Housing News Summer 2014 by South Derbyshire District Council

Housing News

Summer 2014

The magazine for South Derbyshire Housing Servicesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Customers

Dreamscheme Update

Communal improvements

Enter Can You Dig It 2014

South Derbyshire Changing for the better

A Letter from the Chairman of Housing Services

In this issue... 3 A Letter from the Chairman of Housing Services

4-5 Dreamscheme Update

6 Forum Update

7 Tenant Groups and Panels Update

8 Allocations and Leaseholder Policy Consultation

9 New Council housing earmarked for South Derbyshire

10 Tenants driving customer satisfaction forward

11 How to report a repair

12 Win £25 of shopping vouchers

Government campaign to cut fire deaths

In the last issue I promised to keep you up to date with the progress in building the first new Council homes in a generation.

Dreamscheme update

Can You Dig It? Enter your garden now

We are still on track to deliver 50 properties over five sites during the first phase of this project. These properties are scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2015. These five sites are:

14 Communal improvements Communicating with our customers

15 Saying farewell to Housing staff

• Coton Park in Linton • Pine Grove in Newhall • St Catherine’s Road in Newhall • Lullington Road in Overseal • Pennine Way in Swadlincote

Since December, the Council has been making significant progress across all these sites and I am delighted to inform you that four of the sites have now been given planning permission and work should start on site shortly.

New Council housing

ARCH Update

Once built the properties are designed to ensure that tenants feel comfortable and safe. These homes will be available for people on the South Derbyshire Choice Based Lettings register to apply for and move in to in 2015.

16 Competition winners

Credit agency offers a helping hand to tenants

Useful Contacts Customer Services 01283 595795 Citizens’ Advice Bureau 01283 210109 Contents Insurance 01283 595781 Council Tax 01283 595970 Homelessness 01283 595802/4 Housing Options 01283 595778 Housing Benefits 01283 595790 Repairs 01283 595808/9 Right to Buy 01283 595806

Tenant Participation

01283 595788

Out of hours 01283 221225 emergency line (operated by Careline) PLEASE NOTE that if a call-out is made and found not to be an emergency, it may result in the tenant being recharged the costs. If you have any problems paying your rent please call your Housing Officer on 01283 595795

Front cover – main photograph: Best Community Garden Winner Linda Sanders, of Melbourne, with neighbour Molly Ransome

Over the next six months, the Council is continuing to make progress in delivering improvements to maintain and improve the standards of our existing properties. These improvements will include work such as installing new kitchens, bathrooms, showers and making central heating upgrades.

I look forward to seeing the work completed successfully and the huge impact this will make to the lives of tenants.

How to report a repair

Councillor John Lemmon Chairman of Housing and Community Services

Mystery shopping

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Send Us Your Letters The Publications Panel has decided to allocate space in all editions of the Housing News for tenants’ letters and where appropriate responses from officers, councillors and tenant representatives. If you have any questions or comments on housing matters, please send them to the Tenant Participation Officer, South Derbyshire District Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 0AH or email tp@south-derbys.gov.uk. Please ensure that questions are brief and no more than 50 words. The Performance and Policy Manager and Publications Panel reserve the right to refuse publication of any letters.

CMYK / .eps

Obtaining alternative versions of this document

@SDDC 2 Housing News SUMMER 2014

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If you would like help in reading this document phone 01283 585788 or email tp@south-derbys.gov.uk. This document can also be viewed on our website www.south-derbys.gov.uk

SUMMER 2014 Housing News 3

A Festive Update R

In December, Housing Services delivered its second successful Dreamscheme Christmas Hamper giveaway in partnership with the South Derbyshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum and the Community Events Panel. Tenants and residents from across South Derbyshire pulled together to collect a large amount of food and gifts for the hampers as well as sponsorship from local businesses. Four young Dreamschemers then joined Housing staff and tenants to make up and deliver 26 hampers across South Derbyshire to tenants who were homeless, housebound, disabled, on their own at Christmas, or suffering financial hardship. Some of the recipients included a single mum with a baby and two young sons, a man who cares for his disabled grandmother and mother, two recently widowed pensioners, and a lady experiencing fuel poverty.

Dreamscheme in South Derbyshire is in its fourth year now, and has seen some really successful projects, from creating a community garden in Hartshorne, to transforming communal gardens for residents living in Church Gresley and Etwall.

Dreamscheme 2014

It’s that time of year again when we announce our Dreamscheme programme of events – and appeal for all young people aged 8 to 21 to get involved. Dreamscheme in South Derbyshire is in its fourth year now, and has seen some really successful projects, from creating a community garden in Hartshorne, to transforming communal gardens for residents living in Church Gresley and Etwall.

The Dreamschemers designed and made each of the 26 tenants a Christmas card and helped to make up and wrap the hampers before giving up a Sunday to deliver them to tenants’ doors. It was an emotional day and many tenants were overwhelmed by the young volunteers’ kindness and their community spirit.

For our main Dreamscheme this year, we are working with Overseal Parish Council to transform the village hall in to a space that the whole community will enjoy using. We are decorating the hall’s IT suite, office and a youth shelter, and planting flowers at the front of the village hall to give visitors a bright and colourful welcome.

DATE AND TIME

How does Dreamscheme work?

Dreamscheme rewards young people for working within the community, reduces anti-social behaviour, encourages inter-generational working and enables young people to gain new skills. For every hour worked the participant gets 1 point. The points are accumulated and used towards a trip out. Previous trips have included Alton Towers, Drayton Manor, Tamworth Snowdome, go-karting, Laser Quest and Swadlincote Odeon. If you are interested in getting involved or finding out more then contact Sharon or Laurie on 01283 595788 or email tp@south-derbys.gov.uk.

VENUE

PROJECT

The youngsters were rewarded for their hard work with a meal and trip to watch Frozen 3D courtesy of Swadlincote Odeon Cinema.

Mon 4th - Fri 8th Aug Overseal Village Hall

Decorating

Wed 6th Aug

A big thank you goes out to our sponsors Odeon Cinema, Andy’s Fish Bar, Nationwide Mini Bus Hire, Overseal Co-op, Swadlincote Boots, the South Derbyshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum and Councillor David Shepherd.

10am-3pm

4-7pm

Maurice Lea Memorial Park, Church Gresley Unity Close, Church Gresley

National Play Day to promote Dreamscheme Making Christmas hampers

Sun 7th Dec

District-wide

Delivering Christmas hampers

9am-4pm

Tues 2nd Dec 9am-5pm

4 Housing News SUMMER 2014

We hope that as many community groups, adult volunteers and young people get involved with this exciting project to really make it a success.

SUMMER 2014 Housing News 5

Community Events Group

FORUM CHAIRPERSON WENDY BRUCE SAID:

The Group successfully delivered their first Christmas Hamper Project in partnership with Housing Services in December last year, liaising with local businesses to get sponsorship and with local people to get a fantastic amount of food and gifts donated. This year, they will be helping to organise our summer Dreamscheme, the Can You Dig It prize-giving ceremony and tombola, and a new Supported Housing event in September.

“We want to be working on projects and improving services, not just taking about them. We’re hoping that if Panel and Forum members work together with managers, we can achieve more.”

FORUM UPDATE Exciting changes are happening to the way tenants of all ages can get involved with Housing Services. The South Derbyshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum and tenant Panels and Groups are meeting with the Council’s senior Housing managers every two months to discuss each service area. A variety of topics will be covered during the meetings, including: • Repairs and maintenance • Supported Housing • Communications, marketing and recruitment • Updates from area representatives on local issues • Updates about regional and national networking events and membership, including the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) and the Derbyshire Tenants’ Network (DTN) The main change is that while there is still a Tenants’ Forum and a number of existing Panels and Groups, they will all meet together rather than holding separate meetings. This way, all involved tenants can work together to improve service delivery. However, the Publications Panel, Community Events Group and the Performance & Scrutiny Panel will still meet separately due to the nature of their work. A member from each of these groups will present an update at each of the main meetings to keep everyone informed. The move comes following feedback from the Forum about how best to boost the number of tenants involved while still driving service improvement forward. Tenant Participation Officer Laurie Devitt said: “This way, there will be a much more level playing field for tenants who want to get involved, and the flexibility for them to dip in and out of whatever service areas they are interested in. 6 Housing News SUMMER 2014

All forthcoming meetings will take place at the Civic Offices from 10am until 2.30pm, and include a buffet lunch, unless stated below: Thursday Tuesday Thursday Tuesday Thursday Tuesday Thursday Tuesday Thursday

July 17 2014 9.30am-1.30pm (no lunch provided) September 16 2014 November 20 2014 January 13 2015 March 12 2015 May 12 2015 July 16 2015 September 15 2015 November 12 2015

”

The Forum will still hold ad hoc meetings at Unity Close Community Room to discuss, for example, consultation on any policy documents or matters not covered by the main meeting.

“Less frequent meetings will free up tenants’ time, and regular dialogue between tenants and managers will hopefully have a positive impact on service improvement.” You do not have to be a member of the Forum to attend the meetings listed, and you can attend as many as you are able. More information is available by telephoning Laurie or Sharon on 01283 595788. Stay tuned to our Facebook page - SDDC-HousingServices - for news of a Forum re-launch event.

TENANT PANELS UPDATE Each of our dedicated tenant groups continues to make a real impact in helping to drive service delivery and improvement forward. The commitment they show and hours they dedicate to working with us on behalf of all tenants is commendable. If you would like to get involved with any of our groups, please call Laurie Devitt or Sharon Cole on 01283 595788.

Performance & Scrutiny Panel The Panel has been working with Project Officer Phil Lenton on environmental improvements to the exteriors of Holmes Court and Brightman House, in Swadlincote. Tenant Participation Officer Sharon Cole and Performance & Scrutiny Panel member Wendy Bruce visited tenants at both sites to gather feedback on how the buildings could be improved internally. The Panel’s recommendations are now being considered at management level.

Home Standard (Repairs) Panel This year the Panel aims to review the Rechargeable Repairs Policy, contractors’ performance and the methods we use to get feedback on our repairs and improvements service. They will also monitor our carbon footprint with service managers and review how the Council provides decorating materials after major works or when properties become void.

Publications Panel Members will be looking at alternative methods of communicating with our tenants, such as through e-publications, and how we can improve the Tenants’ Handbook. They will also be exploring how to get younger tenants involved and how we can incorporate new articles and features in to the Housing News. SUMMER 2014 Housing News 7

Changes to the Leaseholder Policy Consultation is underway over changes to South Derbyshire District Council’s Leaseholder Management Policy. The draft policy went out for consideration to the authority’s 34 leaseholders and the South Derbyshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum on March 20, with the deadline for comments being April 22. All comments received are now being considered before the final policy is agreed. Updates will be available on our website at www.south-derbys.gov.uk

Allocations Policy As part of the introduction of the new Allocations Policy we have reviewed and updated the process for prospective tenants to access social housing. Firstly we undertook a review of the applicants on the Housing Register that have been registered with the Council for over 6 months. As a result of this review we removed over 204 applications who had either moved addresses, changed circumstances or no longer wished to be considered for Social Rented Housing. Further changes from the Allocations Policy will come into effect from the 1st July 2014, these include: • Introduction of non-qualifying persons who will not be allowed to join the register – those who do not have a local connection to the area, have an principal earner with an income of over £32k, own and are able to live in a property they own, have made their own housing circumstances 8 Housing News SUMMER 2014

worse over the last 6 months or have given false information in order to obtain a tenancy in the last 2 years. • If any applicant is found guilty of unacceptable behaviour listed in the policy they may be excluded from the register for 2 years. • To reduce the number of bids allowed to 3 per weekly advertising cycle. If applications turn down more than 3 properties in a 6 month period they will be suspended from the register for a period of 6 months. • Increase in the number of direct lets we as landlord are able to make outside of the normal lettings process from 1% to 5% bringing it in line with partner landlords. The changes are in response to the Localism Act 2011. This allows Councils to set their own allocations criteria based on housing those most in need, making more effective use of their stock and reducing the number of people on the Housing waiting list.

Council set to build 50 new homes There are five sites which are planned for development, four of which have been given planning permission. They are: Coton Park, Linton This is the largest of the five sites, with 23 houses of mixed sizes planned for the site. Pine Grove, Newhall This is a small development consisting of two detached one-bedroom bungalows on an area of land currently used as a parking court. St Catherine’s Road, Newhall Two semi-detached two-bedroom houses are proposed for this site which is an area of land formerly occupied by garages to the rear of St Catherine’s Road. Lullington Road, Overseal This development is situated south of Lullington Road on the western outskirts of Overseal and consists of 12 semi-detached properties of mixed sizes. Pennine Way, Swadlincote The site is currently an area of light woodland at the end of Pennine Way. The proposal is to develop a small section of this land with eight houses of mixed sizes and two bungalows. An application for planning permission has recently been submitted.

The first Council houses in a generation are being built in South Derbyshire. Currently 50 properties are planned for Phase One of the project, which supports the Council’s commitment to deliver new Council housing across the district. The properties are designed to high standards using high-quality materials and constructed in a way that should reduce energy bills for future tenants. The development is also designed to ensure that tenants feel comfortable and safe by minimising opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour. The homes delivered in Phase One will be available for people on the South Derbyshire Choice Based Lettings register to apply for, and move in to in 2015.

More information about the planning applications is available on the Council’s website at www.planning. south-derbys.gov.uk/ Applications.aspx or by telephoning the Council’s Affordable Housing Officer, Vicky Robb, on 01283 228742

SUMMER 2014 Housing News 9

REPORTING A REPAIR

Tenants ‘Mystery Shop’ for Satisfaction The Council is working with tenants to undertake training on how to mystery shop parts of the repairs service in a bid to continue to improve the quality of the work and increase tenant satisfaction across the district. Forum members are being trained to collect feedback about the services new tenants receive when being allocated and signed up for their new home, as well as the overall standard of the property when they moved in. We are always striving to continuously monitor and improve our services wherever possible – and we recognise that to do this, we need tenant feedback.

When you contact us with a repair request we prioritise it in terms of how dangerous or urgent it is. We will inform you that the repair will be carried out in either 24 hours, 3 days or 20 days. Where possible we always book an appointment with you when you first contact us. The more urgent the repair the quicker we commit to completing it.

Initially, members of the South Derbyshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum will be speaking to tenants who have recently moved into a Council property. Every tenant who moves in to one of our properties is sent a New Home Satisfaction Questionnaire within 14 days of signing their tenancy agreement. However, we want to improve the response to this questionnaire and the amount of feedback we receive.

If you are a new or existing tenant and have any comments about the services Housing provides to you, contact Laurie or Sharon on 01283 595788 or email tp@south-derbys.gov.uk

Improve Your Credit Report One of the UK’s biggest credit reference agencies has been talking to tenants in South Derbyshire about how to improve their credit rating. Experian met with the South Derbyshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum in March to talk about the Rental Exchange and how it can help tenants with a history of little or no credit. The initiative, which is run in conjunction with social enterprise organisation Big Issue Invest, enables tenants to enhance their credit report and create an ‘online’ proof of identity. This, in theory, will make it easier for them to access more affordable mainstream services and apply for goods and services such as utility suppliers and mobile phone contracts. 10 Housing News SUMMER 2014

Despite those people who live in social housing paying their rent regularly, it is not currently taken into account when they apply for credit. With this initiative, regular rental payments to the Council will be noted. The Forum, senior Housing managers and soon Councillors will be considering whether the Rental Exchange would be beneficial to all our tenants.

HIGH PRIORITY REPAIRS

Listed below are some repairs which would be classed as high priority: • Leaks from hot or cold water pipework • Leaks from a boiler • No heating or hot water • Penetrating damp from a roof • Roof tiles/masonry that could become a danger to the tenant, i.e. danger of falling • Loss of power and issues with electrics • Electrical faults that could become a danger to a tenant

REPAIRS THAT ARE THE TENANT’S RESPONSIBILITY

Before you contact us to report a repair, please check your responsibility as a tenant. Repairs that you are responsible for include: • Bathroom / kitchen plugs and chains • Door number or name plates • Door bells (unless we have provided the unit) • Outside door locks if you have broken the lock or lost the keys • Spare keys • Glass in doors or screens • Internal door locks • Electrical plugs • Supply of electricity in conjunction with providers • Fuses on plugs, light bulbs,

• • • • • • • •

fluorescent tubes and starters Electric appliances or systems fitted or belonging to you Washing machine fittings Fencing between properties, greenhouses and garden sheds, pigeon lofts and outbuildings Rotary dryers (unless provided by us in communal areas) Inside decoration Floor coverings Damage caused by a tenant, members of the household or invited guests Repairs that result from misuse or negligence

Our responsibilities as a landlord and yours as a tenant are listed in your Tenancy Agreement. You can report a repair by visiting the Civic Offices during office hours, by telephoning 01283 595808/595809, or completing a repair request form online at www.south-derbys.gov.uk. You can also email repairs@south-derbys.gov.uk.

If your repair is an emergency and it is outside office hours, please phone Careline on 01283 221225. SUMMER 2014 Housing News 11

HAVE A WORKING A WORKING KE MOKE SMOKE ALARM ALARM AT HOME? AT HOME? AT HOME? LARM AT ALARM HOME? MAREOTR TIMES ATNOTAREMORETIMES HOME? YOU IFFOUR YOU FOUR ARE MORE TIMES FOUR MORE TIMES MORE TOSTARTS A DIE FIREIFTOSTARTS ADIE FIREIF STARTS INAHOME FIRE YOURSTARTS INHOME YOURINHOME YOUR HOME LIKELY TOLIKELY DIE IFTOLIKELY A DIE FIREIFLIKELY INe YOUR Win £25

Gardening Competition 2014

Do you fancy winning a £25 high street voucher? Then read on to find out how.

Every month, heating and energy contractor RENUVO is offering one lucky South Derbyshire District Council tenant £25 of shopping vouchers.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is complete your annual gas safety check, gas repair appointment or replacement heating customer satisfaction questionnaire and return it in the pre-paid envelope given to you by the Renuvo contractor following the works being carried out at your home. Both positive and negative comments are welcome – neither will affect your chances of winning a voucher.

eCan You Dig It? e e 1 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 4 1 2 4 3 3 3 3 DO YOU HAVE A WORKING All completed questionnaires for each month will then be entered in to a prize draw and one selected at random by a member of the Council’s Improvements team. The winners will then be contacted and a photograph of the lucky tenants being presented with their vouchers by Renuvo will appear in the December Housing News, on our website and on our Facebook page - SDDC-Housing-Services.

MORE LIKELY TO DIE IF A FIRE STARTS IN YOUR HOME

people year die people in fires die year ineach in fires yearinin fires in reach in 226 fires ineach Are you a keen gardener? Do you have blooming aused homes, their bycaused homes, smoking bycaused smoking by smoking smoking baskets, tubs, pots or borders? Do your children or grandchildren help you do the garden? king, rials, materials, candles cooking, and cooking, candles and candles and les and uch rlty things as other faulty such things as faulty such as SMOKE ALARM ATfaulty HOME? NOT YOU AREor FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE alarms IF A Fit FIREsmoke STARTS IN Fit YOUR HOME Test youralarms smoke Test smoke TestPut your smoke Fit smoke alarms smoke it out. Right Put itan out. Right Put it out. RightPlan an escape Test your smoke rical gances. orIFelectrical wiring appliances. wiring appliances. appliances. Plan an escape Plan an escape Fit smokeor alarms Putyour it out. Right Plan escape weekly. weekly. alarms eachweekly. level of onalarms each level of alarms Make sureroute out! you Make sure out! you Make you alarms route andsure make route sure and make route sureand make sure on each level ofon each level ofon out! Make sureout! youweekly. and make sure Never remove the Never removeNever theout theout your home. your home. your home. putremove cigarettes put cigarettes put out cigarettes outeveryone Never remove the 1Test 2 4 can eofthe reduce You risk can of the fire reduce risk in of the fire risk in of fire in 3 everyone knows it knows everyone it knows it your home. put cigarettes fire in everyone knows it your smoke Fit smoke alarms Put it out. Right Plan an escape batteries. batteries. batteries. properly and never properly anddoor never properly anddoor never batteries. and where and andwhere door andand where door and properly and never and where and alarms weekly. following home your by home following some by following some some on each level of out! Make sure you route andinmake g some smoke bed.sure smoke inkeys bed.are smoke in bed. window keys are window kept. keys are window kept.keys are kep smoke in bed. window kept. Never remove the your home. put cigarettes out everyone knows it ety le fire steps. simple safety firesteps. safetybatteries. steps. properly and never Please note - incomplete questionnaires, any job where a tenant fails to keep an appointment or where a repair is completed due to misuse or damage caused by a tenant is not eligible for the prize draw.

226 people die each year in fires in their homes, caused by smoking materials, cooking, candles and other things such as faulty electrical wiring or appliances.

You can reduce the risk of fire in your home by following some simple fire safety steps.

Fit alarms Wesmoke fit smoke alarms on on each eachlevel levelofof your home.

your home.

Test Test your your smoke smoke alarms weekly. alarms weekly. Never remove the Never remove the batteries.

batteries.

Put Put ititout. out.Right Right out! out! Make Makesure sureyou you put cigarettes out put cigarettes out properly and never properly and never smoke in bed.

smoke in bed.

Social landlords have a responsibility to Socialhousing housing landlords have a you and your home andand must ensure that gas responsibility to you your home and and electrical they electrical supply are safe must ensureappliances that gas and and in good working order. Your landlord may appliance they supply are safe and in also fit smoke alarms in shared accommodation goodcommunal working order. We also fit smoke and areas. Speak to your landlord if alarms allquestions accommodation and you haveinany or concerns. communal areas. us if you Contact your local Speak Fire andtoRescue Service have any questions concerns. for futher fire safetyor information.

Plan Planan anescape escape route route and andmake makesure everyone knows it sure everyone knows and where door and it and where door window keys are kept.

and window keys are kept.

smoke in bed.

We are calling all our green-fingered tenants to take part in our annual gardening competition. No matter how big or small your garden is we would love to see it! Our 2013 event saw 49 tenants enter, so now we need as many of you as possible to put your glorious creations forward to make this year our biggest and best yet!

and where door and window keys are kept.

It would be fantastic to see more young people enter the competition this year, and even if your grandchildren help out in the garden they can still enter with you. Even a work in progress can be entered into our most improved category - all we ask is that you have photos of before you started the transformation.

housing lords Social have landlords ahousing responsibility landlords a responsibility to have a responsibility to to In the event of a fire responsibility to have Get out, stay out and call 999 dand your you must home and ensure and yourmust that home gas ensure and must that ensure gas that gas nsure that gas Don't attempt to tackle a fire yourself ances ectrical and they appliances electrical supply are they appliances safe supply they are safe supply are safe BY ENTERING YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN VOUCHERS TO EITHER TREAT pply are safe www.facebook.com/firekills YOURSELF OR YOUR GARDEN TO A LITTLE SOMETHING SPECIAL. In the event In the of event a In fire the of event a fire of a fire In the event of a fire ng good order. and working Your in good landlord order. working Your may order. landlord Your may landlord may ur landlord may If you have any issues with your smoke alarm please contact Housing’s If you would like to enter this year’s competition then visit our website www.south-derbys.gov.uk and Improvement Manager, Gary Clarkson, on 01283 595897. ms smoke in shared also alarms fit accommodation smoke in shared alarms accommodation in shared accommodation click on ‘Get Involved’, email tp@south-derbys.gov.uk or telephone Sharon or Laurie on 01283 595788. accommodation For fire safety advice call Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service on 01332 771221. as. mmunal Speak and areas. communal to your Speak landlord areas. to your ifSpeak landlord to your if landlord if In the event of a fire your landlord if Housing News 12 SUMMER 2014 SUMMER 2014 Housing News 13 ions ve any or youquestions concerns. have anyorquestions concerns. or concerns. Don't to attempt Don't attempt tackle attempt to a fire tackle yourself toa tackle fire yourself a fire yourself erns. Don't attempt tackleto a Don't fire yourself

Getstay out, Get stay out, Get out stay out, and out stay calland 999 outcall and 999 call 999 Get out, out and call 999

COMMUNAL IMPROVEMENTS

Phil Lenton re-joined the Council in November 2013 after having previously worked in the former engineering section. Phil deals with the following work areas: • Communal areas of flats and entrances – including monitoring the contract cleaning and redecoration / refurbishment. • Garage sites – review current conditions, demand for garages, improvements needed and consider alternative uses. • Car parking improvements – assess common problems and the viability of increasing the availability of parking facilities. • Fencing – establish a standard for boundary fencing / walling and prepare proposals and priorities for estate improvements. • Use of communal land - identify communal land issues in and around Housing estates, review condition and agree any priorities for improvement. The role relies heavily on consulting tenants, staff and other stakeholders to first gather information before being able to consider the alternatives. If you have an queries relating to the areas of work listed above, do not hesitate to contact Phil on 01283 228736 or by e-mail to phil.lenton@south-derbyshire.gov.uk and make recommendations. A lot of the issues that Phil will deal with will require consultation and medium to long term planning rather than quick fixes like responsive repairs.

number of issues raised on behalf of tenants via the South Derbyshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum, we are issuing clearer guidelines on what our tenants can expect from us.

COMMUNICATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS New guidelines about how we communicate with our tenants are being introduced to improve services. Housing Services is still committed to delivering against our Local Offers - service standard promises agreed with our tenants. However, following a 14 Housing News SUMMER 2014

If the Forum contacts us on your behalf Housing Services will, wherever possible: • Contact you directly within 10 working days • Keep you regularly updated of progress with your query • With your permission, contact the Forum via email to notify them an officer is dealing with the query, and again when your query is resolved. The Council will then contact the tenant directly to resolve any issues. We will be working with our tenants to review and update our Local Offers in the near future. If you would like to be part of this review, contact Tenant Participation on 01283 595788, or email tp@south-derbys.gov.uk

Etwall tenant David Bown represents South Derbyshire District Council on the ARCH (Association of Retained Council Housing) Tenants Group. He helps to organise networking events and conferences and ensure that the views of his fellow Council tenants are represented. Here, Dave talks about what the Group has been working on.

ARCH Update November 2013 I attended an ARCH Tenant Group meeting at the Chartered Institute of Housing where we discussed feedback from the ARCH Annual Conference and Executive meeting, raising the profile of ARCH and topics for 2014 leaflets. I was again also elected to the conference Task and Finish Group. February 2014 During an ARCH Tenants Group Meeting in London, we discussed the September 2014 Annual Conference, which is being hosted by Birmingham City Council, and our Group’s work plan. We decided that the first information

leaflet for 2014 would be ‘Complaints Process – Who to Go To’, and that the theme for our ARCH event in July will be ‘Involving Tenants’. I also had a conference call with the Task and Finish Group to discuss the summer event, including the format, timings, number and content of the breakout groups, awards and speakers. March 2014 The Group suggested we revive Home Truths – the ARCH magazine which reported on tenants’ stories. Ticknall tenant Maria Hanson featured in the last edition. Members also discussed the content of the ‘Complaints’ information leaflet. On March 17, I also attended an ARCH seminar called ‘New approaches to market rented housing’.

Housing Services says a sad farewell to Nicky South Derbyshire District Council has said a sad farewell to one of its most respected members of staff. Homelessness Officer Nicky King sadly passed away in January aged 42. She had worked for the authority for ten years and was well-liked and respected by both colleagues and those she had helped through her role. The Council’s Director of Housing and Environmental Services, Bob Ledger, said: “Nicky was well-known across the district and helped many people who were homeless or threatened with homelessness. Her expertise and knowledge will be greatly missed by all, and we will miss her as a friend and colleague.”

In March, Housing Services celebrated the career of Jenny Bates, our Repair Liaison Officer, who has retired after a fantastic 35 years’ service with the Council. Jenny, who started her career with South Derbyshire District Council in 1978 as a Resource Assistant, began working at the authority’s depot, in Darklands Road, 10 years ago – and has been assisting tenants with their repair queries ever since. She said: “The satisfaction you get from helping someone who really needs it is fantastic. I will really miss tenants, my colleagues and friends.” SUMMER 2014 Housing News 15

Competiton Winners! Congratulations to Tony Milgate, of Repton, who correctly answered all 10 questions in our Fact Finder Quiz. His entry was chosen at random to win a £25 shopping voucher.

Mr Milgate said: “I always enter the Housing News competitions because I really enjoy them, but this is the first time I’ve won. I’ve just turned 60 and my sister has given me some vouchers for my birthday, so I’ll put them together to buy a new TV.”

Thanks to everyone who took the time and effort to enter this quiz. Many of you got all 10 answers right, but for those of you who were stumped by the odd one or two, here they are: 1. Q. What is the name of the firm who sponsored the October 2013 Etwall Dreamscheme Tidy-Up. A. Buildbase 2. Q. When does the Civic Offices re-open after the Christmas period? A. 8.45am on Thursday, January 2, 2014 3. Q. Where did Dylan Jones launch his first community radio station? A. Wales 4. Q. How often does the South Derbyshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum meet? A. Every four weeks 5. Q. Who won the Best Garden Feature in this year’s Gardening Competition? A. Mr Bates 6. Q. What is the name of the Council’s new Tenancy Sustainment Officer? A. Natasha Muldoon 7. Q. How many levels of service are offered by Careline? A. 7 8. Q. Which two Parliamentary Speakers did Bob Collier work as aide to before his retirement? A. Bernard Weatherill and Betty Boothroyd 9. Q. Turning down your heating thermostat by 1 degree could save you how much money per year? A. £65 10. Q. Which award-winning builder built the new properties on Princess Street, in Castle Gesley? A. Goodwin Building Contractors

Children’s Christmas Competition Winner A huge thank you goes out to all the youngsters who entered our December 2013 Housing News Children’s Christmas Competition. We asked children aged between 2 and 12 to colour in a festive picture for the chance to win a £10 shopping voucher. The standard of entries was extremely high, and it was clear that a lot of time and effort was spent by everyone.

Congratulations to Trinity O’Connoll, from Willington, who was selected by the South Derbyshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Forum Chairman, Wendy Bruce, as the winner. The 10-year-old’s picture was chosen from all the other entries for its colourful and creative use of craft materials.

16 Housing News SUMMER 2014