tenants’ times News for tenants of Ipswich Borough Council - Summer 2013
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New Council Homes - May 2013 was a very special time for Ipswich Borough Council as far as housing is concerned. Work started on-site to prepare to build new Council houses for the first time in more than 20 years. Two small sites - at Whitton Church Lane and Coltsfoot Road - are underway and a planning application has been submitted for building more than 100 homes at Bader Close. These developments will provide affordable homes; much-needed jobs; and boost the local economy, too.
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housing matters Empty Houses - While new homes are a priority, another is to get long-term empty houses back into residential use. The considerable work being put into investigating such properties is already bringing positive results. Some renovation work is taking place while agreement has been reached with other owners to bring dilapidated houses into fit condition for re-occupation.
Councillor John Mowles Housing Portfolio Holder
David Ellesmere starts work on the first council houses to
Tenants’ editorial panel
be built in the town for more than 20 years.
Angela Griffiths
Pamela Pamment
Brian Laffling
Derek Rusher
Front cover: shows Ipswich Borough Council Leader
Housing matters
2
Rolling in Clover
11
Tenant Scrutiny Welcome
3
Get help in the garden
12
New Council Homes
4
Tenant Q&A
13
5
Puzzle corner
14
Benefit changes
6
TSP focus ...
15
Teamwork
7
Housing performance update
16
Important funding announcement
17
Loan shark week
Recycling facilities Noise action week
Pensioner powerhouse
8
Invisible Killer
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9
10
An extra Monday
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Useful Contacts
20
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Welcome
www.ipswich.gov.uk/housing
TENANT scrutiny PANEL
Dear fellow tenants, I am very pleased to welcome you to this summer edition. Recently the panel has been looking at Customer Services and Community Caretakers. You can read about these projects on page 15. We will publish our findings soon before moving to Tenancy Services. We have already published our report and recommendations on ‘kitchen and bathroom refurbishment’. This report was widely welcomed and we thank everyone who participated. The report was summarised in the last Tenants’ Times and is available in full on our page of
the Ipswich Borough Council website; www.ipswich.gov.uk Since the last edition Panel members also received housing law training and met with Cambridge City Council tenant representatives to discuss best practice, exchange views and compare scrutiny work. We are planning to meet with Welwyn, Hatfield and Waveney Scrutiny Panels for a similar fact-finding mission later in this year. During May 2013, after some
New housing officers
three years, Tenancy Services now has its full complement of 20 housing officers. We now look forward to tenants receiving the same standard of service as when the area housing offices closed in 2009 and we will look at this standard later in the year. Wishing you all some warm summer days. Brian Laffling Chair, Tenant Scrutiny Panel
Helen Towers Helen is originally from Manchester and had been living and working in the East Midlands for 20 years before coming to Ipswich. She has previously worked in Private Lettings Management and Housing Options for Melton Borough Council. Helen is the housing officer covering Maidenhall area (round 6). Tom Orr Ipswich-born Tom spent three years in Sheffield studying for a degree. On his return, he began a career in estate agency. He has been working as a housing officer in Tenancy Services for just over four weeks and is enjoying the challenge. Tom covers Stoke Park area with Eleanor Fisher (7) and the Birds and Plants area of Chantry with Nicki Baker (16). Katie Foreman Katie joined Ipswich Borough Council as a housing officer job-share with Charlotte May and Kelly Hayes to cover Gainsborough (3) and Greenwich (4) areas. Katie has come from a housing association background within Ipswich and also worked for Suffolk County Council highways department.
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s t r a t s s k r Wo
www.ipswich.gov.uk/housing
s e m o h l i c n u o c on new
Work has begun on the construction of the first new Council houses to be built in Ipswich for more than 20 years. The Council is building seven homes on two small sites in Coltsfoot Road, Chantry (two 3-bedroom houses and one 2-bedroom house) and Whitton Church Lane in north-west Ipswich (two 3-bedroom houses and two 2-bedroom houses). The developments will take around 34 weeks to complete. We are working in partnership with Orwell Housing Association, with building work is being completed by local firm RG Carter and the Council estimates a total of 70 people will work on the project from design to fitting out. The Leader of the Council, David Ellesmere, said: “This is an important milestone - the start of work on the first new Council houses in Ipswich for more than 20 years. Our programme will provide much needed affordable homes for local people and give a job boost to the Ipswich economy.” Councillor John Mowles, Housing portfolio-holder, added: “We are looking forward to completion of these houses in north-west Ipswich as the first stage in our
promise to help people find a home. Homes and jobs are the cornerstone of this Council’s commitment to the development of a fairer Ipswich.” A much bigger scheme for more than 100 Council homes in Bader Close south-east Ipswich is also planned. This will be the biggest Ipswich Council housing scheme for 50 years. Plans of this are shown above. Dawn Edwards and Wendy Evans of Orwell Housing Association with Cllr Colin Wright, Cllr David Ellesmere, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr John Mowles as work starts on site at Whitton Church Lane where the first Council houses are being built for more than 20 years.
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g n i t n u h k r a Sh www.ipswich.gov.uk/tenants
h c i w s p I t s e w in north
Loan Shark Week Awareness 13-19 May
The outgoing Mayor joined Councillors, police officers, caretakers, housing officers, Trading Standards and local groups to launch the week at the Castle Hill Community Centre. Over the week, representatives fanned out into the community to talk to parents, community groups and the public about the dangers of loan sharks, and involved many local schools, children’s centres, church groups and organisations. Councillor Albert Grant, Chair of Ipswich Borough Council’s North-West Area Committee, said: “Many people who borrow from loan sharks are subjected to threats and violence. We want to alert residents to the dangers with this new campaign.” North West Area Committee member Councillor Chris Stewart added: “Anyone who has been the victim of a loan shark can report it in confidence. They are not the criminal - the loan shark is! The victim can get help and we can ensure action is taken against the illegal money-lender.” Illegal money lenders, more commonly known as loan sharks, operate outside the law. They add on exhorbitant
amounts of interest and might use threats and violence to frighten people who cannot pay back the money they borrowed. If you are experiencing financial problems don’t be tempted to borrow from them; if you do it is likely you will be trapped into spiralling debt and will be subjected to harassment. Anyone who has been affected by this crime is urged to report it in confidence. 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222 Text: ‘loan shark + your message’ to 60003 e: reportaloanshark@stoploan sharks.gov.uk Private message: www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject If you are in immediate danger phone 999. For information on illegal money lending contact England Illegal Money Lending Team on Communications Officer t: 0121 693 1030/ 07881617119
During the week more than 400 loan shark awareness quizzes were completed. The winner, Fiona Foster, is pictured with Ian Blofield, Head of Housing Services receiving a £100 voucher prize at the community playbus.
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h t i w p l e h d Nee
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? s e g n a h c t i f e ben
The Government changes to benefits have left many people worried about the impact on their finances. If you are one of the 1,600 residents in Ipswich affected there is help available to understand changes and some solutions. What you can do • finding work could mean you no longer need benefits. Information is available at www.direct.gov.uk/jobseekers on looking for work, updating skills, writing a CV, applying and preparing for interview. • are you claiming all the benefits you are entitled to? Contact Citizens Advice Bureau, t: 01473 219777 www.ipswichcab.org.uk Shelter t: 0808 8084444 www.england.shelter.org.uk Check out www.dwp.gov.uk. Turn2us is dedicated to
helping people handle their benefits and understand the changes. Check their benefit calculator www.turn2us.org.uk • consider a lodger. They are entitled to their own bedroom and most of their rent is not taken into account on your benefit claim. A Government factsheet is available at www.communities.gov.uk/ publications/housing/ lettingrooms • consider a smaller home, go to www.houseexchange.org.uk to find suitable smaller property for a home-swap. Also register on www.gatewaytohomechoice. org.uk which advertises upcoming empty properties. • get money advice to help with your budget. StepChange a debt charity give free advice on debts based on what’s best for you t: 0800 138 1111
www.stepchange.org the Government-funded service National Debt Line 0808 8084000 offers financial telephone advice www.nationaldebtline.co.uk • can you can get Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)? The Council has limited money to help people who have a good reason why they cannot move, or need to live in a larger home. Ring 01473 432700 for an application form or www.ipswich.gov.uk/benefits clicking on ‘claiming your benefits’. If you don’t have access to a computer you can use one at the Customer Services Centre in the Town Hall or discuss your concerns over the telephone with your housing officer on 01473 433370 or arrange an appointment to talk face-to-face.
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f f o s y a p k Teamwor
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d a o R n a m t r o P at
Ipswich Borough Council’s Community Caretakers have been working with Housing Officers to tackle parking issues around Portman Road. Cars driving on communal grass areas to park was causing a mess. It was decided to install parking bollards to prohibit further damage. Tenants and councillors on the Area Housing Panel voted to fund the work.
Tenant panel bears fruit
Tenants were very happy with the finished project explaining this should stop unauthorised cars parking. The North West Area Housing Panel approved funding to transform an area of open ground behind Council properties on Defoe Road into an orchard for local residents to enjoy. Funding up to £3,000 was committed and housing officers Georgina Armstrong and Charlotte McEnery coordinated work. The Community Payback team cleared overgrown brambles and rubbish from the site ready for planting. The Suffolk Traditional Orchard Group kindly advised on the best mix of fruit trees and canes for the space and helped on planting day. Pictured are Paul Reed from the Orchard Group, Georgina, Tenant Rep Angela Griffiths and Trevor Goodrich from Parks Service who all came to lend a hand. Thanks to the panel and everyone’s hard work Defoe Road residents have a great space to enjoy plums, apples, quince, raspberries and gooseberries for years to come. For more about Tenant Panels phone Simon on 01473 433291.
see the video and find out more at www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk
New glass recycling facilities New glass recycling facilities have been installed at three more sites in Ipswich: Matalan, Ranelagh Road The Dales public house, Dales Road The Rosary Club on Bramford Road
All clean glass bottles and jars can be recycled in the bright red wheelie bins. The Council’s Waste and Recycling team continue to identify sites and install new glass recycling points but we need your help. If you can identify a suitable location near where you live contact us on 01473 432099. QUICK TIP Forget which bin needs to go out for collection? Download your collection day calendar by visiting www.ipswich.gov.uk/bincollectiondays It includes collection arrangements for bank holiday periods.
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www.ipswich.gov.uk/housing
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k e e w n o i t c Noise a
www.ipswich.gov.uk/tenants
y l i m a f e h t l l noisy fun for a
As part of Noise Action Week, Hawke Road hosted a Family Fun Day.
Noise in the wrong place at the wrong time affects the quality of life in our neighbourhoods and a common cause of disputes. It can also impact health and wellbeing. If you’re planning parties or BBQs this summer • try to tell your neighbours in advance. Better still invite them! • set a finish time and try to stick to it • if you’re playing music keep speakers away from open windows and adjoining walls If you have a noise complaint please call Environmental Protection for advice on 01473 433115
Noise Action Week is a nationwide initiative run by Environmental Protection UK. Events across the country provided advice on avoiding noise problems. At the Ipswich Fun Day information was available from the Police and Council officers on how to deal with problem noise. Environmental Protection Officers ran competitions for the loudest child, adult and dog. The loudest children received a cinema voucher the loudest adult got two tickets to the Film Night Spectacular concert hosted by Brian Blessed in Christchurch Park. The Council also ran free micro-chipping and gave advice on how to help deal with noisy dogs. Despite a little rain face painting, balloon modelling, bouncy castle, childrens centre giveaways and BBQ run by Community Caretakers made for a lot of fun for local residents.
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Pensioner e s u o h r e w o p
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Mrs Edna Bussey of Cumberland Towers has received recognition and thanks from Age UK for long service of 20 years. Mrs Bussey’s achievement is all the more remarkable because she began volunteering in the Age UK shop on Upper Orwell Street in 1991 after retiring as a journalist’s assistant for the East Anglian Daily Times aged 75! Mrs Bussey, known to her friends as “Tidge”, received a Volunteer Service Award for her work for the charity and still works in the charity shop every week. It was through Mrs Bussey’s work on the Green ‘Un football pull-out that she first became involved with Age UK. Each Saturday she would go to football with her sister-in-law and on the way would call into the Age UK shop on the look-out for bargains. Tidge’s outgoing nature soon got her chatting with the staff and it wasn’t long before she was on the other side of the counter. Mrs Bussey is still a lynchpin of the shop and her commitment is applauded by all who know her.
Cracking hats Dundee House once again made the most of Easter with their Easter Bonnet Party. Residents at the sheltered housing scheme turned out resplendent in some fabulous headwear. The occasion included a buffet meal and a sing along with musical accompaniment. A good time was had by all and thanks go to all who helped, including Margaret Green for organising the event. To find out more about sheltered housing phone Beryl on 01473 433326
Since moving to live at Broke Hall House Nesta Clover (pictured left) has had her life turned around. She had been at a low ebb, feeling quite isolated in her bungalow and the worry was a strain on her daughter, Melanie Druce. Since arriving Nesta has made many friends and says it can take an age to make it down to coffee mornings simply because of chatting to her new friends on the way. She describes her new home as “Grand. I wouldn’t have believed there was a place like it” adding that the change was “like a weight coming off my shoulders”.
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r e v o l c n i g n i Roll www.ipswich.gov.uk/tenants
one of the newest
one of the first
Melanie is pleased, too knowing there is a daily check for her mum and when there is a need the scheme will arrange the doctor’s appointment and keep her informed.
Olive gets best out of kitchen The Council’s longest residing sheltered housing tenant has accepted her first upgrade after 37 years! Mrs Olive Horseman of All Hallows Court has had her original kitchen since moving in in 1976. It is still in immaculate condition and she doesn’t want a new one! But she is now accepting a bathroom upgrade. Olive was one of the very first tenants to move into All Hallows Court after her husband, Ted had a stroke aged 49. They were given a new lease of life, enjoying many happy years together including their 50th wedding anniversary in 1992. Olive’s son, Steven, even moved into the scheme when he retired, before sadly dying later from a brain tumour. Olive has been a staple of the scheme for many years, cherished by staff and residents and she still feels the same way about her home when speaking of life in sheltered accommodation she said “I love it.”
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Get help ...
www.ipswich.gov.uk/housing
in the garden
It’s the time of year again when the garden needs cutting and trimming. All tenants have an obligation to keep their garden tidy. Ipswich Borough Council understands some older or disabled people are unable to do this for themselves and may have no one else to help them. That’s where the Assisted Gardening Scheme comes in. Your grass can be cut up to nine times a year and hedges trimmed twice a year. To qualify you and members of your household need to be: 65 years old or over and in receipt of housing benefit or in receipt of mid or high-rate Disability Living Allowance To apply you need to complete a form which is available from your housing officer, our website,
Free stop smoking support available Are you a smoker struggling to kick the habit? Is your will-power slipping as you try to avoid the temptation of a sneaky cigarette? Our trained advisors offer a county-wide service of free stop smoking advice. If you are ready to quit, you can join either a regular group session or get one-to-one intensive support. Along the way we will offer you tips, advice and support and by taking part you are eligible for over £100 worth of free nicotine medication (prescription charges may apply). We can also provide educational information
by ringing the Customer Contact Centre on 01473 433370. If you are requesting grass cutting, you must ensure the grass is clear of obstructions such as toys or ornaments when our gardeners call. They will not cut grass areas which have been fouled by pets. Due to high demand the scheme cannot include weeding, work on borders or shrubbery or the clearance of grass cuttings. Please contact us if you already receive help and your situation has changed (if you no longer receive housing benefit or someone has moved in that can help with the garden) because you no longer qualify for assistance. This can free the gardeners to give more help to someone in greater need.
about the effects that second hand smoke can have on your family and we also have a service for mums-to-be who smoke. You’ll be four times more likely to succeed with us than going it alone. We also provide advice and support to help you and your family lose weight, do more physical activity or learn to cook and eat healthier food and all of our services are free of charge For more information t: 01473 229292, visit www.livewellsuffolk.org.uk or find us on Facebook and Twitter
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www.ipswich.gov.uk/housing
TENANT Q+A “I remember there used to be a scheme to help older people with the cost of decorating. Is this still running?” Pamela Pamment - Tenant Rep
Yes Pamela, the Internal Decoration voucher scheme is still running. Tenants who are over 60 or receive disability benefit (DLA/DWA) can also get additional paint vouchers every two years. Additional vouchers are £30 to be redeemed at Homebase, Johnstone Paints, Wilkinsons or Richardson’s Hardware. To request an application form call the Contact Centre 01473 433370
Is it possible to arrange automatic weekly payments for my rent? Lots of tenants budget weekly and could find weekly easier. Darrill Lawrence - Tenant Rep
Live in or around the Triangle
Hadleigh Road London Road Chantry Park
help your community and join up. We’re looking to run discos, fun-days, table top sales and events for the neighbourhood to get together. Ring Val Peacock on 01473 432224
Hello Darrill, you can arrange a weekly standing order with your bank. You need to tell them how much to pay each week together with Council account details Acc. name: Ipswich Borough Council Sort Code: 08-90-83 Account no. 61109458 Make sure you include your rent account number in the payment reference or the payment will not credit your rent account. To have your housing question answered here contact Simon 433291 or email simon.lanning@ipswich.gov.uk
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r e n r o c e l z z u P
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ACROSS 1 5 8 9 11 12 13 16 18 19 20 21 22
Frightens birds from crops (9) Beer (3) Top of room, upper limit (7) Game of collecting numbers read by a caller (5) Remain (4) Annoy, irk (8) Author ‘Origin of the Species’ (7,6) Images (8) Mail (4) Physical competition, wear (5) Without artificial alteration (7) Colouring (3) Flavoured frozen sweet on a stick (4,5)
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" DOWN 2 Speedy big cat (7) 3 Baton passing running race (5) 4 One hundredth of a metre (10) 6 Illumination (5) 7 Coldest season (6) 10 Attendant to bride (10) 14 Come back (6) 15 Establish in place, load software (7) 17 Suggest indirectly (5) 18 Former ninth planet (5)
crown pools FREE SWIM Bring the family this summer for a splashing time at Crown Pools Leisure, teaching and competition pool Fun inflatable slide and Freddy the Frog slide Wave machine Swimming lessons Profiles Gym Aqua classes Sauna and steam room All normal opening times and conditions of use apply
FREE JUNIOR SWIM VOUCHER Admits one child free of charge Must be used before 31st August 2013
UNDER 3’S SWIM FOR FREE
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TSP focus
www.ipswich.gov.uk/housing
TENANT scrutiny PANEL
g n i k a t e r a c n ... o
We have been looking at the Community Caretaker Service, observing them at work, chatting with tenants about the service and putting our questionnaire to them. The experience has certainly been eye-opening. It has been shocking to see the reckless discarding of needles, fly-tipping and pets fouling communal grass areas. On the plus side we have seen many more tenants who look after their neighbourhood and nurture a community with fellow tenants. Some issues came up which we will look at in our report, such as storage of buggies and bikes in communal areas. This can be a fire risk and impede escape. We also have concerns about the communication between the services that look after the spaces around our homes. We congratulate the caretakers for their hard work during their pledge visits (mopping, cleaning, litter picking, removal of fly-tipped items and general clearing up) and their community work in the afternoons (repairs at sheltered homes schemes, bbqs at tenant fun days and evening anti-social behaviour patrols). We noted the caretakers keep up their valuable work sometimes under threat and intimidation.
s e c i v r e s r e m ... on custo We looked at the Customer Services Centre and Customer Contact Centre. When the area housing offices closed, contact with the Council was offered through the service centre, by setting up the call centre and home appointments with housing officers. The service centre receives between 2,500-5,000 monthly visits, with enquiries on benefits, housing, repairs and non-Council related matters. Initially, a full-time housing officer was stationed at the service centre but withdrawn following fewer than expected tenancy enquiries. The centre is open from Monday to Friday. The Customer Contact Centre shares 25 staff with the Contact Centre and incorporates the Repairs Service. It handles over 25,000 monthly repair calls. Monday morning is the busiest when demand can exceed supply and delays and call loss can occur. Most customers prefer telephone contact although online enquiries are growing. The central contact number 01473 432000 replaced many individual numbers (Repairs is also contactable on 01473 432100). For mobile users local call rate is cheaper than 0845 numbers and for many users 0800 is not free. Customer Services Manager Paul Farrer is addressing the peak demand and tenants’ concerns over delays at peak times. We thank Paul for his presentation and answering our questions and concerns. If you have comment for us about these or other services please email enquiries.tsp@live.com.
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p u g n i r february-april 2013 u s a e M update on housing performance
www.ipswich.gov.uk/tenants
Tenancy
Allocations - average number of working days to process housing application - Target 20 days 15.3 days Average number of days a property is empty between tenancies
15 days
Target 15 days (year to date cumulative average)
At end of April
17 days
Rents
Year end arrears as % of total rent for the year
2%
Arrears as % of total rent for the year at end of April
2.04%
Home Improvement % of houses rated 'Poor' and 'Fair' that improved a rating (Target is 10% improvement by year end) At end of year 2012-13 At end of April
Gas Servicing % of stock with annual gas service at end of January.
Target 100%
20.8% 0%
1
Community Caretakers % minor repairs in communal areas completed on time at end of year 2012-13 period - Target 95% 97% at end of April - Target 95% 100%
99.9%
Repairs % of repairs completed on target within period Target 98.5%
Neighbourhood and Community
Anti Social Behaviour Total number of tenants evicted for ASB
Home
98.7%
Empowerment
Complaints Full response within 20 working days 100%
Customer Service % of calls answered (contacts) Target 95% 87%
Are you a Family Carer? Do you help to care for a friend or family member? Are you experiencing difficulties with your emotional wellbeing and sometimes feel stressed, anxious and overwhelmed? Do you feel ready to change and take some steps to improve how you feel?
Would you like the opportunity to meet other Family Carers?
Suffolk Family Carers Mental Health and Wellbeing Service run a series of 6 wellbeing sessions for Family Carers, which are FREE! To access these courses email:wellbeing@suffolkfamilycarers.org or call Louise or Bev on 01473 835420 Courses running very regularly - so do call!
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g n i d n u f t n a t impor
www.ipswich.gov.uk/tenants
announcement The Big Local Trust’s Community Chest is open again. Voluntary and community sector groups can apply for grants of up to £500. Projects must bring about a direct benefit to people living in north-west Ipswich. We have approximately £10,000 to give away and funding can be used for either revenue (eg staff wages, venue hire etc) or capital (equipment, materials, etc) costs. Some ideas of projects we are seeking to support can be found in the Big Local Plan. For more information on the Big Local Plan, guidance notes and an application form, please go to the North West Ipswich Big Local Trust at www.nwipswichblt.co.uk and click on the Community Chest section. Free, one-to-one advice, guidance and support is available to help you shape your ideas and if you would like to discuss making an application, please contact Leah Douglas, Big Local Trust Officer telephone 01473 261111 or mobile: 07976 565 329. Application closing date is: 5pm, 23 September 2013. DOWN: 2 Cheetah 3 Relay 4 Centimetre 6 Light 7 Winter 10 Bridesmaid 14 Return 15 Install 17 Imply 18 Pluto
Community Pets If your pet is ready for its close-up we want to see the photo here.
Send entries to simon.lanning@
Get your preening pooch or photogenic feline in print. All varieties of pet are welcome.
ipswich.gov.uk
Crossword answers ACROSS: 1 Scarecrow 5 Ale 8 Ceiling 9 Bingo 11 Stay 12 Irritate 13 Charles Darwin 16 Pictures 18 Post 19 Sport 20 Natural 21 Dye 22 Iced lolly
Coming soon
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e d i x o n o m Carbon
www.ipswich.gov.uk/housing
invisible killer
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can kill without warning. Make sure your family is safe. Carbon monoxide is produced when a gas appliance(s) does not burn properly which can happen if it is not properly installed or maintained. Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless, tasteless and can be deadly. Annually 30 people die from CO poisoning. The safe working of your gas appliances is paramount so we as your landlord, regularly conduct gas safety inspections of boilers and any gas appliance we own. If you have a gas fire, cooker or other gas appliance we strongly recommend you arrange a Gas Safe registered engineer to check them annually. Gas fires are one of the higher risk domestic appliances.
Smoke detectors will not alert you to CO levels A CO alarm that lasts up to seven years costs ÂŁ15-20 and can be purchased from your local hardware store or superstore.
Help with minor repairs
How to spot the symptoms of CO poisoning headaches | dizziness | nausea breathlessness | collapsing | loss of consciousness Signs your appliance may be faulty: The flame on your cooker should be crisp and blue. Lazy yellow or orange flames mean you may need to get your cooker checked Dark staining around or on appliances Pilot lights that frequently blow out Symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to flu. If you feel unwell at home but better when you leave the house it may be a sign of high level carbon monoxide in your home. If you suspect this go outside into fresh air and seek medical attention. To confirm CO poisoning, a blood test is necessary, to be carried out immediately by medically qualified staff (eg your own doctor). If you suspect there is a gas leak or carbon monoxide in your home ring National Grid Gas Emergency 0800 111 999.
Generally speaking, tenants are responsible for minor repairs and decoration to the interior of their property. The Council is responsible for repairs to the outside and property structure. However, if the tenant is elderly (over 60) or disabled (in receipt of DLA/PIP) it is reasonable for the Council to carry out some of these repairs for the tenant if requested. Examples would include clearing surface water gullies or fitting replacement toilet seats. Changing light bulbs inside the property is the tenants’ responsibility however some enclosed light fittings installed by us mean that if the tenant is elderly or disabled (as above) it is reasonable for us to carry out these repairs if requested. (Pendant light fittings remain the tenant’s responsibility in all cases). If you are struggling with repairs at home speak to the Repairs Centre to see if you qualify for help 01473 432100.
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y a d n o M a r An ext
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Most years have 365 days - 52 weeks and one extra day. Every few years the one extra day falls on a Monday, the rent payment day. This financial year (2013-14) has 53 Mondays.
53 rent weeks in 2013
How does this affect your rent?
What you need to do
Rent is charged for full weeks only, but the extra day each year is not rent free. Every seven years the 'one day' falls on a Monday and you pay for all those 'one days' as an extra week.This financial year has 53 Mondays so there are 53 weeks to pay. If you pay weekly, once the two 'rent-free' weeks are taken into account you will need to pay rent 51 weeks of the year. In this financial year this extra week is 31 March to 6 April 2014.
• If you pay weekly, continue to pay each week as usual • If you pay monthly we suggest taking the extra week into account ( rent x 51 weeks ÷ 12 months). For example, if your rent is £100 weekly, your monthly rent would be (£100 x 51 ÷ 12 =) £425. • If you pay by direct debit you don't have to do anything as we will make the change and remind you to make sure you know how much to pay. If you need to discuss anything to do with your rent please call the Customer Contact Centre on 01473 433370.
Paying your rent with cash
Direct debit scheme winner
You can pay for your rent using cash at the Post Office or at any of the Payzone points across the town, often in your local newsagent or supermarket. Just take along any of your rent letters and use the barcode on the letter to pay money onto your rent account. If you don’t have a barcode please telephone the Contact Centre and they will arrange to send one to you.
Every quarter one tenant paying by direct debit receives a £25 reward prize.
We will not be issuing new plastic payment cards but you can carry on using your existing one.
Winter’s winner, Mrs Cynthia Mensah of Downing Close is pictured receiving her cheque from Housing Portfolio Holder, Councillor John Mowles.
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS You can contact your housing officer on To report a repair or if you have a repair enquiry To order a gas repair or gas service For out of hours (5pm-8.30am) Emergency repairs only
CUSTOMER SERVICES CENTRE OPENING TIMES
Remember if you or anyone you know requires this newsletter to be provided in large print or audio format, we need to know. Please contact Simon on 01473 433291or alternatively contact your Housing Officer to register your requirements and we will be pleased to help you.
01473 433370 01473 432100 0800 533 5630 or 01473 835145 01473 432100 select option 1, then option 4)
Monday-Friday 8.30am-5.30pm
See your free child swim voucher at Crown Pools inside