4pp housing news autumn 2019 v2 layout 1 housing... · 4pp housing news autumn 2019 v2_layout 1...

We wanted to make surethat our annual reportcontains information thatreally interests our tenantsand is easily accessible.

We asked the Tenants’ Forum’sCommunications andPublications Group andoverwhelmingly, video was theirfirst choice, so that’s whatwe’ve done. I’m delighted torefer you all to the video on thecouncil’s YouTube channel, thereal ‘ull, with not a hint of botoxin sight - I hope you’ll find itinteresting.

Last year couldn’t have got offto a better start for Hull Housing– we won probably the mostprestigious award in thehousing industry the StrategicAuthority of the Year award atthe UK Housing Awards,organised by the CharteredInstitute of Housing. Then, toround off the year, our tenantparticipation work achievedTpas Exemplar status, and wewere the first housing

organisation to receive it. Tpasis recognised as the UK’sexperts in tenant involvementand being the front runner toget its top honour was a brilliantachievement.

We have set out our ambition tobecome the country’s besthousing provider. I appreciatenot everything we do is brilliant,but it’s our clear intention tocontinually get better and offerthe best housing servicespossible. Looking back over thisyear I believe we havecontinued to make progress,which I hope you will see in thevideo. Critical to achieving ourambition is you – our tenants.You are central to everythingwe do. So, thank you to the3,000 tenants that filled in oursurvey or just passed on theiropinion to our frontline staff. It isgreatly appreciated. We arefortunate to have a group ofvery active tenants that put incountless hours, scrutinisingservices and offering theiropinions on how things should

be done. The knowledge andexpertise that they bring asvolunteers is essential inhelping us understand tenants’needs and aspirations, whichare critical to running asuccessful service.

I hope you’ll go online andwatch our annual report video. Iwould be very interested tohave your feedback. You cancontact us by email attenant.resident@hullcc.gov.uk,on Twitter @hullccnews or viaour Facebook page HullCouncil Housing.

Dave Richmond

Assistant Director,Neighbourhoods and Housing.

Hull City Council Housing is on Facebook ‘Like’ our page and discover more information

3799 Corporate Marketing

This document can be made available in other formats (large print, audio, digital copy,or Braille) and different languages. Call (01482) 300 300.

Spring 2018

Chat with the Chair

Complaints Panel

Spotlight on GreatThornton Street

Rent First

Voices from Hull

In this issueAutumn

“I’ve been a caretaker atNewtown Court for 13 years.My role covers the generalupkeep of the blocks of flatsand the grounds. I undertake daily inspections,sometimes as an estate walkwith tenants and members ofthe Tenants’ ParticipationTeam. I carry out regular firesafety checks for communalareas making sure that theseare completely clear, removelitter in the grounds and report

repairs which are needed.

“I love my job, and above all Ilove meeting people. I like tothink that I am a friend to ourresidents – someone who isapproachable, reliable andtheir first port of call if theyneed some help.”

Find out more about Tommo’sday online and watch thevideo on Hull City Council’sYouTube channel.

HOUSING NEWSHULL

COMPACT VERSION - EXTENDED ARTICLES ONLINE

Developed for tenants, by tenants, workingin partnership with Hull City Council

Date Time Agenda/Guest Speaker

Thur 17 Oct 10am – 12noon Advice Session - Supervisor and Project Worker:Breakthrough - Help Through Crisis – Hull Advice Supervisor of Universal Credit Help to Claim team

Mon 18 Nov 1 – 3pm Shared tenancy

Wed 11 Dec To be confirmed

Tenants’ Forum meeting dates 2019

All meetings take place in The Guildhall, Alfred Gelder Street, Kingston upon Hull, HU1 2AA . Anyone interested in any of the above meetings or to gain further information should call 01482 300 300and ask to speak to the Tenant Participation Team.

Voice of Tenants Read the full articles www.hull.gov.uk/housingnews

Meet Paul “Tommo”Thompson

You can read these articles in full in the longer online version of Hull Housing News atwww.hull.gov.uk/housingnews as well a more news items from the council’sNeighbourhoods and Housing Service.

Follow Hull Housing on www.facebook.com/hulltp @HCCTTPwww.facebook.com/hullcitycouncilhousing @Hullccnews

Annual Report 2018-2019

We did .................... We arearranging for an additional LEDstreet light, to be installed.

On a recent estate walk

you told us that......

You said …………. The pathway

between Doon Garth and Gower Road

is very dark and residents feel uneasy

walking home in the dark.

You said … We did… will become a regular feature in Hull Housing

News. Don’t forget to look at the online version for more examples.

4PP Housing news Autumn 2019 V2_Layout 1 01/10/2019 11:38 Page 1

Read the full articles www.hull.gov.uk/housingnewsRead the full articles www.hull.gov.uk/housingnews

Read the full articles www.hull.gov.uk/housingnews

Rent FirstOur Rent First campaign aims toencourage tenants to prioritisepaying their rent. We appreciatethat everyone has pressures onwhere their money goes,especially in the run up toChristmas. Nevertheless, if youare struggling to pay your rent, itis vital that you talk to us so wecan offer you the appropriateadvice and support.

The worst thing anyone can dois ignore the problem and burytheir head in the sand. If debtescalates it is possible thattenants could end up losing theirhome - something we all want toavoid, so please get in touch iffinances are running away fromyou. We will always try to help.

The easiest way to keep on timewith your rent payments is viaDirect Debit or standing order.

Complaints PanelDid you know that if you are notsatisfied with the council’sresponse to a housingcomplaint, you can choose tohave it dealt with by anindependent panel made up oftenants?

Information about the availabilityof the Tenant Complaints Panelis sent with all Stage 2 complaintcorrespondence. The panel,made up of tenant’s, offers toreview the complaint, ifrequested by the tenant. Thenthe panel reports its findings tothe complainant and the council.The panel will also makerecommendations about how thecomplaint may be resolved. Ifthe complainant is stilldissatisfied, there is still the rightto refer to the HousingOmbudsman.

Fed up withstanding in queuesor waiting on thephone to pay yourrent? Setting up a Direct Debit is quickand easy and means that younever have to queue again topay your rent. Log on athull.gov.uk for more information.

Can’t be bothered with filling in aDirect Debit form and sending itback to us? Soon you won’thave to – by the end of October2019 we will be able to set up aDirect Debit for you over thephone. Please call us on 01482300 300.

Spotlight on GreatThornton Street Great Thornton Street Tenants’and Residents’ Association(GTS TARA) recently celebratedits first birthday – and what adifference a year has made!Tackling anti-social behaviourwas the incentive behindresidents getting together to setup a TARA. Over the last yearthey’ve liaised with the councilthrough estate walks andvarious meetings, the actionsfrom which has led to asignificant decrease in ASB andenvironmental improvements onthe estate.

The TARA has also put on avariety of family events, whichare proving very popular.

If you live on the GTS estate andare interested in getting involvedwith the TARA, contacttenant.resident@hullcc.gov.uk

Voices from HullTenants’ Forum Vice-Chair AnnReekie and Dawn Chehreh Vice-Chair of the Multi Storey LivingGroup have bothbeen indemand asspeakers atnationalconferencesthis summer.

Ann,alongsideHull’sAssistant DirectorforNeighbourhoodsand HousingDave Richmond,spoke at theCharteredInstitute ofHousing (CIH)Conference inManchester. Annspoke about customer feedbackvia tenant participationinfluencing change in thehousing service. Speaking at theCIH conference is no mean featbecause it is the biggest housingconference and exhibition inEurope. Some may have saidthat Ann’s brilliant speechmanaged to upstage Dave, butwe couldn’t possibly comment.

Dawn joined a panel discussionat Tpas’s national conference inCoventry. She shared examplesof our good practice, includingthe work of the Multi-StoreyLiving Group in general, savingthe laundrettes and how ourapproach to tenant participationled to Hull being awardedExemplar status by Tpas.

Chat with the Chair

Hull Housing News News In Brief

New mural rocksHave you seen our latest mural honouringthe late, great, rock legend Mick Ronson onthe gable end of Greenwich Avenue shopson Bilton Grange?

Initially, the idea for it was a means of gettingresidents involved in brightening up theirestate and making a statement about theproud legacy of social housing. Workingalongside Back to Ours (a city of culturelegacy company) there was extensiveconsultation to decide firstly if local residentswanted a mural and secondly what it shouldbe. Overwhelmingly the answer was yes!

Mick Ronson, one of the greatest musicaltalents of his generation, was influential inchanging the face of rock music and inspiringyoung musicians worldwide.

Before achieving stardom with David Bowieand the Spiders from Mars, he worked as agardener for Hull City Council in parks aroundeast Hull and always stayed true to his Hullroots.

Over the summer itwas a real privilege forme to host Hull’scentenary celebrationof the Addison Act –the legislation whichgave councils theresponsibility and themoney for buildingcouncil houses. It was a real game changerbecause it cleared the way toget rid of insanitary slums andbuild decent homes for people.The Council Avenue area ofGipsyville was the first to bebuilt with Addison money inHull.

The event was a cracker! I’velived in my house for fortyyears but that’s no time at allcompared with some of ourguests at the celebration -some of them have lived inHull council houses for 60 to80 years, first as children thenas tenants in their own right.Now that would take somebeating anywhere! It was greatto share our experiences andremember some of the bigoccasions on our estates fromjubilee street parties to bonfirenights. We were graced withthe presence of the LordMayor in full regalia and thecouncil’s chief executive MattJukes, who shared hisrecollections of growing up incouncil housing in the WestMidlands.

No birthday event is completewithout a cake and our veryown volunteer and star bakerAnn Hodges made a hugecake which was quite simplydelicious. Thank you Ann. TheLord Mayor and Ann sharedthe honour of ceremoniallycutting the cake.

Go online to watch the videoabout 100 years of councilhousing in Hull.

Nev AllisonChair of the Tenants’ Forum

Ann

Dawn

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