Annual Report 2017
Better Stronger Smarter
Contents Better Services
4–5
Better Communities
6–7
Stronger and Growing
8–9
Stronger as One
10 – 11
Smarter for the Future
12 - 13
Crown Simmons staff, July 2017
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Better Stronger Smarter for Crown Simmons
A strong start T
his year we launched our new strategic plan ‘Better, Stronger, Smarter’ which sets out our targets for achievement through to 2021. You will be able to see what we are planning to achieve over the next few pages. We’ve made a really strong start by:
adopted by housing organisations and identifies
•
organisational cultures that are more innovative and
Maintaining customer satisfaction with our landlord service at 85% by surveying all residents in 2015 and 2016;
•
Improving our annual surplus and operating margin from that achieved in 2016, at a time when our turnover has reduced through a combination of the 1% annual rent reduction and the expiry of a major contract;
•
Reducing our management costs and the amount we are spending on administration year on year;
•
Achieving planning permission to build 39 new homes in Elmbridge at Mole Abbey, West Molesey and Rosemary House, Esher; and
•
forward-thinking than the UK average. Our repairs and maintenance single-contractor scheme was shortlisted at the Housing Innovation Awards, and in March we won ‘Regional Housing Association of the Year’ at the South East Energy
Chair of Board
It’s really satisfying to see that some of the difficult decisions that were made in 2016 are now bearing fruit as we look to improve our services further and deliver more housing. At this juncture we also thank Stephen Cooper, Christopher Clarke and Helen Edwards who stand down from the Board this year after giving many
Completing the purchase of 28 occupied homes
years of service. A recruitment campaign commenced
in the London Borough Merton from the Mayor’s
in the Spring and we have appointed two new Non-
Office for Policing & Crime (MOPAC).
Executive Directors to the Board who will join later
We’re also delighted to have received some external
Alfons Dankis,
Efficiency Awards.
this year.
Paul Yates, Chief Executive of Crown Simmons
recognition. In September we were again recognised in the Inside Housing/Dolphin Innovation Index and were placed 17th nationally (a rise from 39th in the previous year). The index looks closely at the cultures
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Residents at Gunters Mead, Esher clear up allotments with their gardener, Steve (pictured centre)
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Working with residents to shape services I
n 2017 we sought to provide new services to residents. After surveying all of our residents over the last two years, we have found that 85% are satisfied with the service Crown Simmons provide.
As a result of these surveys and the responses received we made it easier for residents to access online services, including My Tenancy, which allows direct access to rent and service charge accounts and repairs information. One of the areas identified for improvement from the surveys is the cleaning and gardening services we currently provide. We have formed a new Estate Services Improvement Group to ensure that residents have direct input into the procurement of new services at our schemes, so that they can improve in the future.
Better Services
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‘‘
Steve and Graham at Highbury View
Graham invited me to the Highbury garden party before I’d moved in saying it was a good time to meet a few people. I enjoyed it and met lots of people who made me feel very welcome and gave me lots of food and drink - I have felt welcome ever since. I feel very much a part of this close-knit community.
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Highbury View residents at garden party
Building close-knit communities H
elping to build communities and providing better homes is our number one priority. Residents in Islington, London can often be found enjoying their garden whilst having a party with friends and other residents. We spoke to Steve, a new resident at Highbury View in Islington, to find out what he thought of his home and the community at Highbury.
Before moving to Highbury I lived at a night shelter then moved to a hostel at St Mungo’s homeless charity. I used to have my own flat but I had to leave the flat as I feared for my safety and leave all my possessions and clothes behind. “I moved into Highbury View after seeing the flat in May 2017 and I was very impressed with the scheme. The people I met seemed friendly and the flat was nice. I was aware there were other people coming to view it so I had to wait with bated breath until I received the call from Graham [Housing Services Officer at Highbury View] saying I was successful. My experience so far has been very positive.” “The community at Highbury has been very supportive, especially Graham - he asked me if I need furniture or bits-and-bobs and a lot of things were gifted to me. Graham said, ‘if there is anything outside your front door when you come home in the evening it’s for you, from the other tenants’. My flat got basically
Better Communities
furnished and a grant to shop at B&Q for paint and materials meant I was able to decorate my flat.
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Artist’s impression of new homes in West Molesey
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Working with Elmbridge council to build more homes W
e have been working with Elmbridge council to build more homes where they are desperately needed. Elmbridge was named the most expensive place to buy a home in the South East of England in 2017,* so we have been working to bring truly affordable housing to the area.
We have been granted planning permission to build 28 new homes to replace a number of prefab bungalows and dated communal facilities at Mole Abbey in West Molesey. We will also be providing 11 new homes at the site of our former head office premises in Esher. The homes will provide housing for local families, older and single people. In addition, we have worked on proposals with Elmbridge council to utilise enabling funds for an innovative property scheme to reduce the use of bed & breakfast accommodation in the borough.
Artist’s impression of new homes in Esher
Stronger & growing *Source: National Housing Federation. (February 2, 2017.) Home Truths 2016/17: South East. Retrieved from: http://www.housing.org.uk/resource-library/browse/home-truths-2016-17-the-housing-market-in-the-south-east/
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Gardens at Raynesfield in Raynes Park
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Open day at new home for key workers in Godstone, Surrey.
Homes for key workers I
n London and other parts of Surrey we have been working with the Metropolitan and Surrey Police to provide homes for their staff members. We brought 12 previously empty homes up to modern standards for key workers in Surrey.
In July 2017 we also bought 28 homes at the Raynesfield Estate in Raynes Park which were originally due to be sold by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to the private sector with vacant possession. Following a sustained campaign by the residents and local politicians, MOPAC changed their strategy and we were extremely pleased to have negotiated a deal ‘off market’ to ensure that the estate remains as genuinely affordable rented housing for working families.
Stronger as one P11 n
The smart plan We have sought to maintain an excellent service to customers and residents. This year the Housing Team filled 29 voids (which means re-renting the property after the old tenant has left) in an average of 26 days. Our Operations Team also dealt with the sale of 21 leasehold and shared-ownership properties. KPIs
Repairs completed on target
91%
Resident satisfaction with repairs
80%
Customer complaints during year
25
Current Rent arrears
Average re-let time
Gas safety compliance
2.35%
26 Calendar days
100%
Former tenant arrears
Total number of re-lets
Fire safety compliance*
29 (normal voids)
100%
0.44% Void rent loss
0.31%
Total number of re-sales
21 (leasehold & shared ownership)
*During the year we carried out all the Fire Risk Assessments (FRA’s) in all our properties that have internal communal areas, i.e. corridors, etc. Our policy is to carry out these checks annually. All actions required from FRA’s are monitored regularly and were all carried out in advance of their due dates.
Smarter for the F n P12
Crown Simmons is participating in the HCA’s pilot Sector Scorecard, to produce more meaningful information about value for money. Our performance for the pilot year is shown against figures from the previous year where available. Value for Money Sector Scorecard Pilot Performance Indicators 2017
2016
Operating margin
19.66%
12.95%
Operating Margin Social Housing
25.42%
16.04%
EBITDA
176.50%
151.94%
Improved?
Business Health
Development Capacity Units developed
0
0
Units developed as a percentage of stock
0
0
33.28%
34.46%
85%
85%
Gearing* Outcomes delivered Customer satisfaction £s Invested in new housing supply for every £ generated from operations
£0.14
£0.06
£s invested in communities for every £ generated from operations
£0.01
£0.00
2.16%
2.02%
99.69%
99.57%
1.25
DNA
£4219.93
£4758.68
Rent Collected
101.87%
100.5%
Overheads as a percentage of adjusted turnover
13.45%
DNA
Effective Asset Management Return on capital employed Occupancy Ratio of responsive repairs to planned maintenance
DNA
Operating Efficiencies Headline social housing cost per unit
DNA
Future
*Gearing is the ratio of how much debt we have compared to our assets.
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Our finances are on course to provide as many as 150 extra homes and provide services for over 1,500 residents over the next four years. In 2017 Crown Simmons delivered improved financial results. This year we:
•
Statement Of Financial Position For The Year Ended 31 March 2017 March 2017 £
March 2016 £
Fixed assets
Delivered an increased surplus of £477,253. This was £48,015 higher than in 2016
Housing Properties
36,640,681
36,716,572
and all surpluses are reinvested to improve services and build more homes.
Other Fixed Assets
141,462
154,767
36,782,143
36,871,339
Debtors
198,806
359,305
Cash and cash equivalents
10,758,477
10,722,271
Stock
-
128,675
10,957,283
11,210,251
(2,209,108)
(2,331,609)
8,748,175
8,878,642
•
Are operating well within our gearing and interest cover limits.
•
Will benefit from improved financial management through providing value for money – this allows us to service more bank borrowing to build and acquire new homes.
Current assets
Statement Of Comprehensive Income For The Year Ended 31 March 2017 March 2017 £
March 2016 £
Less: Creditors: Amounts
Turnover
4,279,351
4,836,621
falling due within one year
Operating expenditure
(3,437,825)
(4,210,256)
Net current assets/
Operating surplus
841,526
626,365
(liabilities)
Surplus on sale of fixed assets
139,900
298,431
Total assets less current liabilities
45,530,318
45,749,981
Interest receivable
40,052
73,258
Creditors: Amounts falling due
(26,013,409)
(26,710,325)
Interest and financing costs
(544,225)
(568,816)
after more than one year
Surplus/(deficit) for the year
477,253
429,238
Total net assets
19,516,909
19,039,656
Share capital
28
28
Reserves
19,516,881
19,039,628
19,516,909
19,039,656
Reserves and capital
Independent Auditors Report to the members of Rosemary Simmons Memorial Housing Association Limited, trading as Crown Simmons Housing. We have audited, in accordance with International Standards on Auditing the financial statements of Rosemary Simmons Memorial Housing Association Limited for the year ending 31 March 2017. In our report dated 17 August 2017 we expressed an unqualified opinion on the full set of financial statements from which these summarised statements were derived. In our opinion, the financial summary information is consistent in all material aspects with the full set of financial statements. For a better understanding of the Association’s financial position and the scope of our audit, the summary financial information should be read in conjunction with the full set of financial statements. Beever and Struthers Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors, London 14 September 2017
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Nick Williams
Rob Webber
Diane Lennan
Alfons Dankis
Stephen Cooper
Chris Clarke
Robin Fielder
Meetings attended
Meetings expected
Alfons Dankis | Chairman of Board
9
9
Christopher Clarke
6
11
Stephen Cooper
11
13
Helen Edwards (on sabbatical to 31 January 2017)
1
2
Robin Fielder | Chair of Governance & Remuneration Committee
9
9
Diane Lennan | Deputy Chair
7
9
Anil Majevadia
11
11
Dan Prentice (resigned 27 September 2016)
3
5
Rob Webber
11
11
Nick Williams
7
10
Roger Winterburn (resigned 27 September 2016)
3
5
Jane Worsley (resigned 27 September 2016)
7
7
Board of management who served during the year
Anil Majevadia
Helen Routledge
Paul Yates
Emma Solomons
Leadership Team Paul Yates | Chief Executive & Company Secretary Helen Routledge | Finance Director (appointed 9 November 2016) Emma Solomons | Customer Services Director
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Registered Office: First Floor, Aissela, 46 High Street, Esher KT10 9QY TEL: 01372 461 440 WEB: www.crownsimmons.org.uk EMAIL: enquiries@crownsimmons. org.uk /crownsimmons @CrownSimmons Crown Simmons Housing is the trading name of Rosemary Simmons Memorial Housing Association Ltd.