan had a beach)! He is a marine biologist and his wife is a Geology lecturer so they were explaining lots to me about the crazy climate and animals you find in New Zealand.
Auckland Auckland was gorgeous! I explored around the harbour and enjoyed the hustle of the busiest city in New Zealand. 1 million out of the country’s 4 million people live here. I found a community fridge which I got super excited about!
Hot Water Beach This beach has a hot river running under it so if you dig into the sand, you can build yourself a hot pool! This was more difficult that it sounds and there was a knack to getting a good spot. Too close to the front and you get destroyed by the waves (Cyclone Cook was still raging), too close to the back and you get a burnt bum!! After a good hour of trying we ended up just jumping in with some strangers - that’s one way to make friends.
Waitomo The highlight of Waitomo was black water rafting through the Glow Worm Caves. I was suited up in a soggy wetsuit and given a rubber ring and expected to jump backwater of waterfalls in a cave in the dark!! Given how clumsy I am this was a bit of a worry, but the magical moment when you get to lie back and look at all the glowing worms was definitely worth it. Luckily no photos were taken of me in a wet suit.
Rotorua On the way to Rotorua I stopped off at Hobbiton and had a pint in the Green Dragon and got to explore through lots of hobbit holes! I then did an overnight cultural stay in a Maori Village which included sleeping in a traditional house, learning Maori games, learning a Maori song, watching a show, eating Hangi the traditional meal which is basically a roast dinner which was cooked underground (YUM) and getting drunk in a hot tub and star watching! 11
Taupo
Wellington
In Taupo I did a sky dive from 15000ft!! This was absolutely incredible and I would recommend that everyone do a sky dive! I wasn’t scared or nervous until the plane door opened and then before you know it you’re hurtling towards the ground at some crazy speed. It wasn’t a super clear day but this meant that I got to go through a cloud which was so weird!! Once the parachute was pulled up I got to enjoy the glorious views of the lake and the instructor even let me steer!
The Capital City!! I spent the day exploring the museum, shopping, eating and then in the evening drinking! This was the day before Anzac Day (Remembrance Day) which is classed as a bank holiday so all the pubs closed at midnight!!!
The next day I was up at 4:30am to tackle the Tongariro Crossing! This was a hike that was so much more difficult than I expected! It took us 9 hours but we got to see Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings and the famous emerald lakes which were so so stunning!
Westport
Kaiteriteri On the edge of the National Park, this was an absolutely stunning beach. The activity here was to sea kayak around Split Apple Rock. A beautiful beach where we built a bonfire, drank wine, watched the stars and got bitten to death by sand-flies.
Lake Mahinapua Another lodge in the middle of nowhere, by a lake. I carved my own Greenstone Necklace. We had a themed fancy dress party and I dressed up as a minion and drank too much tequila. As a result I missed the free breakfast of maple syrup and pancakes – biggest holiday regret.
Franz Josef The highlight of this was the Heli-hike - a helicopter ride up Franz Josef Glacier and then a 3 hour hike. I LOVED the helicopters and this could possibly be my favourite part of the trip. We climbed through ice holes and through craters! On returning we relaxed in the hot thermal spa! 12
Lake Tekapo Possibly another favourite. This place was stunning and I relaxed on the pebble beach by the lake, looking at the snowy mountains before relaxing in the hot thermal spas watching the sunset. Once it was properly dark I headed up Mt Cook to the International observatory and was guided through the stunning stars in the dark light reserve. And then back to Christchurch to sleep in a proper bed for the first time in a month and to prepare for the 38 hour round trip back home. My trip away was a whirlwind of adventure and new experiences. I met so many wonderful people from all walks of life and got to see a landscape that is so different and exciting. I may have caught the travelling bug, and am now back to reality to save and plan for the next big adventure...
Wanaka Wanaka is a gorgeous lake town and I visited the famous ‘Lonely Tree of Wanaka’ and took my favourite picture of all time!
Queenstown Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown certainly didn’t disappoint. On the first day I did the Kawarau Bridge bungee jump! 43m isn’t that high but when you have to jump head first it is definitely high enough! This was much scarier than the sky dive and took a lot of courage to jump! Day 2’s adventure was the Nevis Canyon Swing from 160m high, 60m freefall and a 300m arc at 120kph. This was the scariest of them all and I have never shook so much!! I couldn’t stand up after and even thinking about it turns my stomach!! Day 3 was a day trip to Milford Sounds, supposedly the most beautiful part of NZ. The boat trip showed hundreds of temporary waterfalls …. This was discovered by a Welsh Explorer, hence the name Milford. Day 4 was exploring the town and going up in the gondolas to Queenstown Hill to see the stunning views. 13
Staff Summer Activity Ideas Here are some suggestions from staff for places to visit during the long, hot summer that is just around the corner... Honest!
Kayaking
Emma Assender
Raglan Music Festival Monmouth Festival Maria Williams
9-11th June. Chilled out atmosphere and this year the headline act is ABBA Bjorn Rocks, tickets are ÂŁ10, the first drink is free and proceeds go towards the school PTFA. Other events are free. www.facebook.com/ RaglanFestival I tried kayaking for the first time last autumn. Leaving from the boat club in Monmouth we headed downstream to Whitebrook stopping off at The Boat Inn on the way. It was a fun afternoon of easy paddling downstream and through a couple of areas of 'white water' just enough to get splashed if you were in the wrong place! It's great for all ages and the scenery is gorgeous. There's nothing quite like floating along - and that's nothing to do with the cowslip wine that I 'might' have partaken at the pub! www.monmouthcanoe.co.uk 14
Monmouthshire Show Claudia Blair
The Monmouthshire Show in Monmouth will be on Saturday 1st July. There is lots to see and do with British livestock and horses as well as main ring entertainment, food, farming and a wide range of rural interests. You can take your chance in the many competitions in craft, baking and horticulture. There are many stalls and fairground attractions too and this year, Monmouthshire Show will host the 2017 Welsh Tug of War Championships! www.monmouthshow.co.uk
Claudia Blair
Monmouth Festival is a nine day free festival between 28th July and 5th August. It is in it's 35th year and includes a family fun day on the 30th, busking festival and growing fringe. The line up will include a mix of iconic legends, local artists and up and coming young talent, dance, classical, country, folk, pop, rock and roll, ska, world music and more. Venues are open air in the car park, pubs and churches in the town. www.monmouthfestival.co.uk
Camp Bestival Scott Thomas
Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle in Dorset for me. A four day family friendly festival with good food and good music. Dad gets to watch Madness and have a few cheeky ciders and the Kids get to see Dick and Dom! www.campbestival.net
St.Fagans
Graham Harvey
Festival Park Louise Davies
Mountain View Ranch Joanne Hamer-Gillespie
A brilliant venue nestled on Caerphilly Mountain. 100 acres of wild, outdoor, free range fun for the whole family. I have a 9 year old son and a 4 year old daughter so keeping them both entertained can be challenging but Caerphilly Mountain Ranch has it all. You are greeted by a large sand filled playground, surrounded by picnic tables and deckchairs for parents to relax whilst the children play. We usually pack a picnic however there are plenty of food and drink options around. My daughter Holly, aged 8, was bored so I thought I’d take her to the park. I decided to go to the festival park in Ebbw Vale as it’s a nice big park, and I could have a quick look around the shops!
If the sun is shining and you're looking for a place to spend the day, why not try St. Fagans (just off junction 33 of the M4). Here you can step back in time and explore houses, shops and buildings from Wales' past. Various animals can be found in the fields including pigs, sheep, cows and chickens. There are cafés, food stalls and picnic tables dotted around so you won't go hungry. The vast gardens of St. Fagans Castle offer plenty of space for children to run about and are ideal for picnics. Entry is free but you have to pay £5 for the car park... which I think is a bargain! https://museum.wales/stfagans
After sipping coffee sat in the sun, admiring the views, my bum was going numb so I thought we’d head down and watch some super tubing. I should have known that I’d have "mam, please can I have a go"! For those who haven’t heard of super tubing, its long slides which you go down in an inflatable ring. It is known as the UK’s longest super tubing! It’s £6 for 5 slides but I’ve often seen deals on Groupon or you can use Tesco club card points. She absolutely loved it and had I not been wearing white jeans, I’d have been on there myself. There is also an owl sanctuary there, it was closed at the time but they have over 50 birds of prey, including Owls, Hawks, Falcons and Buzzards, and I’m sure this is free. www.festivalshopping.co.uk
The walking trails are easy to find and buggy friendly. There are a number of different themed trails to see so you should be able to find something to suit your child’s needs. We went on the Gruffalo trail trying to spot the mouse, fox, snake, owl and finally the Gruffalo all of which were made from weaved willow. My daughter then wanted to explore fairy woods. There was no mistaking it when we arrived greeted by bunting and little wooden doors on the trees. We admired the gardens and explored the tree house. There are rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, horses and miniature ponies for the children to pet / feed. There are also some other activities such as high ropes, zip wires that you have to pay an additional fee for. The entrance fee was reasonable at £23 for a family of 4 in peak times (weekends, bank holidays and school holidays) and we could easily have spent all day there without needing to pay for any additional activities. www.mountainviewranch.co.uk 15
Why not say hello to all the new starters on
Andrew Jones Benefits & Money Advisor I work in the Money Wise Team as a Welfare Benefit Advisor. Prior to starting with MHA I was working in a similar role in the not-for-profit sector in Cardiff but I have also worked in local government for Caerphilly County Borough Council as a legal executive doing civil litigation work, including housing, and also for Shelter Cymru initially as a housing advisor and later as a support worker. I like to watch Newport County AFC, including this season as they defied the odds and avoided relegation from the Football League. Watching Newport County can be quite stressful, so I also like to go running as an antidote.
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why? I’d like it to be with a pizza delivery person, so at least we wouldn’t starve. If there was also a cider sales representative stuck in the lift then that would be an added bonus!
Caroline Ellis Admin Assistant – Homesearch I have worked in Administration for over 20 years. I am married with 2 children, an 11 year old boy and 16 year old girl. I am enjoying my new role in MHA and enjoying meeting new people who are all extremely friendly.
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why? I would like to be stuck in a lift with Keith Duffy, just for the accent and the banter.
Kelly-Anne Jones Building Services Administrator I’m 29, originally from Cwmbran now living in Abersychan. Worked in the renewable industry for 8 years before joining MHA. Studied music in university as singing, writing and playing music was my passion until I had my little boy Noah now he has most of my time! I do love to exercise when I can, eat well and enjoy life! Looking to take on a new project by building a small two bed bungalow on my parents land for me and my little man, so exciting and stressful times ahead!
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why? If I was to be stuck in a lift it would have to be a tall, dark and handsome Lift Engineer! 16
Andrew Johnson Admin Assistant – Inclusion (Active Inclusion Scheme) Having enjoyed a successful business career working in South East Wales, I have spent the last two years volunteering in my local community helping to improve the availability of, and access to, resources. Currently I volunteer with Bridges Centre in Monmouth and am about to start with Monmouth CAB. I am really looking forward to working on Fuel Poverty as part of the Inclusion Team. To really benefit our tenants it’s important that there’s joined up thinking across MHA so if you have an interest in it and/or think you could help in anyway please don’t hesitate to drop me a line. Outside of work I enjoy running, particularly in the Black Mountains, and belong to Lliswerry Runners in Newport.
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why? My choice would be Paul Sinton-Hewitt, the founder of parkrun. In less than 10 years parkrun has developed into a worldwide, inclusive, free running event enjoyed by millions. I’d love to know about his personal journey over this time. P.S. did I mention I’m a big fan of parkrun!
Julie Price Receptionist (Active Inclusion Scheme) I’m a single mum to a four year old boy who is soon to turn 5. We moved in January to our new house in Rogiet. Started working on the placement with MHA on the 24th April 2017, as a receptionist.
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why? John Whitaker as he has been a hero of mine for a while.
Leroy Mills Labouring Assistant (Active Inclusion Scheme) Please see page 21 for more about Leroy.
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Continued
Tracy Bartlett Admin Assistant (Active Inclusion Scheme) My name is Tracy Bartlett. I volunteered with MHA on reception for a year. I’ve now joined the Engagement team which I find really rewarding as there is always something new I’m learning each day. My hobbies are party decorating, socialising and spending time with my family.
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why? If I had a choice I wouldn’t get into a lift as I don’t like them, but it would have to be Helena Smith as I would go into a panic and she is a really good calming influence and very helpful in different situations.
Susan Fletcher Admin Assistant – Neighbourhoods (Active Inclusion Scheme) I’m admin support for the Neighbourhood & Income Team. I previously worked for Newport Council (when it was County Borough rather than City) in the Planning and Building Regulations department as a Clerk/Typist. I’m a single mum of 4 and live in Caldicot though was born and bred in Newport. I’ve got 2 cats and have been a vegetarian for 26 years. In what little spare time I’ve got I like reading and art and crafts, whether that’s card or jewellery making or designing things on the computer.
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with and why? I’d like to be stuck in a lift with all 5 members of Take That so I can convince them to get back together as I’m a massive Take That fan.
Tina Hughes Labouring Assistant (Active Inclusion Scheme) Please see page 21 for more about Tina.
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We wish them the best for the future
Lewis Hatherall Civica Assistant
Gemma Gajic Pathway to Careers Project Officer
Dominic Pembridge Dads Can Project Co-ordinator
Jemma Browning Housing Trainee
Rachal Collins Admin Officer
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Active Inclusion
Team Spotlight By Cath Murray (Photos by Emma Assender & Ben Hennessy)
The Work & Skills Wise Service were fortunate enough to be awarded ESF Active Inclusion Strand 2 funding to provide 12 paid supported work placements to support people in Monmouthshire who were seeking work. As part of the Work & Skills Wise Services, we developed the Monmouthshire Employment Pathway. As part of this project we provided all candidates with the Work & Skills Wise, Level 1 Award in Work Related Education through the Job Seeking Skills Programme as well as relevant training such as IOSH, CSCS etc. These 12 candidates have been placed both within MHA itself and with partner organisations. This has involved cross departmental & private sector organisational working. We would like to thank all departments for their involvement and support. The internal delivery team consists of: Farida Aslam, Cath Murray, Helena Smith, Adele Aubrey, Carol Thompson and Gayle Sheppard.
Candidates placed within MHA:
Andrew Johnson, Inclusion Team, Inclusion Support Officer. “I’m extremely lucky to have gained a place on the AIF project here at MHA: the ethos of support and activities here are built into the genetics of the organisation. It’s an incredible experience.”
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Tracey Bartlett, Engagement Team, Administration Assistant
Sue Fletcher, Neighbourhood Team, Administration Assistant: “Everyone here at MHA is so friendly and helpful and it’s really helped me get back into work.”
Julie Price, Facilities, Receptionist. “The Active Inclusion project has given me a stepping stone back into work after taking time off to have my son.”
Tina Hughes, Building Services, Labourer: “I heard about the AIF from Cath who texted me. I’ve loved this sort of work ever since I was little when I used to ‘help’ my dad! I’m hoping to get onto some more courses at Nash College later on this year.” Leroy Wier, Building Services, Labourer (Oakley Way refurb): “My cousin told me about the opportunities and I got in touch. I’d like to get a job in construction and this is a good start.”
Candidates placed with external organisations: Tony Messenger Cosgrove, Labourer
Angela Watkins Sales Academy, Administration Assistant Vicki Smith Pink Angels,
Administration Assistant John Jenkins SERS Ltd, Labourer Amy Proctor Nicholls Coffee Shop, Barista
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A Gardener’s Year - Late Spring By Ray Mercer
By now most of our daffodils and tulips have given up the ghost and gone over, unfortunately they are all starting to look untidy, but to get the best for next year leave all the foliage alone as we discussed previously. By and large tulips don’t do very well in subsequent years and if left in the ground tend to deteriorate year on year. Seasoned gardeners will replant new bulbs every year for the best results however not everyone can afford to do that so treat the tulips the same as daffs and let them die away naturally, do not be tempted to tie up the foliage as this restricts the flow of nutrients back to the bulb.
Our Camassias have flowered as well, however these stems can be cut down to ground level to make room for summer bedding. Camellias have also been and gone and are probably showing signs of slight distress with some leaf drop and yellowing. This is quite natural, it’s just a matter of providing some good feed to put back energy that the plant has used in flowering. We normally apply a good dose of Sulphate of Iron or liquid seaweed. Use sparingly as too much will overpower the plant, just water every month until the autumn and remember to water 22
well as new buds form. Camellias can be pruned if needs be, they are ok for a heavy prune if required but they will not flower the following year if all the growing tips are pruned out.
Plant of the month has to be the Iris, now in full flower and luckily for us a good range of colours, once the flowers have died off just cut back the old stem to the lowest leaf and make sure the top of the tuber is exposed and leave it to bake in the summer sunshine (hopefully!). By doing so you will ensure good flowering next year. Our Peonies, Scilla and Aquilegias are also in flower with a profusion of reds, oranges, blues, yellows and pinks which should all last until June. By now most of our perennial plants are putting on good growth and it’s not yet too late to sub-divide plants like Hostas, Sedums or Astillbes - but don’t leave it much longer. Roses and Clematis are slowly coming into bloom, remember to keep tying in new shoots in case any inclement weather snaps them off.
Now is a good time to start planting up any hanging baskets that you intend to put out, however it is a good idea to keep these in a sheltered spot or greenhouse until the end of the month, remember the old saying – “Ne’er cast a clout until May is out” which basically means keep your coat handy in case of changeable weather. If you are potting on any seedlings remember to lift them out of their old pots by the leaves not the stem because you can snap the stem if you do, the leaves are quite strong enough to be lifted. A word of warning at this time of year keep a lookout for this particularly nasty bug on the prowl looking for your pots and new plants. It’s an evil weevil and will burrow down into a pot and lay its eggs against the roots, the grubs hatch out and spend the next couple of months munching on the root ball and then you wonder why the plant you bought at Easter is not doing very well. This bug doesn’t fly so it’s easy to catch if you see it, don’t mess around just put your foot on it and listen to the very satisfying crunch as you crush the carapace. Oh Yes! If you have a lawn you should by now be mowing fairly regularly but not on the lowest setting, keep the height of the blades a little off the summer setting so as not to cut too low just yet. This will encourage the grass to grow without taking a beating after the winter. The blades can be lowered at the end of the month until it’s time to lift again towards the end of autumn.
If you have any moss or pernicious weeds then we would suggest applying lawn sand, obtainable from all good garden centres, which will kill off the moss etc. Also known as Velvegas G. After a couple of days the lawn should turn black so now it’s time to scarify with either a heavy lawn rake or use a mechanical version for larger areas. Doing this will remove all the dead moss and old grass that’s lying on the lawn and open up all the blades of grass. Unfortunately the lawn will look a bit of a mess but within a couple of weeks it will be back to its best. It’s also a good idea to fork all over the lawn about a metre apart and then brush in sharp sand to improve the drainage. If done yearly then it should prohibit the moss from coming back or at least severely restrict it. Finish with a good feed. Late summer flowering plants such as Dahlias, Canna and Fuschias can now be moved out of their winter shelters and into cold frames if you have them or a good sunny spot away from any possible cold winds before planting into their summer positions later on. Now is a good time to take cuttings of Dahlia and Fuschia just use a very sharp knife and cut away a good strong stem away from either the Dahlia tuber or the body of the Fuschia. Trim off all leaves apart from the top ones and pot up making sure you put the cutting against the side of the pot not in the middle, this helps to support the cutting until it has rooted in. 23
NO S NO
Sell Your H
*Terms and conditions apply
0333 207 9000 • w @CapselLtd 24
www.fa
SALE FEE
Home for £1,250
*
www.capsel.co.uk cebook.com/CapselWales 25
H&C’s Future Leaders
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” - Ghandi
H
ousing and Communities is an exciting place to be right now! 12 months into our restructure and our teams have embraced their new roles and the challenges they bring, have endeavoured to improve the services they deliver and have improved our performance across a number of business areas. But it’s much more than that. I look around H&C and see a real ambition, drive and passion amongst staff to meet the external challenges in the next few years head on. We have a Directorate of adaptable folk who are willing to push themselves outside their comfort zones, to ensure we continue to put our tenants first in everything we do, whilst ensuring our business remains sustainable by bringing in the rent. There is a real optimism that you won’t find if you read the housing press. Yes, Universal Credit will be difficult – but how can we gear up for it now? And this is a sentiment across our teams. We’re well aware that we have tonnes of talent (as do the other Directorates), and we wanted to provide an opportunity to staff who wanted to develop their leadership skills and talent further as part of an informal programme. As a result we created the Future Leader Programme which is being piloted in H&C this year. This programme will help staff to create an external network, benefit from mentoring and fine-tune their leadership skills through leading on a cross-departmental project. The programme was over-subscribed and the calibre of all of the applications was absolutely excellent. The successful members of staff who will be the programme’s trailblazers are:
Emma Gallo, Chanelle Baker & Claire Osman Massive congratulations to all of you and we look forward to seeing what you achieve in the next 12 months!
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Coffee & Computers Coffee & Computers Group in Raglan have been shortlisted for the Digital Engagement Award at the 2017 TPAS Cymru Participation Awards due to be held at the Park Inn Hotel, Cardiff on the evening of Tuesday 4th July. This is great news for the group and testament to their hard work and that of MHA’s in helping to making the group pro-active and sustainable.
24 Housing: NHF Young Leader Award
Well done Cath Murray and Emma Gallo! This month you may have seen some excitable emails flying around about the fabulous success of Cath Murray and Emma Gallo in making it to the final top 20 in the hunt to find the next UK-wide Young Leader. The Young Leader award is a well-established (and tough) competition, which aims to identify the sectors future leaders, and those individuals who have the potential to go on and reach senior levels within the sector, whilst having the ideas and passion to change the sector for the better. Cath and Emma were put forward as nominations following an internal competition which saw them produce essays on “where they saw social housing in the next 10 years”. The nominations were co-created with their managers and here are a few snippets of what they had to say: “Emma is a role model for her peers, she’s a conscientious hard-working individual with a great personality and can-do attitude. Most importantly she is a fantastic advocate for tenants and their right to have brilliant homes and services”. “Cath is a person of huge integrity and personal warmth and her manner and professionalism allows her to be able to bring people along with her, due to her infectious positivity and can-do mind-set. Her actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more”. The voting for the top 20 closed on the 19th May and we’re waiting to see whether Cath and Emma make it into the next round. We’ve got everything crossed for you both!
news What's New?
You raised £17 for Silver Line during the In House drop-in sessions
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Top 5 Things You're Searching For: Cycle to Work Scheme = 36 Allocations = 20 Bupa = 20 Risk Assessment = 14 Equality = 13 27
MHA Headquarters to Folly Tower By Jill Morgan
Service Charge/Depooling Project By Lauren Lewis
Having worked in the Neighbourhood Team I decided to take on a new challenge and was successful in being seconded to a new post for 18th months as the Service Charge/Depooling Project Manager. Most of you are probably wondering what depooling means? I certainly was when the post was advertised. Depooling is something lots of Housing Associations are currently doing and is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government. The idea is to ensure tenants and residents can clearly identify all their charges that are currently hidden within their rent. This will allow us to be transparent, monitor value for money and ensure residents are aware of the services they currently receive. Initially tenants will not see their rent increase as a result of depooling but going forward service charges will be based on the actual cost of providing the service so may go up or down. My role over the next few months will be to find and map all potential service charges and their costs. This mammoth task will require block checks, checking block numbering and climbing into spaces to locate landlord’s meters! If you can picture a jigsaw puzzle, my challenge is to find the missing pieces and I will need your help to do this. Once the mapping is complete, over the next few months I will be discussing and consulting with all the tenants and leaseholders. I’ll also be keeping you all informed of how things are going so please keep a look out for my video blogs and updates. Should you be curious enough to venture down to the Facilities pod, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Wish me luck!
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Fancy a nice walk with a bit of a work out? Why not try this walk one evening or on a weekend? • Leave MHA HQ and turn right at the junction. • Follow the road up to the Star Inn pub then take a left just after the pub. • Follow the road for approximately 1.5 miles until you are on a steep hill. • When you reach this point of the walk and you can see the yellow salt box in the distance, you need to take a right and start your climb on the original Roman Road, which will take you right to the top of the hill. • You will come to a gate which marks the end of the cobbled path, follow the road till you get to a kissing gate on your left hand side and you can’t miss the Folly. • There are 2 options at this point, you can either ensure you have a lift from the Folly Tower by going through Trevethin or you can take a different walk back down. • If you are at the Folly Tower and facing New Inn then head straight down the hill, over a few stiles until you get to a cross roads. • When you reach this you need to take a left through the gate on to a stony road. This road brings you out on the road that you started on (where the Star Inn is at the bottom).
The walk is approximately 4.5 miles
Enjoy!
LONDON M A R A T H O N We all set ourselves challenges: My Marathon I thought I couldn’t complete a marathon. I was wrong: with determination, support from family and friends and a little bit of crazy, anything is possible! I started training in January. My plan involved three sessions a week, split into speed, strength and endurance sessions. I was plagued by injury. There were times when I thought ‘I can’t do this’, when my foot felt like a big blister and I had 6 miles left on the plan. It was tough, but I stuck to the plan and did it: the support, doing it for a great charity and my children being proud of me was what kept me going. Race day was full of new experiences: There was an air of nervousness and excitement from hoards of runners all heading to Greenwich Green. There were stalls set up offering refreshments and even plasters as we all walked from the tube to the park. The nerves were building in the starting pen and it took twenty minutes to get to the start line. The first 13.1 miles went well: I was on target, it was hot, and there were lots of sweets and high fives. I got blessed by a pope, raced a rhino and rocked out to a random blast of Queen on route. Unfortunately, at mile 14 I came down with a bump, I felt sick after drinking too much water and sports drink. It was five gruelling miles, including a
By Donna Mason
half an hour toilet break, before I got to see my friends at mile 19. I felt done. I was really struggling to run as it was making me physically ill. After a lengthy stop at the St Johns Ambulance tent, I finally accepted that the aim was to simply cross the finish line and enjoy the experience. So, I soaked up the atmosphere, encouraged and chatted to other runners and engaged with supporters. I think I probably hold the record for most high fives given, at points I touched every hand as I went past, it really made me speed up on the last 3 miles. I couldn’t stand to go past children with sad faces as people were running past without giving a high five. I pressed every ‘power boost’ sign on the course and sprinted as soon as I hit it and I played in every shower. Mile 21 to 26.2 were a blast! So when people ask what time I completed the marathon in and I start to feel disappointed, I remind myself it was about the experiences. If I’d achieved that 4 hours I wouldn’t have had half as much fun. Returning to London to do the Westminster Mile for the weekend with my little girls was amazing. They were awesome and despite one of them having a stitch they stayed determined. We ran, we skipped and played games with supporters. That one mile with the girls was the perfect end to the marathon experience.
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GEMS Staff Suggestion Scheme
Suggestion Status If you have a suggestion and would like to be in with a chance of winning £50, please complete a GEMS form via In House.
To promote carpool and the benefits of it internally as well as a social media campaign for residents about where MHA will be doing work (an example could be Oakley Way) we could run sequences of Carpool Karaoke. Accepted by GEM panel but declined by service area manager In order to recognise and celebrate when staff meet the values of the organisation, we could implement awards based on our values. Individual departments or line managers would have to nominate members of staff who have shown behaviours that are aligned with our values. These could be celebrated quarterly with an annual awards ceremony (or differing time period if thought appropriate). There would be four awards one for each of our values. Accepted - Awaiting action Income Team to make links with a supermarket or clothing store to offer a school uniform discount/ offer as a rent incentive for making rent payments during the summer holidays. Accepted
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Establish a ‘Reading Friends’ Project tackling loneliness and isolation within our communities, this could include those suffering with dementia. This concept has proven very successful elsewhere in the country and basically involves a volunteer visit someone in need and reading to them. We have all the facilities available to us including: ability to identify those potentially benefiting from such a project, marketing facility seeking out potential volunteers (of all ages – encouraging intergenerational contact), policy and procedures linked with volunteers, access to volunteer training opportunities etc. I have further ideas how this could be approached and where this could be developed over time (i.e. Reading Groups supporting the volunteers allowing them to share ideas, eyes and ears on the ground identifying those slipping through the system etc.) Accepted Install digital display boards to show info on current campaigns or upcoming events (replacing the untidy paper posters that are currently put up (toilets, stairs etc). Accepted
3,269 Followers
Following 610
3,965 Tweets
1,840 Likes
May Top Tweet From: @mon_housing Check out our site dedicated to the brand new, affordable homes we have for sale and rent at King’s Wood Gate in #Monmouth (Earned 1,156 impressions)
May Top Media Tweet May Top Mention
From: @mon_housing
From: @gpabergavenny
We are transforming the Oakley Way area of Caldicot & the work we’re doing in the area is already making a massive difference. #LoveCaldicot (22 likes, 11 retweets)
Successful walkabout with @MonHousing in Crosesonen today #gpyourvoice #asbproblemsolving
April Top Tweet From: @mon_housing
Tweet From: @Julie Nicholas What a difference 3 months make! 1st visit @MonHousing regeneration project in Caldicot today 1 before and 3 after photos. Wow! #ukhousing
The Mayor of Caldicot cuts the ribbon at Old School Close today. Resident says moving here was like winning the lottery #LoveCaldicot (1 reply, 19 retweets, 26 likes)
On Twitter? Follow us @mon_housing 31
Oakley Way Update By Emma Assender (Photos by Ben Hennessy)
It’s looking pretty spectacular at Oakley Way with Blocks 1 – 5 nearing completion with only balconies and privacy screens to be installed now the external wall insulation and rendering has been finished. The buildings look completely different with the new brick effect and gleaming white walls. Work has started on the internals and for those of you who didn’t get to see the show flat, the transformation is unbelievable. Take a look at the pictures to see the type of finish tenants can expect. The show flat is now home to a relocated resident who has been in for a month now and has settled in and is thrilled with his new abode!
Here’s some of the feedback that we received from the open day:
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g
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R e e h n t t h B c t u a
Rent is everyone’s responsibility: if you become aware of a tenant’s change in: Household circumstances Employment Behaviour Support needs Report the change to the Income team – we can help! 33
Meet the Board Candida Every year MHA runs a tenant election process seeking new members to join our Board. This year we have three new candidates who haven’t been involved with MHA before but are good potential candidates to join our Board. We changed our process slightly this year and all interested tenants had to go through an interview and training process prior to running for election in the summer. The election process will be held in August and ALL tenants will be invited to vote for their new Board Member via a ballot process.
We thought we’d share with you a little about them: 34
Zena Beirne “I currently work in community development based in the Moorland and Broadmead Centre. I’ve worked with Newport City Council for 35 years and know that openness and transparency are critical to building trust with communities and residents. Openness in decision-making is an important part of enabling people to feel part of something significant and giving them a say in their futures.”
Peter Daniel “Having begun my working life as an apprentice electrician and then serving seven years in the RAF as an Air Electronics Operative, I’ve always had a hankering to work in the welfare system. As an early beneficiary of foster care and being adopted by the family that fostered me, I’ve wanted to give something back. I retrained after leaving the RAF and joined the Probation Service, where for the last five years before retiring, I worked in the prisons supporting people to train and develop skills as well as helping them back into their communities. For those of you living in Goytre I will be a familiar face as Secretary of the Community Social Club and resident for 27 years: it’s a community I love and I hope to be able to further support the link between MHA and not only its tenants but in the wider community as well.”
ates for 2017 Fancy a Gary Witcombe “I served with the army for seven years, and was Branch Secretary of the Transport & General Workers Union upon leaving. I was also Shop Steward of NUPE and have been a Board Member at MHA for the past three years.
Norma Ross-Jones “I’ve been a part of my community for some years working as a publican, but also spent time working at Sodexo UK in Norwich for 14 years before returning to Monmouthshire. I’ve also lived in Cyprus but the pull of home and family is very strong. I’m a mother of three daughters, grandmother to 9 grandchildren and great-grandmother to 3 greatgrandchildren. My family is really important to me; in fact I’d say that they’re my main hobby! In my own small way I would like to be able to give back “something” to MHA. I enjoy working as part of a team and I am self-motivated and strive for improvement in everything I do. I enjoy interaction and challenges and I class my honesty and reliability as a major part of my nature.”
game of football after work? Every Monday 17:00-18:00 at Cwmbran Stadium.
If you’re interested in joining up with colleagues for a friendly game of 5-a-side, drop Michael Harper or Dewi Parry an email. You don’t need to be Messi or Ronaldo, all welcome!
Just £4 to play!
We would like you to help us in the coming months, by encouraging tenants to vote. We will keep you updated when the ballot papers are hitting tenant’s doorsteps. 35
T IMPO HE MOST YOU' RTANT V LL CA OTE MON ST THIS TH!
Send us a pic of your pet! The pets will be published in the next edition and you could win a £10 High Street Voucher. Email Louise Davies with a pic of your pet and tell us a little bit about them.
Visit the ‘Staff Room’ area on
to vote for the cutest pet.
Vote Sky Jill Morgan
Vote Sasha Cath Murray
Vote Tuppence Tony Bowen
Vote Ella Tania O'Neil
Sky is 6 months old and just loves a cwtch! In this picture she is cwtching her big brother's (who is 8 years old) teddy bear.
This is my Staffy Sasha, she is such a softie and as a rescue she has been with us for about 6 years now.
Tuppence was left to look after herself when her owner died and was walking the streets looking for food and somewhere to sleep. This happened around 9 years ago when she turned up on our doorstep one cold evening. I took her in for what was going to be one night only but was completely smitten by her affection and the rest is history.
Ella had a rough start in life, her owner dropped her off at a sanctuary at 2 years old when she fell more in love with a stray! After spending 81/2 months in a pen we adopted her and took her home. Ella, formally named Bella, likes mousing, rolling in the dirt (not the best option with her white fur) and sleeping on her back with her legs in the air!
She loves to catch and chase a ball but wont always give it back! She likes to be a little naughty most of the time and torments her big brother every day.
Forget doggie toys and treats, she loves nothing more than a stick to demolish and carry about. We often get rather funny looks when she is dragging around tree trunks along narrow paths back to the house.
Vote Mack Scott Thomas
This is Mack, the Thomas family's 61/2 year old Jack Russell. He is totally blind but it was easy to get him to look at the camera for the picture... I just called his name!
Congratulations to Ralf (and his owner Terry MacColl) on winning April’s Pet Corner competition! 36
CuIsine Corner
Welcome to Cuisine Corner! We all love food and it’s always good to get some inspiration from others about what to cook and where to go. Each edition, we want some tantalisingly tasty, tried and tested recipes and reviews to feature in Cuisine Corner.
Restaurant Review The Stonemill, Rockfield - By Alisa Price
A beautifully converted barn in a 16th-century mill complex with self-catering cottages provides an impressive setting for accomplished cooking. Inside it's a riot of oak beams and vaulted ceilings, with chunky rustic tables around an ancient stone cider press. The kitchen uses fresh regional produce to deliver accurately cooked and simply presented modern dishes. This is by far one of our favourite restaurants which is situated in idyllic surroundings in the heart of the Monmouthshire countryside. We regularly visit the restaurant, we even held our wedding
reception at the Stonemill. The staff are very contentious and nothing is ever too much trouble. The Stonemill has been trading for 15 years. During this time they have been overwhelmed with the success of the restaurant and the positive feedback from the customers. They have also gained entry into all the major eating out guides, including Michelin, Les Routiers, The Good Food Guide, Hardens and Time Out. In November 2006 they were awarded two AA rosettes.
RECIPE Cauliflower & Chickpea Salad
by Nigella (Sent in by Emma Parry) Ingredients • 1 small head cauliflower • 3 tablespoons regular olive oil • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds • 250g home cooked chickpeas (or drained weight from 400g can) • 2 tablespoons harissa paste (according to taste and the heat of the harissa) • 4 smallish ripe vine tomatoes (approx. 150g/6oz total) • 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes (or to taste) • 4 tablespoons pomegranate seeds • Large bunch fresh flat leaf parsley (approx.100g/2 1/2 cups) Method 1. Preheat the oven to 220ºC /gas mark 7/425ºF. Trim the cauliflower and divide into small florets. Pour the oil into a large bowl, add the cinnamon and cumin seeds and stir or whisk to help the spices disperse. Tip in the prepared cauliflower and toss to coat. Pour the contents of the bowl into a small oven tray (I mostly use a disposable foil baking tray measuring 30 x 20cm/12 x 8 inches) and place in the oven for 15 minutes. Don’t wash out the bowl you’ve been using just yet. 2. Add the chickpeas to this bowl and add the harissa, tasting it first to see if you want both tablespoonful’s, and at the risk of being repetitive, toss to coat. Quarter the tomatoes and add them to the bowl and shake or stir to mix. When the cauliflower has had its 15 minutes, remove the tray, quickly tip the chickpeas and tomatoes over the cauliflower and toss to combine before returning to the oven for a further 15 minutes until the cauliflower is tender. 3. When it’s ready, remove from the oven and sprinkle the salt over the vegetables, then (and this isn’t the last time) toss to combine with half of the pomegranate seeds before dividing between 2 bowls. Divide the parsley leaves – without chopping them – between the 2 bowls and toss to mix. Scatter with the remaining pomegranate seeds.
If you would like to share your ideas with us, then please get in touch with the Corporate Services Team. 37
Capita Clinic - June 2017 Welcome to Capita Clinic! In this edition of Ebuzz we will be looking at how to update the income tab on Capita. If a tenant tells you about their income, this needs to be input on to Capita. Here’s how you do this...
Updating Household Income
Adding a new row in the income tab
Enter the record and access the occupants section. Then click on the name of the person whose income you would like to update. This will take you in to the persons record.
If there is no current information, insert a new row to input the new income data. Click on the insert row button which can be found on the top right hand side of the tool bar. This will bring up the income details screen where you will firstly need to enter a start date. This will be the date that you are inputting the new information.
Click on the income tab and check if there is already an entry with only a start date (no end date).
Click in the code field and input the relevant code – The most common codes used are:
Income details on record with no end date If there is a row in the income tab which hasn’t got an end date next to it, double click on the entry and this will show you the existing information about the person’s income. Check if the income type that you are looking to input is already recorded on the record. If it is already recorded all you need to do is update the amount they are receiving if you know it and add any additional income they are receiving. To add additional income streams you will need to type a code from the next step in to the code field. If the income is totally new you will need to input an end date in to the existing information and insert a new row.
Income details not on record If there is no existing information in the income tab or if there is old information which has an end date, move on to the next step.
IS - Income Support CA - Carers Allowance CH - Child Tax Credits PC - Pension Credits EM - Employment Support Allowance D1/2/3 - DLA Low/Medium/ High
UCU/U1/U2 - Universal Credit/Standard Allowance/ Housing Element JS - Jobseekers Allowance CB - Child Benefit NW - Net Weekly Income PI - PIP
Use the ? button to search all available codes. Once you have input the code, type in the amount in the amount column. If you do not know the amount you can input 0.01 to allow you to save the update.
Click on the save icon and your update will be saved. It really is that simple!
We use the income information to model the effect of welfare reform on our tenant base and MHA income and rent collection. We use it to target certain groups to offer help – e.g. advertise to people who may be eligible for certain benefits. We can use it to assess the effect of our interventions on tenants’ income. If you need any help with updating the information on Capita or would like some training, please contact Claudia Blair or Nathan Cook in the Corporate Services Team.
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s th at they can Don’t forget to tell our tenant ate with all the use this pa ge to keep up-to-d have going on latest events and activities we within their communities.
WS E N E R MO ITING N E V E VIS GET Y B S & VIEWR NEW LOOK YOU USE!
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