Your GREAT Neighbourhood Promise Calverton 2014-17
Calverton
Collyer Road
At Gedling Homes we want all our neighbourhoods to be great places to live. We want them to look great, have great services, feel safe and be a place for both work and recreation. We believe that both Gedling Homes and our tenants have an important role to play in shaping how our neighbourhoods grow and develop. Through reviewing and improving the services we provide to our tenants, we feel we can have a positive effect on our neighbourhoods. 2
We have produced a neighbourhood promise for each of Gedling Homes’ neighbourhood areas and this one is yours. It details the issues raised by you and a commitment from Gedling Homes to review and develop our services to contribute to improving your neighbourhood. The promise will run for 3 years and will be reviewed annually with tenants, to assess our progress against the actions.
Gedling Homes’ Properties in Calverton General needs accommodation
Sheltered accommodation
Number of properties:
188
Bungalow: 10
Bungalow: 2
Flat: 68
Flat: 42
House: 66
Total accommodation
Occupied properties
Tenant age
Bungalow: 12
Occupied: 182
18-29: 23
Flat: 110
Empty: 6
30-39: 24
House: 66
Ethnicity
40-49: 26
Gender
50-59: 14 60+: 83 Unknown: 12
White British: 163
Female: 119
BME: 5
Male: 63
Unknown: 14
*Data accurate as of November 2013 3
Your GREAT Neighbourhood
Calverton Post Office, Crookdole Lane
Calverton is a village about seven miles north-east of Nottingham and has a population of around 7,000 residents. The village experienced a substantial growth when British Coal opened a mine here in the 1950’s with an addition of 500 new homes. The mine closed in 1999 and although the Industrial Estate still employs some local residents, Calverton is mainly a commuter village. The village is serviced by a number of small shops with a Co-op supermarket on Flatts Lane and shopping precinct on Wilfred Square. This precinct is home to the Core Centre, a drop in centre for residents with access to courses, Citizens Advice Bureau, local information, a work club, volunteering and office services. Calverton is a large well-kept village with an excellent bus service that runs every 15 minutes to Arnold and Nottingham City Centre. 4
Calverton has a mix of tenure types. Our properties are made up of houses, flats and bungalows; along with one sheltered housing scheme.
Gedling Homes has properties in: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Collyer Road Crookdole Lane Flatts Lane Forest Road Lee Road Manor Road Nabarro Court Newman Road
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Park Road Pepper Road Plumtree Gardens Ramsdale Avenue Seely Avenue Sherwood Avenue Tithe Lane Windles Square
Rating Your Neighbourhood St. Wilfred’s Church, Calverton
Working with our tenants we have identified a number of areas that tell us how well we are performing in your neighbourhood. These are called neighbourhood indicators and will be used alongside the feedback we have collected from tenants and residents. We have also identified some external indicators which
were identified as having an impact on the wider community. Our tenants have told us to use a simple star rating, from 1-5, with 5 being the best. We will give a star rating to a range of indicators to identify a final, overall score for your neighbourhood. 5
Your GREAT Neighbourhood Rating STAR Rating
Indicator
Brief Summary
Percentage of tenancies in rent Gedling arrears Homes’ Indicators
There are significant levels of rent arrears. This means that a relatively high number of tenants will be experiencing financial hardship and are at risk of losing their home
HHH
Percentage of customer satisfaction with their neighbourhood as a place to live (STAR survey)
Tenants in this area have a high satisfaction level with their neighbourhood as a place to live
HHHHH
Turnover of stock
Tenants stay in the area for an average amount of time
HHH
Average number of days to relet a The time it takes us to let a property in this area is property (excluding properties where longer than average a major repair has taken place)
HHH
Percentage of opened anti-social behaviour (ASB) cases per area against organisation average
This neighbourhood suffers from a small number of ASB problems
HHHH
Percentage of evictions per area
Evictions in this area are high compared to other neighbourhoods. This may indicate that tenants living in this area are suffering financial difficulty
HHH
There is a good level of economic activity in this area (employed, part-time, self-employed, seeking work)
HHHH
External Employment - Percentage of people Indicators economically active Education- Percentage of pupils achieving 5 GCSE’s grade A-C including English and Maths
There is a good level of educational attainment for pupils HHHH in the neighbourhood
Level of good health in the neighbourhood
Residents’ perception of their health is good, but not as high as in other areas
Barriers to housing and services / accessibility to services
People in this area have good access to a range of shops HHHHH and services from a variety of organisations close to their home
Crime & Safety - Offences and incidents
People experience an average level of crime when compared against other areas within Gedling borough
HHHH
HHHH
Summary
STAR Rating
Gedling Homes have devised a detailed action plan which highlights many of the above areas. Work in these areas will be undertaken in the next 3 year period to improve Gedling Homes’ properties.
HHH
The above information has been sourced from Gedling Homes’ own performance figures, the 2011 Census, Gedling Borough Council and the South Nottinghamshire Community Safety Partnership. The external data information relates to ward data and is not necessarily representative purely of Gedling Homes’ tenants.
6
Local Knowledge - Auditing Your Neighbourhood
Calverton Library, St. Wilfred’s Square
The indicators we use to rate your neighbourhood help to point us in the right direction, but to further identify what needs doing we need local knowledge, to address specific issues and problems.
There is a problem with bin side waste at the flats on Collyer Road ●
The police and Gedling Borough Council patrol streets that have been identified as having problems with ASB. Underage drinking will be targeted where appropriate and a zero tolerance approach to offenders is being taken
●
The private road to the cottages on Windles Square is in poor condition with pot holes all the way along it. Work has been planned by Gedling Homes to resurface this in 2014
●
Dog fouling is not generally an issue on the streets of Calverton
We have spoken to local people who live and work in your neighbourhood. This is what we have been told:
Our Neighbourhood Team told us: ●
●
The level of street litter in these areas does not appear to be a widespread problem, but is limited to some small areas, such as the garage site on Collyer Road. The gardens to the flats on Collyer Road have no fencing so rubbish tends to accumulate on the gardens Fly tipping in Calverton is not an issue due to the Council run tip being located in the village.
7
You told us: On average the people we spoke to rate the neighbourhood 8 out of 10 as a place to live. Despite some concerns, the majority were positive about the area. ●
●
8
Some of the best features identified were: ●
The range of shops
●
Good public transportation
●
Good local schools
Some of the worst features identified were: ●
Crime and ASB
●
Lack of local facilities
●
Parking problems
●
Concerns expressed included: ●
●
Young people hanging around near the shops on the corner of Collyer Road and Flatts Lane
Desired improvements included: ●
Tenants taking more responsibility for their gardens
Other organisations told us: ●
●
In Calverton the School Safety Project has been in operation with highly visible patrols outside of the local schools to advise parents and pupils about road safety The police have told us that there have been a small number of burglaries in the area recently
Together, we saw: ●
Problems with waste and bins along Collyer Road
●
Young people hanging out in groups outside shops on the corner of Collyer Road and Flatts Lane
9
Your GREAT Neighbourhood Promise What needs to happen? Neighbourhood and community
10
What?
Why?
When?
Target low level nuisance by an increased staff presence and joint working with the Police in the specific area identified. Where appropriate manage low level noise and other inconsiderate behaviour generally in the neighbourhood
To reduce the incidence of antisocial behaviour (ASB) in the neighbourhood and improve resident’s quality of life
March 2015
Introduce a restorative justice scheme with partner agencies and utilising volunteers from the community to help reduce levels of ASB and to produce long lasting solutions to it
To engage communities in helping to solve the ASB and the offending that affects them. This will increase community engagement and provide a voice for victims of crime and ASB and those who have been harmed either directly or indirectly
August 2015
Increase the signposting of tenants to health advice and other support services
To improve the health of tenants in the neighbourhood and make them aware of the support that is available
September 2015
Consistently signpost and refer tenants and their families to training and income advice services, working with partners to develop people’s employment readiness
To improve services and maximise input into the neighbourhood from other service providers
September 2015
Improve and focus our Caretaking service on the areas identified by our tenants
To ensure that tenants get the best possible service from our Caretaking Team and to maximise their impact on the neighbourhood
March 2015
Work with partners and other agencies to support initiatives to help improve the neighbourhood
To improve services and maximise input into the neighbourhood from other service providers
December 2015
Neighbourhood Team to increase targeting of fly tipping and litter hotspots within Gedling Homes areas including the use of surveillance cameras
To improve the neighbourhood appearance and quality of life for residents
March 2015
Home What?
Why?
When?
Work towards publishing a plan of internal improvement of communal areas in our apartment blocks
To improve the appeal of properties and the quality of life of existing tenants
June 2015
Improve and introduce where possible scooter storage in our schemes
To improve tenants quality of life
April 2016
Review the refuse storage provision for Gedling Homes flats and the recycling options available
To identify ways to reduce storage issues and the effect on neighbourhood appearance
March 2015
Implement an external painting programme
To improve the appearance of Gedling Homes’ properties and of the neighbourhood
March 2016
Undertake a review of the condition of all garage sites owned by Gedling Homes and produce a programme for future improvements
To improve the management, security and appearance of garage sites and improve parking provision
December 2015
Consider all options available to improve the appearance of Gedling Homes’ properties
To improve the appearance of the neighbourhood and quality of life of tenants and residents
March 2015
Improve the green spaces in our Independent Living Schemes
To improve the scheme and area appearance
April 2016
Wilfred Square Shopping Parade
11
Tenancy
12
What?
Why?
When?
Continue to provide support to sustain tenancies and wherever possible prevent evictions
To help more tenants successfully sustain their tenancies
June 2015
Continue to make targeted calls and visits to customers in rent arrears. Provide advice and assistance to enable the customer to pay the rent due and come to a sustainable agreement to repay any arrears owed
To reduce arrears in the neighbourhood and the number of customers whose home is at risk due to debt issues
June 2015
Continue to provide increased support to identified families and tenants and link them to our support and advice services
To help identified customers successfully manage their tenancy and reduce lifestyle clashes with other residents
June 2015
Continue to signpost and refer customers who may benefit from the help of our Money Wise team
To reduce the number of evictions for nonpayment of rent and provide more help and advice on managing finances
September 2015
Work with tenants to create a sense of community and reduce isolation through befriending
To help new tenants settle into the neighbourhood and create links to the community and neighbours
March 2015
Neighbourhoods team to continue with regular estate inspections (open to all tenants)
To provide regular monitoring of street level appearance and visible issues
June 2015
Increase the use and targeting of mediation services in neighbour disputes
To reduce neighbour disputes and improve neighbour relations
June 2015
Target fast track enforcement for serious ASB perpetrators with targeted resources from our Tenancy Services team
To remove disruptive tenants quickly and improve the quality of life for other residents, protecting demand for properties
December 2014
Continue to signpost support services to tenants who may be experiencing drug and alcohol related problems
To reduce levels of neighbour nuisance and disputes and help identified tenants access health support and services
September 2015
Involvement and empowerment What?
Why?
When?
Set up a regular neighbourhood improvement group with tenants
To ensure services are more customer and neighbourhood focussed
March 2016
Continue to work with Tenants and Residents groups and provide any support they require to develop their activities
To obtain detailed feedback from tenants and residents specifically on services and wider neighbourhood issues, and work with them jointly on neighbourhood priorities
September 2015
Extend and improve activities for older tenants via Sheltered Scheme events
To improve community links between older tenants in different parts of the neighbourhood and improve community spirit and quality of life
September 2015
Promote “Grow Your Own� schemes for our tenants
To promote health and well-being
October 2015
Develop a Time Bank scheme where tenants can provide skills and support to each other
To build community cooperation networks, increase community spirit, self-help, improve inter-generational links and to build respect
March 2015
Develop and improve Community Regeneration initiatives within our neighbourhoods
To improve neighbourhood appearance and to allow the community to target areas they think are a problem and build a sense of community spirit
March 2016
Extend our links with furniture recycling community enterprises to help new and existing tenants furnish their properties
To improve community access to affordable furniture, build community networks and develop a community’s ability to work on projects together
March 2016
13
Final Thoughts We hope that over the next three years, through the actions outlined in Your GREAT Neighbourhood Promise, will really make a visible difference to your neighbourhood.
We believe that the key to achieving the goals set out in this plan is to continue working together, with you, our tenants and leaseholders.
What happens next? Work has already begun in your neighbourhood on the various actions outlined in Your GREAT Neighbourhood Promise. We will be reviewing the plan frequently and will keep you updated on the progress with an annual report. You will have the opportunity to be involved in this so please watch out for advertised activities or requests for feedback. However, if you have something to say, don’t wait for us to call you! If after reading this you have any questions, comments or suggestions, or if you would like to get involved in fulfilling the plan, please contact us:
14
Phone: 0115 905 1515 Email: enquiries@gedlinghomes.co.uk Twitter: @Gedling_Homes Facebook: facebook.com/gedlinghomes We can also arrange for someone to call and visit you in your own home. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!
15
Windles Square
Contact Us Phone:
0115 905 1515
In person:
Email:
enquiries@gedlinghomes.co.uk
Website:
www.gedlinghomes.co.uk
Customer Contact Centre, The Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6LU.
Facebook: www.facebook.co.uk/gedlinghomes Twitter:
@Gedling_Homes
Write:
Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, NG4 4AD
Opening times are 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4.30pm Friday