November/ December 2010
Southwark Housing News Inside this issue:
Photo: Anna Hindocha
Ian Wingfield visits the repairs team p2 Focus on the Elmington regeneration p4 Meet the new Housing Director p5
Demolition starts on the Aylesbury estate P11
The magazine for Southwark Council tenants and leaseholders
www.southwark.gov.uk/shn
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t I x i Mr F Ian Wingfield, Southwark Council’s cabinet member for housing, gets out on the rounds with one of the council’s repair staff.
Back to the floor “It’s been a real ey e-op committed to makin ener for me. I’m g repairs service that sure we have a delivers for tenant s, and it’s frustrating to hear that there ar still issues with th e e co between tenants, th mmunication e centre and the repa customer service irs staff.”
Ian Wingfield joins repair operative Mike Bonarious to attend an emergency repair in Peckham. Mike is responsible for carrying out general repairs and is a plumber by trade. His first visit today is to Valery Avery to mend her leaking tap. With approximately 38,500 properties, Southwark Council is London’s largest landlord, and one of the largest social landlords in the UK. Looking after tenants’ needs and making sure that properties are well maintained, warm, safe and dry is a complex task. Mike explains what his job involves: “Many repairs are fairly straightforward, but it’s not unusual to arrive at a job and discover that the problem that
A new repairs finder will be delivered to tenants soon which will make it easier for tenants to report their repairs, and improve the number of repairs that we get right first time, and work is ongoing to reduce the number of missed appointments. We want to
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was reported isn’t actually the issue causing the fault. So it’s really important that residents give us as detailed a report of the problem as possible to help us diagnose the problem, and then we can be better prepared to fix it.” Watching Mike check the taps, and talking to Valery, Ian is keen to find out more about how the service works. “It’s been a real eye-opener for me. I’m committed to making sure we have a repairs service that delivers for tenants, and it’s frustrating to hear that there are still issues with communication between tenants, the customer service centre and the repairs staff.” As the council faces the prospect of budget cuts following the government spending review, making sure the housing service delivers for tenants while balancing the books is a key priority for Councillor Wingfield. “I’m looking at ways that we can work more effectively and cut out the duplication of work, but there’s not a simple solution to all of the problems. We want to bring all homes up to decent standards, but we need to be realistic about what we can and can’t afford to do. When we look at the council’s housing stock, a small proportion of properties need a lot of money spent on them to bring them up to a good standard, and we need to balance that with how much we have to invest in the rest of the borough. This might mean finding the short term solution for some properties rather than being able to start fresh with new stock.”
hear from residents who can help us improve our services. We have a range of ways that residents can give us their views, many of which would take very little of your time. If you’d like to find out more, please call Brian O'Neill on 020 7525 7544.
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Focus on...
As the process of transforming the Aylesbury estate gets underway, tenants living on the nearby Elmington estate in Camberwell are looking to see how regeneration will work for them. The estate was built in the 1960s and the project to refurbish and redevelop part of the estate began eight years ago with the demolition of the four towers and some surrounding blocks to replace them with new homes. Last year the council agreed to a new approach to the regeneration, including extending the programme to surrounding blocks,and is now close to signing an agreement with a developer for empty sites on Edmund Street. While the work on the Elmington is on a smaller scale than the nearby Heygate and Aylesbury estates, it has proved to be an opportunity for staff to work with tenants to get their views and input into the development. One of the ways in which tenants are able to be involved in the regeneration is through the resident steering group which feeds back to staff on residents’ opinions on how the regeneration proposal is progressing. Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle observes "The people on the Elmington have waited a long time to see some action and therefore have a lot to say and have strong views
on how the regeneration is shaped. They use the steering group to provide them with that voice at the top table.” One of the group’s suggestions is that residents should be individually consulted on how they feel about the rehousing process, and whether they would prefer to move into a new permanent home quickly, or would prefer to wait longer for replacement housing on the estate. The group was concerned that residents may not have been fully aware of what the choices available are, or how they can have their say in the development. As a result of this, residents living in affected blocks are being individually asked for their views, which will be presented to the council’s cabinet in
5 New director of housing services appointed December as they make their decision on how to develop the regeneration. The group has also been able to have a direct impact on the regeneration in other ways, and even suggested this article to let people know what was going on. Working on the group has not always been easy, and one of the issues it has faced has been how to encourage residents to get involved when rehousing and refurbishment timescales are so long. A Drayton House resident and RSG member notes that: “My block hasn’t been programmed for refurbishment yet, so I don’t know when works will be happening, but I still think it’s really important to be involved in the group so I can make my views heard to the council and keep fighting to be included.” The group hopes that more residents will want to get involved once they know that change will really happen. The cabinet’s decision in November may be the first step in convincing them that it will.
How can I get involved? • Come to a resident steering group meeting and have your say. For dates and times, please contact Jennifer Daothong, Southwark Council project officer, on 020 7525 1231. • Have a chat with your resident steering group representative and get your voice heard. • Register for e-updates by contacting Donna Mallon on 020 7525 1220 or by emailing donna.mallon@southwark.gov.uk.
The new director of housing services has been confirmed, and we can announce that Gerri Scott will be joining the council in the new year. She is currently executive director of housing and customer services for Moat, who are a leading housing association in the south east. She was previously assistant director of community development and regeneration for the Camden Council, and before that she was responsible for Camden’s housing management service and led the team to secure a three star excellent service rating in the Audit Commission inspection. The position was created by the new council administration which has made housing its top priority and has pledged to create a new housing department, including the post of Director of Housing Services. Councillor Peter John, leader of the council, said: "We had a great field of talented and experienced candidates for this position. We were delighted to offer Gerri the role as councillors were impressed with her commitment to improving services to tenants and leaseholders and with her energy to work with staff to make a difference. I am also pleased that this administration is again delivering on its pledges that we made in May to create a new housing department that focuses on sorting out the basic services. We are an administration that keeps its promises." Gerri Scott, director of housing services, said: "I am really looking forward to joining Southwark and hope to contribute to the council's journey of improving services for local people. I can't wait to meet both residents and staff." Chief executive Annie Shepperd said, “Southwark looks forward to Gerri's arrival and I'm sure she will have a warm welcome from residents, staff and councillors."
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We want to make sure that every Southwark Council home is warm, safe and dry, and that's why we’re embarking on an ambitious plan to bring all our homes up to decent homes standards. Read on to find out what we’re doing to improve safety, and how you can play a part.
We’ve got the power We use electrical appliances every day, from the television and games console, to heaters and electric blankets, make sure you’re not putting your family at risk, by only buying electrical equipment that carry the British Kitemark or European CE safety mark from a reputable retailer. This tells you that they have passed stringent health and safety tests. Remember to turn appliances off at the wall before you go to bed and don’t overload sockets. If you’ve got young children, it’s even more important to keep a close eye on them around electrical equipment, and invest in some simple safety measures, like protectors that plug into wall sockets.
Fire safety matters There’s a lot you can do to reduce the risk of fire in your home. The simplest and most important thing you can do is make sure you have a working smoke alarm fitted, test it every week, and replace the batteries once a year. Make a plan of how you’d get out of your house safely in the event of a fire, and make sure everyone in the family knows what it is. The London Fire Brigade offer free fire safety home visits, where they’ll offer you advice on how to stay safe, and, where eligible, fit a free smoke alarm. You can book a visit online at www.london-fire.gov.uk/Home FireSafetyVisit.asp or by calling 020 8555 1200. If you’ve installed security grilles on the door, make sure you can get out quickly if you need to – they can double the time it takes for firefighters to get in and can block fire escapes. Report dumped rubbish that can block walkways and cause a fire hazard in communal areas to us by calling 020 7525 2000. Lines are open 24 hours.
Safety at home
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How we’re keeping your community safe • We’re working with the police, wardens and community safety team to tackle antisocial behaviour on estates. This year we’ve closed a crack house, micro chipped 35 dogs and heard 262 resident views on making estates safer. • We’re working in partnership with the police to clamp down on antisocial behaviour caused by irresponsible dog owners. This year we’ve seized 19 dangerous dogs, made 58 visits and issued nine warning letters. • We’re tackling the issue of people deliberately starting fires on estates, and the number of fires being started has fallen by 70% over the last two years. If you see people deliberately starting fires on your estate, call the antisocial behaviour line on 020 7525 5777, lines are open 24 hours.
All about energy As the temperature drops, it’s time to make sure the heating’s works properly. Help us keep your home warm and safe by allowing our engineers to carry out the annual check, and contacting us on 0800 952 4444 if a gas appliance in your home breaks down. Leaseholders can benefit from regular gas safety checks from registered engineers at a competitive price. To find out more about gas servicing for leaseholders, go to www.southwark.gov.uk and search for “gas servicing” or call 020 7525 7660.
We’re investing in making homes warmer and more energy efficient, which will mean huge savings to you and the environment including installing cavity wall insulation in 5,000 flats by December 2010, saving on average £50 per flat on their annual heating bills. We’re also installing loft insulation and cavity wall installation in a further 10,000 council homes by December 2011, saving on average £95 per home, and replacing 1,500 boilers annually, saving £65 per home. To find out more about what you can do to save energy and save money at home, go to www.southwark.gov.uk/thebigswitchoff.
8 Bermondsey
Camberwell
Camberwell leads the way
Keep warm, keep well During Warm Homes Week, the council’s energy team are joining up with Southwark Legal Advice Network to help residents find out how they can save money and stay warm this winter. With top tips on making your home more energy efficient and saving money on your fuel bills, and expert advice on managing your money, benefits and work, it’s not to be missed. Come along between 11am and 3pm on Saturday 13 November at the Blue Market, Bermondsey or email sarahrose@southwarkcabservice.org.uk to find out more.
For over a year, Camberwell area housing office has been leading the way in rent collection in Southwark. Last year 100% of the rent due was collected, and arrears were reduced substantially, by over half a million pounds. This year the trend looks set to continue, and the area is on the way to achieving an even more challenging rate target of 101%. We always try to help our most vulnerable tenants to manage their debts and prioritise their rent with financial advice and putting them in touch with charities that could help. We are also clamping down on people who illegally occupy or sublet council properties, so we can make homes available for the people who need them most.
Borough and Bankside Dulwich
Fun day at Hayles Street TRA A great time was had by all at the Hayles Street TRA fun day. While the weather proved to be less than reliable, this didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits, Children enjoyed free face painting, a tug of war and a sports day challenge. Community safety and healthy living were also on the agenda, with the fire brigade offering fire safety advice, and free blood pressure checks. Housing officer Mark Barrell said “The TRA did a great job organising the event, and everyone had a lot of fun.”
How would you spend council money? Dulwich Community Council, on Wednesday 10 November at Christ Church, 263 Barry Road SE22 0JT, will be hosting a special budget consultation meeting. It'll be a chance to discuss and give your views on what the council's priorities should look like over the next few years. All community council's will be holding similar exercises, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/fairerfuture for more details.
9 Nunhead and Peckham Rye
Rotherhithe
All abuzz on the Cossall estate
Moving on from Maydew House
Cossall Estate recently held a community feast and fun day to celebrate the harvest festival, with the charity Groundwork, which promotes sustainable living and healthy eating. The community was able to enjoy a range of stalls and activities around the TRA Hall on Mortlock Close. A beekeeper brought his hive of bees and children had a go at making beeswax candles and tasting honey. There was also a barbecue, karaoke, exercise classes, dance sessions, face painting and healthy eating advice. Erveline Dickens, chair of Cossall TRA, praised the strong turn-out of the event, which further strengthened community ties, as well as being lots of fun!
Peckham
New gallery The chapel in Caroline Gardens had seen better days, and local residents have been campaigning for several years to find a good use for the building. This looks set to change soon, with Asylum Art planning to turn the chapel into a workshop and gallery. With lots of hard work, and some help from National Lottery funding, the project looks set to get off the ground. Work is now underway to bring this magnificent building back into use, and restoration experts have been consulted, including a clock specialist, to get the chapel’s clock chiming again.
It was decided recently by the Cabinet that the residents of Maydew House will need to move out, due to the substantial amount of work required to the building. One tenant has already found a new home and will be moving in shortly. He is pleased to be staying in the local area, and looking forward to enjoying his new garden. Those who are hopeful of returning to Maydew House are awaiting the outcome of a decision on the block’s future, due to be made later on in the year, and of course we will keep you all updated.
Walworth
Lending a helping hand Following a recent accident, housing officer Gladys Euba wanted to make sure her residents at Langdale Close, were safe. A door to door visit revealed one elderly resident, an academic, had a large collection of scholarly works and publications which dated back to the 1960s. While valuable to him, it was also a fire hazard which made it hard to open the front door and walk around the flat. Gladys arranged for a needs assessment and a support package was quickly drawn up. The flat was cleared, and the resident was able to donate his books to charity. Additionally, the charity SEASONS carried out repairs and adaptations free of charge. We are very grateful to Gladys for coordinating the different support services and going the extra mile to help the resident live safely and independently.
10 Homeowners compact Leaseholder news
We are working with the homeowners’ council to create the homeowners compact, which describes how leaseholders and freeholders on estates can affect the services they receive from the council. The compact will help residents to make sure that the council meets the standards it has set itself, give feedback on the quality of the services they receive, the service standards they can expect, and how to get involved in council consultations and resident forums and groups. It will also detail clear targets for planned improvements. The homeowners compact is part of the resident’s compact, which will be published in April 2011. For more information, please call Leon Boardman at the home ownership unit on 020 7525 5679 or email leon.boardman@southwark.gov.uk
TMO tenant satisfaction is on the up – it’s official! We recently conducted a satisfaction survey of tenants living in tenant managed organisations (TMO), and tenant satisfaction has increased substantially compared to 2008. Overall the level of satisfaction of tenants in TMO homes was significantly higher than last year, and higher than tenants living in council managed homes.
The survey also asked how serious an issue litter, vandalism, antisocial behaviour and crime were in their local area, and overall tenant concern about these issues was lower than tenants in other areas of the borough. As TMO’s are managed directly by residents, it’s not surprising that
78% of tenants feel they have opportunities to take part in decision making, compared to 62% of tenants in non TMO homes. Tenants who had reported antisocial behaviour to the TMO are also more satisfied with the outcome of their complaint than those managed directly by the council (46% to 28%).
Tenant satisfaction with services received
2008 survey
2010 survey
Difference
Landlord services
62%
77%
+15%
Ability to get in touch with the right person
47%
82%
+35%
Staff are helpful
68%
83%
+15%
How enquiries are resolved
51%
71%
+20%
The neighbourhood as a place to live
67%
76%
+9%
The quality of my home
62%
74%
+12%
The way repairs were dealt with
62%
74%
+12%
Opportunities to make contact with my landlord
59%
80%
+21%
Grounds maintenance services
71%
81%
+10%
Cleaning inside my block
69%
76%
+7%
Cleaning of common areas
58%
81%
+23%
If you are interested in learning more about whether tenant management is right for your home then contact the tenant management initiatives team on 020 7525 1251 or email them at tenantmanagement@southwark.gov.uk
News
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260 new homes start to appe ar as Aylesbury demolition be gins The £1.5bn regenerati
on of the Aylesbury estate is underway, and demolition has started on Little Bradenham, with homes nearby being built and due to complete in January. The first phase is being developed by L&Q to create a mix of high quality affordable rent, intermediate and private homes which will be a far
Working to keep you safe In the build up to bonfire night, Southwark Council is offering advice to residents who might feel vulnerable if the fun gets out of hand. The council and police will be working together to patrol the borough and tackle antisocial behaviour at this time. So anyone throwing eggs, building bonfires in parks or on housing estates and setting off fireworks after 11pm could face prosecution, a hefty fine and even eviction. In order to make our communities and estates safer for everyone, setting off fireworks and building bonfires in the communal areas of estates is strictly prohibited under the terms and conditions of tenancy. For more advice visit www.southwark.gov.uk/ keepingyousafe or call 020 7525 5777 to report antisocial behaviour in your area.
cry from the original buildings des igned in the early 1960s. The new homes will be mo re energy efficient, warm, dry and safe, with improved communal areas.councillor Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration said, “This is a really important moment in the history of this area, but even more importantly, it's a momentous time for the peo ple who live here. The new homes appearing on this site will be better for those who move in, and what looks like a building site today will become a brand new landscape for this part of London. This development marks a milestone for social housing of national sign ificance, both in its physical size and in the extent of the change.”
If something needs repairing at home, we’re here to help. As your landlord the council is responsible for the structure and the outside of your home, and utility installations, like gas and drainage, inside your home. You are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of your home, and most minor repairs. In the past we have carried out repairs which are the tenant’s responsibility without charging for them, but this has a big impact on the council’s available budget for repairs. It also means that the majority of tenants who take care of their homes are paying for the vandalism and neglect caused by a small minority of tenants. The tenants’ council has reviewed the council’s policy on rechargeable repairs, and from next year we’ll be billing tenants for the cost of some repairs, including cleaning up empty properties that have not been left in good condition at the end of tenancy, and damage caused by vandalism and neglect. For more information, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/repairs
Carbon footprints cut down in Peckham Bells Gardens and Oliver Goldsmith estates are one of ten energy-busting areas in London that will benefit from investment to reduce carbon by 20.12% by 2012. These low carbon zones will see a number of innovative improvements to become more energy efficient. You can find out more at www.southwark.gov.uk/thebigswitchoff and keep an eye out for updates in future editions of Southwark Housing News.
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x
The festive season is nearly upon us, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune to have fun. We’ve rounded up some of Southwark’s best free (and nearly free) things to see and do.
Free films for all If you want to watch a great range of films and meet your local community, come along to Tate Modern's Community Film Club. Every month they show films ranging from classics to independent features, and you can meet new people and chat over a drink and free refreshments. This month's film is Mosque: The story of Islam in Southwark, on 8 November at 6.30pm. To find out more or to join, email communityfilmclub@tate.org.uk or call 020 7401 5176.
Blessed are the cheesemakers On 15 December, Borough Market will be havin g an evening of cheese, with producers sampling and selling cheeses from all over the world. So if you’ d like to find something a bit different to the tradi tional Christmas Stilton, want to find out how Swis s cheese gets those distinctive holes, or just fancy tasti ng some new varieties, head down to the Jubilee mark et from 4pm to 8pm. For more information, visit www.boroughmarket.org.uk
ence Christmas shopping with a differ d this December The South Bank will be transforme as market. with the arrival of a German Christm ing arts and sell See the traditional wooden chalets mulled wine, crafts, enjoy tasty German food and out more, visit and get in the festive spirit. To find www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Under 26? Get free theatre tickets! Fancy a night out at the theatre, but strapped for cash? If you’re under 26 you can get free tickets as part of Arts Council England’s A Night Less Ordinary offer. Check out which theatres are taking part at www.freelondontheatre.com, then just call the theatre of your choice or visit the box office on the day of the performance – don’t forget to bring some ID that shows your name and age like your driving license, SPA card, NUS card, passport, or railcard.
Theatre for everyone Southwark is home to some of London’s most popular tourist attractions, but many residents are put off visiting the amazing theatres and cultural attractions on their doorstep by high ticket prices, or feeling like it’s not for them. However, the Young Vic theatre in Waterloo wants to change all that, with their two boroughs project which gives people living in Southwark a chance to see plays and join workshops. Kirstin Shirling, the project manager, said “We have a really wide range of performances, from family shows to modern performances, and the two boroughs project is an opportunity for people to give theatre a try, even if they’ve never been before.“ To register and find out more, call Kirstin on 020 7922 2861 or email twoboroughs@youngvic.org
How to...
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How to... make a difference in your community Southwark is a place with a strong sense of community, and recent surveys have shown that residents want to be involved and make a difference. But it’s not always easy to know what you can do or how to get started. If you’d like to be involved in change in your community, here are just a few ways you can play your part.
Make it happen If you live in Southwark, you can help make a positive change in your community, through Cleaner Greener Safer funding. For the past eight years, Southwark’s community councils have supported local people in turning their dreams into reality. From planting trees and starting community gardens, to larger projects like refurbishing play areas or starting an outdoor gym, it’s a great way to make a real change and get involved. Ideas are submitted to the eight community councils, which then choose which ideas to fund, and this year 3.25 million pounds has been given to 194 projects. To find out more, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/cleanergreenersafer.
Housing street leaders One way to make a big difference in your local area is to volunteer as a housing street leader. Street leaders help their communities by reporting environmental issues and give tenants and residents an opportunity to get their views heard by the council. There are already over 500 street leaders in Southwark who make a huge difference to their local area every day. You don't have to give up lots of time, you don't need any special skills and it’s open to everyone; and you’ll get the support and training you need to deal with problems. Just keep your eyes open for rubbish, fly tipping, graffiti and other enviro-crimes and report them to x us. You could choose just to look after the estate you live on, or the streets that you travel through on your way to work, school, to the shops or while walking your dog. To find out more, visit www.southwark.gov.uk and search for “street leaders” or call 020 7525 2000.
Get your voice heard To help us take the views of residents into account when we’re planning our services, and every month a number of groups meet to give us their views and feedback on how we’re doing, including the pensioner’s forum, multi faith forum, disability forum and the black parents’ forum. As well as taking part in consultations and workshops, these groups play an active role in organising and volunteering at community events, including this year’s Eid celebrations at Southwark Park. Volunteers from the Muslim community forum played an active role on the day, as stewards, event hosts and organisers. Kevin Dykes, senior involvement officer, said: “Volunteers really made the event a great day, and there was a really strong sense of community in action.” If you’d like to find out what’s going on in your community, why not come along to the next community council meeting? It’s a great way to find out what’s planned for your local area, feed back to the council on the services you receive, and get involved in cleaner, greener safer bids. To find out more, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/communitycouncil.
To find out more about how you can make a difference and get involved visit www.southwark.gov.uk/getinvolved
14 How are we doing? We’re working hard to improve our services to you. We have set a range of challenging targets for all housing service, and saw some improvement in all service areas last year, when compared to the to the previous year.
We won’t be satisfied until we are one of the best landlords, and we don’t expect you to be either. We’ll be using this page to keep you updated on how we perform as the year progresses.
We aren’t complacent! Just because we are improving in some areas does not mean there are no problems in the service, and we are still aware that we have a long way to go before we reach the standards of the very best landlords. This year we are focusing on areas where you have raised the most concerns, repairs, anti social behaviour and opportunities for involvement.
Your comments Making sure you know how we are doing is one of the ways of keeping us on our toes. We welcome comments from you. Either email antoinette.stasaitis@southwark.gov.uk or call Antoinette on 020 7525 7713.
Performance indicators
How we did in 2008/09?
How we did in 2009/10?
How are we doing now?
Satisfaction with recently completed repairs
87.8%
90.75%
93.3%
90%
Resident satisfaction with area housing reception services
new in 09/10
95%
98%
90%
Stage 1 complaints answered within 15 working days
40%
67%
85.4%
80%
Neighbour nuisance cases by tenants responded to on time
new in 10/11
new in 10/11
67%
80%
new in 09/10
98.3%
98.8%
100%
Repairs completed on time
96.8%
94.4%
92.9%
95%
Repair appointments made and kept
98%
99.6%
99.9%
98%
Repairs completed right first time
81.9%
79.6%
78.2%
85%
Properties with a valid gas safety certificate
92.7%
98.66%
99.2%
100%
Lift availability
94.7%
95.8%
96.6%
96%
99.16%
99.66%
100.01%
101%
53.5 days
36.43 days
29.9 days
25 days
1
2
3
Target 2010/11
Are we improving?
Customer care
n/a
Estate services Six weekly estate inspections completed on time Repairs
Collecting rent Rent collected (current tenants) Tenancy management Average time to re-let empty properties 1
2
3
Performance between April 2008 and March 2009. Performance between April 2009 and March 2010. Performance between April 2010 and August 2010
15 If you require information in your language, or in other formats such as audio or large print, please call 020 7525 5000.
stop press The 2011 census is coming - and we need you! The 2011 census takes place on 27 March 2011, and helps decide how much money Southwark receives for schools, healthcare, and many public services. It's very important that everyone returns their census, because if they don't, that reduces the amount of funding the council receives from the government to spend on services. The Office for National Statistics are recruiting people to help the census run smoothly, and there are 35,000 jobs available in England and Wales. The jobs include collecting returns and helping people complete their forms, to team leaders and coordinators, and there are full and part time positions. To find out more, and apply for jobs, go to www.censusjobs.co.uk. To find out more about what the census means for Southwark, go to www.southwark.gov.uk/census
Local offers update We need volunteers to join a series of workshops to help us develop local offers. We are increasing the opportunities for residents to be involved in improving their housing services. In the last issue of Southwark Housing News we asked you to tell us what areas of the housing service matter most to you. We’re now asking residents to come together and look at different areas of the housing service and suggest how we can provide them differently to better meet your needs. We’re looking for a mixture of tenants and leaseholders, you don’t need any previous experience and you don’t have to already be involved in any resident groups or forums – everyone is welcome. Each meeting will around two hours, and training and expenses will be provided. For more information please contact the resident involvement team on 020 7525 3326 or email resident.involvement@southwark.gov.uk by 15 November.
Are you having difficulty paying your council tax? Southwark Citizens Advice Bureaux is working in partnership with the council’s revenues and benefits team to offer help and advice for people who are having difficulty paying their council tax. The advisers can explain the enforcement procedures, check if you are entitled to any benefits or discount, and help you work out a repayment plan, even if your debt goes back a few years or has already been to court. The sessions are held at Bermondsey CAB, 8 Market Place, Southwark Park Road SE16 3UQ on the first Tuesday of the month from 5pm to 7pm and the next sessions are Tuesday 9 November 2010 and Tuesday 7 December 2010. For more information, please visit www.southwarkadvice.org.uk or call the CAB advice line on 0844 499 4134.
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The lucky winne r last issue was James Brinklow, 31
A N O I T C A F S I T A S L
SATISFACTION VOICE RECHARGEABLE SCALE
How to get fit for free How to volunteer in your community Where to learn new skills Name:
Tel no:
Address:
Age: Comments:
Send back your completed word search by 30 November to: Southwark Council, The Editor, Southwark Housing News, Communications Team PO BOX 64529, London SE1P 5LX. Winners will be announced in the next edition. The information you provide will be used fairly and lawfully and Southwark Council will not knowingly do anything which may lead to a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Thanks to the eagle-eyed readers who spotted our spelling mistake in the last issue – alfresco appeared as alfreso! We hope you still enjoyed the word search and congratulations to the winner, James Brinklow.
Useful housing contacts Rent Pay by direct debit: 020 7525 2600 Pay by debit/credit card: 0845 6000 611 (24hrs) Pay online: www.southwark.gov.uk/onlinepayments To pay in person: Peckham cash office: 19-23 Bournemouth Road, SE15; Walworth cash office: 177-179 Walworth Road SE17; Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8.30am to 4.45pm, Sat 8.30am to 2.45pm To pay by post: The London Borough of Southwark cashiers, 19 Spa Road, PO Box 11767, London SE16 3QN Repairs Tel: 0800 952 4444 (24hrs) Utilities (emergencies): Electricity: 0800 096 9000; Gas: 0800 111 999; Water: 0845 200 800
Publication date March 2010. This magazine is printed on recycled paper.
Leaseholders/freeholders Home ownership unit - Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm Tel: 020 7525 1400 Email: hsg.homeownership@southwark.gov.uk Housing services for council tenants Tel: 020 7525 2600 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm Southwark antisocial behaviour unit Tel: 020 7525 5777 (24 hours) Email: sasbu@southwark.gov.uk Web: www.safersouthwark.gov.uk Southwark Homesearch Bidding hotline: 0845 270 0655 Bidding text line: 07781 486 526 Advice line: 020 7525 4140 Web: www.southwarkhomesearch.org.uk