On the House - Oct 09

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housing news for Winchester City Council tenants and leaseholders

An end to negative subsidy - but Winchester tenants still hit hard!

Government plans to overhaul the subsidy system and allow councils to keep their rent have been announced – but with a “sting in the tail” for Winchester tenants.

The Government currently takes over 40% of Winchester’s rents – over £9million each year – to fund services in other areas.

But under the proposed new scheme, the Council would be saddled with a debt of at least £130 million.

The plan, which is out for consultation, would dismantle the current system, invest up to 25% more resource into Council housing and allow councils to keep more of the rent they collect.

But, councils would have to pick up a share of the Government’s £18 billion national housing debt and,

according to the Government, Winchester could afford a bigger share of this debt because rents are higher than average.

Richard Botham, Head of Landlord Services, said: “This is a case of giving with one hand and taking away with the other. Whilst this means more money in the long term, it is not clear what impact this will have on services in the next few years.”

Cllr Tony Coates, Portfolio Holder for Housing, added: “Taking on such a large share of other councils’ debt is totally unacceptable and means the tax on Winchester tenants just continues in another form. I will be responding very strongly to the Government proposals.”

Alan Rickman, joint chair of tenant group, TACT, has spent years campaigning on the issue and said: “The Government seems to have listened but it remains to be seen whether we will get enough to

Tenant News, produced by Tenants efor d iTenants t i o n 1can be found at the back of this edition

address the Council’s £3million shortfall. Both TACT and the Council are arguing for a fair deal from the Government but most of all, if it works in tenants’ favour, we hope our Council will start to build again.”

inside this edition: G

Annual Report 2008/09

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Top Tips for the winter

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Keeping pets

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Winning gardens

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October 2009

thebigword telephone interpreting service The Council uses a 24-hour Telephone Interpreting Service, which also provides written or recorded translations including audio tapes and CDs. If you, a relative or a neighbour would like to talk to the Council through an interpreter, please contact your Area Housing Manager on 01962 840 222.

get it taped If you would like any of the information in on the house made available in large print or audio format, please call Glynis Cole on

Freephone 0800 716 987.

TEXTPHONE This facility is available for readers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Please telephone 01962 878 982.

If you have any particular needs which affect how you are able to use or be involved in our services or how you would like to receive information - for example translation, interpreters, Braille, audio tape, large print, sign language - please contact the Customer Service Centre either by telephone: 01962 840 222 or by email: customerservice@ winchester.gov.uk

Dear Readers What a summer it has been! The barbeques weren’t out as much as we would have liked but certainly the blooms were very much on display!

I had a lovely couple of days travelling around the district with Cllr Rob Humby judging the wonderful gardens.

Sadly, there can only be four winners, but we were so impressed by everyone and how much effort they had put into their gardens.

It was a case of third time lucky for Kath and Henry West from Compton who just pipped Bernie Sheppard to the title! There’s always next year – and we’ll be introducing a new category for the 2010 competition.

This edition contains our annual report, which includes some facts and figures on your housing service, as well as information on condensation and keeping warm this winter.

I hope you continue to enjoy the autumn and winter and we’ll be back again in the spring!

Glynis Cole

Pets need permission Tenants in general needs homes (those that are not restricted to people aged 60 years and over) may keep a pet with consent from the Council.

However, you should apply to your Area Housing Manager for permission before you actually get the pet.

If you already have a pet and did not seek permission, you should let your Area Housing Manager know.

Tenancy Services Manager, Amber Crosskey, said: “We understand that pets can be a much-loved and valued part of the family.

“Where possible we do allow them, but if they’re causing a nuisance or are not suitable for your type of property we may refuse or withdraw consent.”

Winchester City Council, City Offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester, SO23 9LJ.

Clause 52 of the tenancy conditions explains that Area Housing Managers consider these requests. If permission is refused you are responsible for finding another home for your pet.

telephone 01962 840 222 fax 01962 841 365 email housing@winchester.gov.uk website www.winchester.gov.uk

Pets are not allowed in certain sheltered schemes. The Supported Housing Team will soon be asking sheltered residents for their views on keeping pets.

Telephone calls may be recorded.

Printed on 75% recycled paper.

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For more information about keeping pets or to ask for permission please contact the Customer Service Centre on 01962 840 222 and ask to speak to your Area Housing Manager.

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Garden competition reaches new heights A painter and decorator from Winchester hopes his first prize in the Council’s gardening competition will inspire his neighbours to follow his lead.

Phil Sherlock lives in a top floor flat in Firmstone Road, Winnall and won the balcony category. He said: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the whole road could do this – it would look fantastic!”

The gardening competition is open to the Council’s tenants and leaseholders and was judged by Cllr Rob Humby, a local nurseryman.

The winners received gardening vouchers.

Best Balcony Winner: Phil Sherlock, of Winnall.

Cllr Humby’s verdict: “A stunning display of beautiful home grown plants. The small balcony is packed with colour producing an overall fantastic effect both for Phil and his neighbours.”

Best Front Garden Winners: Kath and Henry West, of Compton.

Cllr Humby’s verdict: “A beautiful collection of begonias and a superb selection of plants in the borders and containers, all grown from either plugs or seeds.”

on the house

Best Sheltered Scheme Garden Winners: Beth McVicker, Lilian Joyce, Evelyn Sylvester and Ray Long of Danemark Court.

Cllr Humby’s verdict: “A great team effort both for producing the plants and creating a wonderful display for all the residents to enjoy.”

Best Hanging Basket Winner: Ron Ruddle, from Bishops Waltham Cllr Humby’s verdict: “A fantastic basket packed with colour and a varied range of plants – all produced from his own stock.

We could have chosen any one of several impressive baskets – well done Ron!”

Putting your words into action!

The Council respects and responds to tenants who have special needs because of age, ethnicity or disability.

Council officers were able to give individual help to tenants with special needs because they knew who they were thanks to feedback forms.

Twenty tenants with additional needs were offered help from their Area Housing Managers after they were part of the random selection for the recent Tenant Satisfaction Survey.

When the Council revised the tenancy conditions, officers contacted everyone they knew who needed information in a different format. The survey forms and letters were sent to 15 tenants in large print and one in Polish. A further 10 tenants had home visits.

The Council has a Housing Equality Group which works to ensure no-one is disadvantaged and a member of TACT (Tenants and Council Together) has recently joined the group.

This personal and flexible approach has meant that tenants with visual impairment, literacy and learning difficulties, amongst other issues, have been given the opportunity to express their views.

It has also meant that the results we receive about our performance is more representative of our customers as a whole.

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Condensation During the autumn and winter months many of you will be experiencing problems with condensation and mould in your homes.

It is a nuisance, but one that can be easily solved. Our information leaflet on how to tackle the problem is available from Customer Services on 01962 840 222 or www.winchester.gov.uk

Launch of Free Services for Victims of domestic violence A free and fast emergency service for victims of domestic violence is now available in Hampshire.

The confidential service is available to all men and women and provides free legal advice and support through the civil courts. Other services include: G

Free Legal Advice and Aid

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Injunctions within 24 hours

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Direct links with local councils, health centres, refuges, Women’s Aid Centres.

The 24-hour Hotline is 0844 8044 99 but anyone in immediate danger should call 999.

Information is also available from Laura Brown, the Council’s Community Relations Officer, on 01962 848 133 or email: lbrown@winchester.gov.uk

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Keep Warm this winter According to recent statistics one in six British households is living in fuel poverty, which is defined as when a household spends more than one tenth of its income on utility bills.

If you are experiencing difficulty heating your home or paying your utility bills we can help you! Our Keeping Warm fact sheet is available from Customer Services on 01962 840 222 or www.winchester.gov.uk

City Cleaning get off to a cracking start The Council has introduced new standards for cleaning the communal areas of flats across the district.

The company carrying out the work, City Cleaning, has got off to a cracking start.

A tenant satisfaction survey carried out at the end of the first quarter showed that of the 279 tenants who responded: G

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216 reported that cleaning was carried on the day expected.

199 were satisfied with the standard of cleaning.

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192 reported that the cleaning was carried out efficiently.

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195 were pleased with the cleaners conduct and behaviour.

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152 confirmed that the cleaners wear identification.

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156 confirmed that safety signs were being used.

This customer feedback is a very positive start to the new contract and will continue to be monitored.

Renewing the Contract for Property Maintenance The Council’s Maintenance Contracts for Responsive Repairs and preparing empty properties for re-letting is due for renewal in April 2011.

The work is currently carried out by Serco, JAD and Munro – whose contracts are due to expire on 31st March 2011.

Landlord Services has begun the lengthy process of procuring a new contract and selecting contractors to tender for these services.

Your TACT representatives (through Property & Contracts Group) are aware of the outline timetable for this project and their potential involvement in considering any changes or improvements to the current service. Watch out for further updates throughout 2010.

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