Tenants times autumn 2016

Honouring the Heroes

tenants’ times News for tenants of Ipswich Borough Council

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www.ipswich.gov.uk

SEE PAGE 4

Autumn 2016

Providing good quality council housing is a long term aim of Ipswich Borough Council.

With that in mind, work on a new Housing Strategy to take us through the next decade has just started.

It’s a big area to cover and the strategy will be far-reaching. The focus will be on increasing the supply of affordable housing, making the best of existing council housing and preventing homelessness. Background research is being pulled together into a first draft, which will be available for comment by Area Housing Panels and all tenants in the autumn.

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housing matters

I was disappointed to hear there are now more former council houses in Ipswich than council houses. Ipswich Borough Council now has just 7,465 council houses, down from over 15,000 at one time. There are almost 3,000 families on the housing waiting list. I’m sure you can see that the need for more affordable housing is as great as ever and a long-term strategy will be vital in achieving our aims.

Cllr Neil MacDonald Housing Portfolio holder

Pay to Stay In the July 2015 Budget, the Government announced plans to increase rents for council and housing association tenants with incomes over £31,000 a year.

Stay means if your household income is more than £31,000 a year, your rent will be increased.

This additional rental income is then passed to central government.

This is known as ‘Pay to Stay’. This could start as soon as in April 2017 for council tenants. Pay to

Pay to Stay is part of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

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Hello everyone

www.ipswich.gov.uk

I am April, your new Tenant Participation Officer.

I have been in the post for only a few months and learning something new every day.

My main aim is to get our tenants, therefore you, more involved with the Council and making vital decisions on a multiple of issues. At Area Housing Panel meetings tenants help to decide which projects should receive funding in order to benefit the environment and you. I am looking for new recruits so we can make a positive change to our communities as I believe that participation is very important and vital for areas.

I used to work for another local authority, in the Waste and Recycling department, so housing is a new area for me.

I am open to hearing from you and any ideas you might have so please get in touch - after all, you are the ones who will benefit. t: 01473 433321 e: tenant.participation@ipswich.gov.uk

So long, farewell After four years with Tenant Participation, Simon Lanning has moved to a new role within the Council. He had this to say …

I am passing the baton to April Dale and it’s encouraging to see she is already full of great ideas.

“I have had an amazing time supporting involvement with the Housing Service. Our tenant volunteers are a really wonderful group of people and it has been a privilege to work with them.

Their passion and dedication to making a difference for their neighbours is genuinely heart-warming and inspiring.

If you have an interest in your neighbourhood it’s a good time to get involved and a Get-Together is a fun taster (see below). Thanks to everyone for all their support and patience over the years.”

Check out www.facebook.com/groups/IBCtenants/ to see more.

Get involved in your community?

Have you ideas to improve your neighbourhood? Would you like to make new friends? Do you want a say in how the Council works with regards to housing?

Pop to one of our get-togethers at Arlingtons in Museum Street for a friendly, informal chat. See how you can be more involved in having your say and helping others!

Thursdays

8 September 10.30am and 29 September 6pm 13 October 10.30am and 27 October 6pm 10 November 10.30am and 24 November 6pm (venue to be confirmed)

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coffee q time HG

www.ipswich.gov.uk @IpswichGov IpswichGov

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Honouring the heroes www.ipswich.gov.uk

Mayo House resident, Harold Farrow, has received one of France’s highest honours to mark his involvement in the D-Day landings during World War Two. To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the landings, the French Government offered campaign veterans the Legion of Honour medal.

In June, Harold received his medal and letter confirming his appointment to rank of Chevalier in the Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur, an honour comparative to an MBE. Harold was in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment which helped prepare for the D-Day landings and on 6th June 1944 landed on Sword Beach near Caen.

The regiment fought with distinction through north west Europe and Harold’s tour took him all the way to Bremen by the end of the war. As the gunner on a Bren Carrier armoured vehicle he encountered many hair-raising moments. His small division was surrounded by SS troops at Sourdeval in France before tank reinforcements arrived and in the final days of the war when his division reached Bremen they fought house to house against the retreating German army.

Families had hidden with such haste that pots were still bubbling on the stove. One happy memory was cooking for the other soldiers. They sometimes used wreckage from destroyed buildings to fashion pit-stoves and cook up tinned rations. One of the worst parts was stopping the vehicle as whether it was overnight or for 10 minutes it meant digging a trench!

Harold’s sons lost his medals in the garden as children. They arranged presentation of replacement ones by the Mayor on Armed Forces Day. After returning from service in 1949 Harold moved to Ipswich where he has been ever since. He moved into Mayo Court not long after it was built and now enjoys spending time in the garden and seeing his family.

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Garden competition www.ipswich.gov.uk

WINNERS North West Own Garden: Rebecca Chennell, Browning Road North West Communal Garden: Marie Hume/Mandy Driver/Pam Edwards, Kingsley Close South West Own Garden: Mrs Kingston, Robin Drive South West Communal Garden: Margaret Quinton/Freda Grainger, Mallard Court East Own Garden: Sue, Derby Close East Communal Garden: Ivan Harris/ Brian Green/Mary Jolly Morecambe Court

Council tenants from across Ipswich were nominated for the Best Kept Garden competition featured in the last edition.

Everyone who entered has, and still are, doing a marvellous job of making their own or communal gardens look amazing. It was difficult to pick a winner and took us some time. All the gardens were beautiful, every tenant should be proud of what they have achieved - it does make such a difference.

Each housing area winner received a ÂŁ30 garden centre voucher. We hope to run the competition again next year, so keep your eyes open for details.

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Tenancy Support Scheme

www.ipswich.gov.uk

Ipswich Borough Council offers tenancy support to all existing and prospective tenants for a variety of issues.

The scheme provides short term, low level support for many reasons including: • help setting up a home/moving home • assistance with welfare benefit claims and correspondence • assistance with debt advice referrals • support to access mental health services • support to access drug or alcohol related services • accessing other agencies within the community • domestic violence related issues In addition to our existing Tenancy Support Officer, Nicola McCourt, the Council has recently recruited two new Tenancy Support Officers, Jennie Roberts and Annie Mackay.

If you feel you are in need of support with any of the above issues or you are experience difficulties that are impacting on your tenancy, you can access the scheme by contacting your Housing Officer and requesting a referral to us or for more information contact us on 01473 433370.

HOUSING FRAUD IT AFFECTS ALL OF US! Housing fraud includes: • not telling the truth when applying for a property e.g. claiming to have children when you don’t • sub-letting a property without permission Don’t let the cheats take away much needed homes you can contact Ipswich Borough Council’s Fraud Hotline on 01473 433999 or email fraud@ipswich.gov.uk You don’t have to give your name - we treat every call in the strictest confidence.

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Swimming with sharks ...

www.ipswich.gov.uk

Sid the Shark is spreading the message in Ipswich that loan sharks should always be avoided.

Sid was accompanying Big Local Trust volunteers at a Family Fun Day in Whitehouse. Residents had the opportunity to meet North West Ipswich Big Local Trust Partnership members and chat about issues affecting them. Sid the Shark received the attention of many young people and encouraged conversations with parents and guardians around loan shark lending and the alternatives to lending.

Sid has been sighted at summer family days in Ipswich parks - look out for him around town in September too. Ipswich Borough Council will be catching up with Sid as part of Money Safety Action this month, follow on www.facebook.com/IpswichGov or @IpswichGov. They may not have fins or killer jaws, but loan sharks - or illegal moneylenders - are every bit as dangerous and predatory as their name suggests.

Victims are charged astronomical rates of interest, and often face violence, blackmail or intimidation if they fall behind with payments. Great news though - a specialist Trading Standards team is helping to hunt down illegal money lenders.

What is a loan shark?

It is illegal for anyone to operate a money lending business if they do not have permission from the Financial Conduct Authority.

If you or someone you know is a victim of a loan shark operating in your area, contact Trading Standards in strictest confidence. 24 hour confidential hotline -

0300 555 2222 TEXT 07860 022 116 or email: reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk

A loan made by an illegal money lender is probably unenforceable. This means you probably won’t have to pay it back. It is the loan shark who is behaving illegally. Reporting the loan shark’s activity will not get you into trouble with the authorities. The average cost of borrowing from a loan shark is three times the price of the highest cost of legal credit. The highest interest rate the team have come across so far was 131,000% APR.

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www.ipswich.gov.uk

Universal Credit

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Universal Credit is a new single payment for people looking for work or on a low income.

Universal Credit is being introduced in stages and by 2017 will replace:

•

Child Tax Credit | Housing Benefit | Income based Job Seeker Allowance | Income Support Working Tax Credit | Employment Support Allowance.

Most people won’t be affected to start with.

Below is what you can do to prepare for these changes.

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•

•

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To receive Universal Credit payments you need a bank or building society account. If you have an account already, check it is ok for receiving automated payments.

Post Office Card accounts are not suitable for Universal Credit.

If you have a partner you will each get a single payment so think about whether you want to have it paid into a joint account.

Check your bank account lets you set up regular payments for rent and other bills. If it doesn't, you might want to switch to one that does.

Universal Credit is paid monthly, so you may have to alter the way you budget. Work out carefully how much money is coming in each month and what you spend it on, that way you can be sure you will not run out before the end of the month.

If you do not have access to the internet, ask at your Jobcentre (they will tell you where you can get online) or pop into your local library, most have computers which you can use for free.

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An email account is required to claim Universal Credit online. Setting up an email account is easy, and free. You can choose from a range of email providers and create a unique email address. Sites such as Outlook.com (run by Microsoft), Gmail (run

by Google), Yahoo! Mail and AOL Mail provide email accounts - but there many others to choose from.

If your IT skills need updating, the Jobcentre or library should be able to help you find a course.

If you qualify for help with your rent you will be paid direct, you then need to pay Ipswich Borough Council’s rent yourself. Let us know as soon as possible once you have made a Universal Credit claim. We will be able to help advise you regarding your rent and assist with information required to support your claim.

Useful contacts Universal Credit Helpline Friday 8am-6pm t: 0345 6000 723 (Ask for call-back as this helpline is not free) Citizens Advice Bureau (advice on budgeting or debt management) Friday 8am-6pm t: 0800 1387777 Money Advice Service www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk Tenancy Services (advice and help regarding your rent) t: 01473 433370

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Major improvement works www.ipswich.gov.uk

Cumberland Towers is set to have major improvement works completed over the next year.

The works have been agreed by the Council and will begin soon.

The improvement works will see new cladding being placed on the outside, new windows to insulate the building to retain heat, more efficient storage heaters and glassed balconies.

Sheltered Housing Manager Kevin Barnes has discussed the proposals with tenants to ensure they are fully aware of the timetable. It is hoped the first stage of the project will start later this year when updating of the heating will be completed.

External works will take approximately six months to complete so the aim is to start this stage next spring.

TSG - new contractors Ipswich Borough Council has recently awarded a contract for the installation of new boilers and central heating systems in its homes to TSG Building Services plc.

Ipswich Borough Council has received the message below from our new contractor as an introduction to their service.

“TSG Building Services are thrilled to be installing new boilers and central heating systems for Ipswich Borough Council’s residents.

TSG are experts in delivering this type of work, having been established since 1961, as a family-owned business, which remains true today.”

TSG’s friendly, professional administration team can be contacted on the specific telephone

number 01707 808 051, Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm. TSG’s staff will be easily identifiable at all times, and will wear company-branded uniforms displaying their logo. This will be supported with an ID badge that will be shown before they enter your home. Their details can be confirmed by phoning the TSG office on the above number.

Give and Take events

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www.ipswich.gov.uk

NEW GIVE AND TAKE EVENTS: Re-use unwanted items and help reduce waste by bringing items you no longer need or want for others to take away.

BRING YOUR UNWANTED ITEMS - TAKE SOMETHING HOME

www.ipswich.gov.uk/RecycleElectrical

Come to our GIVE & TAKE events below.

Reuse/recycle your unwanted items, or come along and take something away for free!

BICYCLES Working and non-working bicycles or bicycle parts.

26 OCTOBER 2016

TEXTILES Bring your unwanted clean clothing and textiles.

We cannot accept pillows, cushions, duvets or carpets.

at Bramford Road Methodist Church, Bramford Road, IP1 4AY

3 JANUARY 2017 at Rushmere Village Hall, Humber Doucy Lane, Ipswich, IP4 3PD ELECTRICAL ITEMS Bring along any unwanted small household items such as kettles, vacuum cleaners, TVs, hair dryers and straighteners, irons etc. All items will be PAT safety tested before being placed out for reuse.

FURNITURE Bring along any furniture in good condition and, if upholstered, with a fire label still attached.

Local charity Ipswich Furniture Project can collect larger items from your home for free, if they are in good condition.

BOOKS We will reuse all books in good reusable condition.

BOARD GAMES Any complete board games in good condition.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW The event is for materials from households, not businesses. If your items can fit in a family car, we can take them. A limited number of items can be taken away per person.

Items not reused locally will be donated to local charitable projects.

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Volunteers needed www.ipswich.gov.uk

Volunteer befrienders needed to help combat loneliness in older people. Can you spare one hour a week to visit and chat to a lonely older person?

Established charity, Suffolk Age UK needs volunteers in the Ipswich area (between 10am-4pm).

Could this be you? If so please contact Sheena Skinner on 01473 284254 for an informal chat and more information.

Ipswich Furniture Project DON’T DUMP IT, DONATE IT! Free collection of unwanted furniture and electrical items

Drug activity The Police and Ipswich Borough Council are working in partnership to address drug-related issues.

Charitable organisation Ipswich Furniture Project is offering free collection of furniture, metal and electrical appliances from your home. Items such as fridges, freezers, washing machines and cookers can be collected, even if they don’t work as they will be repaired or recycled. So please don’t dump them! All soft furniture must have a current fire warning label attached which complies with The 1988 Fire & Furnishing Regulations or conforms to British Standard 7177. Ipswich Furniture Project can be contacted by calling 01473 404004 or emailing service@ipswichfp.org

Please help us by reporting any drug-related activity (including drug-related litter such as needles and spoons). This will allow us to direct resources more effectively.

Call 999 If you require an immediate Police response (i.e. a crime is in progress or about to happen). You don’t have to provide your details if you don’t want to.

Call 101 For the Police if the matter is less serious.

Call 01473 433000 Ipswich Borough Council’s Cleaner Ipswich Hotline to report needle finds and drug litter.

Call 0800 555 111 You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously. They will not ask for any personal details.

During the autumn term the Positive Futures project is running free activities across Ipswich.

Young people aged 10-19 can simply turn up and join in; there is no charge to take part.

Football

Chantry Sports Centre

Tuesday

5-6pm

Football

Whitton Sports Centre

Wednesday

4-5pm

Boxing

YMCA

Wednesday

5-6pm

Girls Only

Chantry Sports Centre

Wednesday

6-7pm

The project is managed by national charity Catch22 and funded by the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner. It also works in partnership with Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council.

For further information please contact paul.knight@catch-22.org.uk

COMMUNITY CAFE Limerick Close Ipswich IP1 5LR

01473 745470

10am -2pm • MONDAY - FRIDAY Hot/Cold Food and Drink Kids Meal Deal • Specials Board Book Clubs • Mum and Tots Over 50’s Lunch Club Meal Deals everyone is Welcome

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Free Ipswich sport sessions www.ipswich.gov.uk

North West Ipswich Big Local Trust hosted a tea party in honour of the Queen's 90th birthday for the senior residents of Whitehouse, Whitton and Castle Hill.

parties

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Celebration www.ipswich.gov.uk

friendly. This tea party was just one of the many activities the group has organised and has plans for more in the future.

The party was free and more than 80 residents enjoyed the event.

The programme included local choir, Voices Together, who sang a variety of songs to commemorate the Queen's reign. This was followed by a quiz and a delicious afternoon tea.

Jacqui Pearson, party organiser, was delighted that the residents had enjoyed such an entertaining time.

North West Ipswich Big Local Trust recognises the many problems senior residents can encounter.

They are working with other organisations within the local community to make the area dementia

For further information on NWI BLT projects and future events, or if you would like to join or help the group, please contact Faye Smith, Project Officer, on 01473 345349 or 07976565329.

Dundee House tenants also put on a tea party for the Queen’s 90th birthday. They decorated the lounge with flags and bunting and also wore red, white and blue for the occasion. There was a prize for the best crown, which was won by Stephen Frost.

Tenants enjoyed sandwiches, homemade cakes, Pimms, scones with jam and clotted cream followed by local strawberries and cream. The tenants sung the National Anthem and everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

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Chantry Residents’ Association www.ipswich.gov.uk

Lark in the Park took place in Gippeswyk Park. The weather stayed dry throughout the day despite a downpour while setting up.

This year Chantry Academy and other family volunteers helped set up stalls and assisted members of the public. Silver Spinners Majorettes and Freedom Sounds kept us entertained with music all day. We also had games, donkey rides

and bungee climb which was very popular. Our grand draw was well supported, with prizes supplied by local residents. Thank you to everyone who came along and enjoyed the day.

Why not pop along to our coffee morning in aid of Macmillian Cancer on 23 September at 26 Lavender Hill, IP2 0NB. Ring 01473 683680 for more information.

Hedgehog champion Earlier this year, Mary Jolly of Morecambe Court was recognised as a Hedgehog Champion and received a certificate from BBC Radio Suffolk that is proudly hung in the communal room. She believes four hedgehogs come into the communal gardens and she places food and water out for them nightly. She thinks one of the hedgehogs is a baby and ‘Bolshie Borris’ is the one in charge!

Mary orders food from a supplier who delivers to her door.

Hedgehogs eat nuts, insects and mealworms and when they come out at night, Mary watches from her window.

She thoroughly enjoys her evenings watching the hedgehogs eat and drink the food and water.

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HEARS to help www.ipswich.gov.uk

ROUND THE CLOCK, EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

The Home Emergency Alarm Response Service (HEARS) is a personal alarm service. It has been established for more than 25 years and works to improve the health and well-being of people in Ipswich and the surrounding areas (including Woodbridge, Stowmarket and Felixstowe). HEARS enables people needing support to live as independently as possible in their own homes, for as long as they are able and wish to do so. The service works by providing a personal mobile button, which can be worn as a

pendant or wrist strap. An alarm unit is provided, connected through a home telephone socket to the Ipswich based 24-hour control team. The alarm can be used in an accident or medical emergency, such as a fall.

There are two HEARS options a full monitoring and response service for ÂŁ5.15 weekly or a monitoring-only service for ÂŁ2.55 weekly. The monitoring and response service is limited to specific areas so please contact us to confirm your area is covered.

If you know anyone who would benefit from the service, please let them know. For more information about HEARS please visit www.ipswich.gov.uk/HEARS or call the 24 hour control team on 01473 433236.

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Words to find: CREDIT ELIZABETH

FRAUD GARDEN

HAROLD HEARS

HEDGEHOG PAY

RECYCLE STAY

SUPPORT UNIVERSAL

We want to hear from you Have you got a story about yourself or another tenant that you believe should be shared in Tenants’ Times? Then we want to hear from you!

We are always on the look out for stories (old and new), celebrations, award news and anything else you feel would be of interest.

To find out more or, to submit your stories please email: tenant.participation@ipswich.gov.uk or ring 01473 433313.

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www.ipswich.gov.uk

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Your blue bin www.ipswich.gov.uk

Please remember, there are a few items that cause problems if placed in the blue bin and this may mean your bin is not collected.

Getting your recycling wrong can spoil a whole load of recycling – wasting valuable resources and taxpayers’ money.

ALL RECYCLING SHOULD BE CLEAN, DRY AND LOOSE PLEASE

No thank you

✘ ✘ ✘

no food waste or nappies no clothing or textiles unless bagged and tied up in a bag provided free from the Council* no glass or electrical items, find your closest recycling point for these at www.recyclenow.com.

Electricals should not go into the black bin either as they contain hazardous materials.

*A free textile recycling bag can be collected from the Customer Service Centre, Town Hall, Suffolk libraries or Ipswich Borough sports centres.

Yes please ✔ paper, card, aerosols, metal cans, metal pots and pans, clean tin foil, drink cartons, plastic bottles, plastic pots and tubs, books, bagged and tied textiles.

Further information and a full list of items accepted for recycling in your blue bin can be found at www.ipswich.gov.uk/bluebin

SHOPMOBILITY offers FREE use of a wheelchair or battery

Limited mobility?

Call in and see us at IPSWICH SHOPMOBILITY at the Buttermarket shopping centre

powered scooter to

on the lower ground (LG)

get you around the

car park level*

town centre

Monday - Saturday 9.15am-4.15pm

All equipment to be returned by 4pm *two hours free parking for Shopmobility users

www.ipswich.gov.uk/shopmobility t: 01473 222225

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www.ipswich.gov.uk

CHEAP WATERFRONT CAR PARKING All day at Athena Hall on Saturdays & Sundays now just

£2.50

(or 70p per hour)

P3

P1

P2

Athena Hall car park is off Duke Street, close to all the Waterfront attractions, including Profiles gym, University campus and a wide range of restaurants and bars. Just follow the road signs.

It is also a few minutes’ walk from Holywells Park, using the Myrtle Road entrance. The new parking tariff will leave you with more money in your pocket to enjoy events at the park!

P1

Athena Hall benefits from being covered and having CCTV and is open from 8am until midnight, every day of the week.

From Monday to Friday the maximum stay is 4 hours and the tariff is just 70p an hour, £1.20 after 6pm

Fore Street car park

P2

This short-stay car park is in the grounds of the Fore Street swimming pool but is available to the public at all times and is handy for the Waterfront and town centre.

Access is from Star Lane, and you can park for up to four hours for just 90p an hour.

Smart Street car park P3 Ipswich’s newest car park has 21 wide bays, which are ideal for motorists with bigger cars or those armed with lots of bags or children. It’s 90p an hour to park here, access is off Foundation Street, ideal for the town, Waterfront and historic Blackfriars. The maximum stay is 4 hours.

Pay by cash, card or through Android Pay or Apple Pay on your smart phone.

IPSWICH BOROUGH COUNCIL IS KEEPING CAR PARKING CHARGES LOW WHY PAY MORE? Crown car park, William Street, Regent (Woodbridge Road), Portman Road, West End Road, Upper Barclay Street (Upper Orwell Street) and Bond Street ... £1 AN HOUR PARKING

QUIDS IN OFFER £1 AFTER 3PM FOR THE REST OF THE DAY (MON-FRI) www.ipswich.gov.uk/parkings

Measuring up Update on housing performance - Period covering April 2016 – July 2016 COMPLAINTS

We received 10 complaints about Tenancy Services. 5 complaints received a full response within the deadline of 20 working days. 1 complaint unable to conclude / progress due to tenant not responding to request for contact. 1 complaint responded to outside the deadline.

3 complaints are not due a response at time of editing. 6 complaints were not upheld.

ALLOCATIONS

It took on average 23.75 working days to process a housing application. (Target <20)

RENTS

At the end of July ÂŁ743,233 in rent payment was outstanding, which is 2.03% of the total due for the year. (Target < 2.38 %)

GAS SERVICING

We averaged 3.5 properties that did not have an up to date gas safety certificate. At the end of July 0 services were overdue.

REPAIRS

6,286 repairs were raised of which 88.5% were completed on target at the end of July (Target >98.5%)

TENANCY

We averaged 96.74% re-let of empty properties on time against a target of 95%.

In total 89 of the 92 properties were let on time.

COMMUNITY CARETAKERS

97% of pledge visits and 1,424 other minor repairs in communal areas were completed

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Out of 23,805 calls made to housing and repairs 89.2% got through to an agent before ending the call in April-July (Target >90%)

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

We averaged 31.25 cases and at the end of July there were 38 open cases.

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Housing Services To report a repair or if you have a repair enquiry

01473 433370 01473 432100

(including out of hours emergency repairs) To order a gas repair or gas service Environmental Health (noise problems)

WANT TO BE MORE INVOLVED? JOIN THE TENANT FACEBOOK GROUP www.facebook.com/groups/IBCtenants/

0800 533 5630 or 01473 835145 01473 433015