1HH oo uu ss ii nn gg NN ee ww ssUttlesford District Council Summer 2013

Uttlesford District Council www.uttlesford.gov.uk

Inside:

Garden Competition

Tenant Forum

Rent Arrears and Debt Support

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2Housing News 2

The summer has at last arrived and I hope when you

read this the sun will be shining and we will all be

able to enjoy some outdoor fun.

In this issue you can see photos from the Safer

Living Events and a brief review. Feedback from

everybody has been so positive that all agencies

involved have agreed to do it again, so if you missed

out this year then you will have another opportunity to

attend next year’s event. I would really recommend it to you all.

It’s Garden Competition time again and I would encourage you to

enter your garden if you are particularly proud of it or nominate a

neighbour whose garden you feel warrants praise.

Don’t forget if you would like to grow a sunflower, please collect

your free seeds and get sowing. (See page 6 for full competition

details).

I hope to spend a lot more time out in the community this summer

and catch up with as many tenants as possible. However, if I have

not visited your area and you would like me to come and meet with

you and your neighbours, please feel free to get in touch.

Happy holidays!

The council is now on both Facebook and Twitter so you can

always message me via Facebook.com/UttlesfordDC or follow

us on Twitter @UttlesfordDC

Nicole

Nicole Shephard-Lewis

Tenant Participation Officer

Tel - 01799 510630

Email - tenants@uttlesford.gov.uk

www.uttlesford.gov.uk/tenantparticipation

3Housing News 3

As a Council, we do like to

hear feedback from our

tenants and positively

encourage it.

Recently, the tenants at our

sheltered housing accommodation

in Saffron Walden, Four Acres

asked us whether a stair lift could

be installed there. This would

enable tenants whose mobility was

deteriorating to stay in their homes.

The Council identified a budget,

obtained quotes, appointed a

contractor and arranged the

installation. As a result, a lift was

installed in March and additional

lifts will soon be installed in the

remaining blocks.

Tenant Mrs Farguharson, pictured

using the stair lift said: “All tenants

here are absolutely delighted. It is

always a worrying time when it gets

harder and harder to negotiate the

stairs. No-one wants to move out of

their home, just because they aren’t

as mobile as they once were. This

was the perfect solution and so

tenants can now stay for as long as

they wish.”

Tenant Participation Officer Nicole

Shephard-Lewis said: “The Council

was happy to listen to our tenants

and we are delighted that we were

able to provide a solution in this

case. I would therefore encourage

anyone to ask that question,

whatever it is you would like to see

changed, or whatever you think will

make a difference to you.

“I can’t promise that we can do

everything but you will never know

unless you ask!”

You Ask, We Listen!

4Housing News 4

Tenant ForumHave you ever considered getting

involved with Housing? Do you

want to have your say with regards

to the housing service provided by

the Council? Do you have ideas to

improve the way we liaise with

tenants? Do you simply want to

make a difference for your fellow

tenants? Well now is your chance,

as Uttlesford Tenants’ Forum will be

recruiting for its 2014 panel in

November this year.

There are a huge number of

different options. It’s not just about

coming to a meeting, you can be

involved at events, help shape

strategies, policies, view and act

upon recommendations made by

the Tenants’ Regulatory Panel, as

well as monitoring the services we

provide. You could even be part of

Housing’s procurement process.

Alternatively, if you feel there are

other ways you would like to get

involved in our work, let us know

and we will see if we can create an

opportunity for you. It’s your Housing

Service, so it’s about involving you

your way. We are always delighted

to listen to residents and encourage

two-way participation whenever we

can.

There are real benefits of being

involved in our work, including:

� Making a valued contribution to existing and new service

development. We listen and

when practical act upon your

views and ideas (see page 3).

� Making your community a betterplace to live. By giving the tenant

perspective, you are making a

positive contribution to the

services we deliver and this can

benefit all our tenants.

� Learning new skills as there is a great wealth of free training

on offer.

� Increasing your job and career prospects. You will enhance

your CV by getting involved in

experiences where you can

demonstrate you have learnt

skills and abilities that

employers are looking for. We

are always happy to provide

references.

� Enabling you to meet people, make friends and be part of a

team of like-minded residents

who individually and collectively

make a massive difference to

our work. This can make you

feel really happy and valued.

5Housing News

Housing website

We intend to update and

refresh the Housing

Services page on the

Council’s website

www.uttlesford.gov.uk and we

would very much like your

input.

Is there any information

that you would like to see

included that currently isn’t?

Do you have any ideas for

anything new? Is there

anything included now that you find

is not useful? Would it be easier to

find and use if it had a different title -

if so, do you have any suggestions?

Nicole Shephard-Lewis said: “The

website is a great way to keep

everyone informed easily and

quickly and provides a good

reference resource for tenants. We

want to make sure its relevant and

� Getting residents’ associations or groups voices heard (if you are

also a representative of one of

these groups).

You will not be out of pocket by

joining the Forum. We pay

expenses such as childcare and

travel. We also provide

refreshments if you are working

with us at a meeting or at an event.

If this sounds like the kind of thing

that you would like to get involved

in and you want to influence how

Uttlesford District Council Housing

is run, please get in touch. You

really can make a difference and

your opinion really counts.

For more information please call

Nicole on 01799 510630.

provides what tenants want. If you

have any comments or suggestions,

please call”

We will be consulting with the

Tenants’ Forum and residents’

groups about the changes but

would like to hear from as many

tenants as possible. Contact Nicole

Shephard-Lewis on 01799 510630

or email tenants@uttlesford.gov.uk

6Housing News

Uttlesford District Council Gardening Competition 2013

Are you proud of your

garden? Is it always full of

life and colour and you love

being in it? Would you like to share

it with other tenants? Do passers -

by comment and admire it?

A well-kept, beautiful garden

makes everyone happy so let the

district see your pride and joy. We

are once again running a gardening

competition where you could win a

prize.

We would love to hear the story

behind your achievements, so if

you are able to have a fantastic

garden without using lots of water,

or you have any tips for gardening

success then include a few lines

with your entry.

You can even nominate someone

else’s garden, if you feel it deserves

recognition.

The prizes in each category include

a water butt and certificate.

Christina Rodman’s winning garden from the 2011 competition

7Housing News

Please complete below:

Name: ............................................. Category: ..................................................

Age (Children): ...................................................................................................

Address: .............................................................................................................

Telephone: ......................................... Email: ....................................................

Send your entry to: Tenants and Leaseholders Garden Competition, C/O

Nicole Shephard-Lewis, Uttlesford District Council, Council Offices, London

Road, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4ER.

Entries must be in no later than 5.00pm on Monday 5 August. We will then

contact you and arrange to view your entry. Judging will then take place and

the winners notified.

Entry Form

Uttlesford District Council Gardening Competition 2013

Categories are as follows:

Class 1 - Best garden

Class 2 - Best hanging basket, tub or pot

Class 3 - Best eco-friendly garden*

Class 4 - Tallest Sunflower†

*Less use of pesticides and water and attractive to wildlife

†Collect your free seeds from the Council Offices in London Road, Saffron

Walden, Great Dunmow Library, Thaxted Community Information Centre.

Prizes donated by: Terrace and Gardens, Rickling Green Saffron Walden,

Homebase, Ridgeons and water butts from Uttlesford District Council

8Housing News 8

Daphne explained that the panel’s

remit is to carry out ‘Tenant-focused

scrutiny of the Housing Service.’

This means that the Panel will

identify and recommend service

improvements wherever they may

arise.

There are eight panel members,

all of whom are volunteers and

tenants. The Panel started at the

beginning of the year and held their

first official meeting in March. A

six-month review is due in June.

Daphne stressed that it is very much

a team effort. The group has decided

to investigate first how the Council

deals with vacant properties (voids).

Daphne is keen to be ‘at the coalface’

and will accompany Council staff at

their initial inspection. The Panel will

then see exactly what is happening

throughout the process. Half of the

panel will be inspectors and the other

will analyse the information gathered.

Daphne hopes that recommendations

can be made, which will reduce the

time Council properties remain

Daphne Cornell, who is Chairman of the Tenants’ Regulatory Panel and has been a tenant for 58 yearswith a wealth of experience, gives us an update on thepanel’s work so far

empty between lets. “After all,” she

said, “it’s tenants’ money and every

saving will make a real difference.

It may even mean that more

improvements can be carried out if

the savings are significant.”

She continued “This is not a

cosmetic exercise. We are not

ticking boxes here. We really want

to make a difference. We are very

serious and will leave no stone

unturned in our investigations. We

want our Housing Service to be

efficient and to save costs, all for

the benefit of tenants.”

Panel recommendations go to

the Tenant Forum and then to the

Housing Board. Should they not be

accepted at this stage, they can

then go to Cabinet for consideration.

Daphne would like tenants to be

involved. You can contact the

Panel on 01799 510630 or by email

regulatorypanel@uttlesford.gov.uk

Further updates from the Panelwill follow.

Tenants’ Regulatory Panel - Update

9Housing News

Uttlesford District Council

staged five Safer Living

Events for those aged over

55, in conjunction with Essex Police,

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service,

Papworth Trust and Trading

Standards. In total, over 200 local

residents attended a fun but useful

event on how to keep safe in your

home.

Safer Living Events Review

This was followed by a fun,

interactive sketch performed by

Peter Caulfield of Essex Police,

highlighting bogus callers and how

to ‘Take control at the door’.

The first session was presented by

Gloria Osborne from Housing, she

gave advice on abuse awareness

and provided information on types

of abuse and how to report it.

10Housing News 10

Safer Living Events Review

The Council’s Community Outreach

Officer Paul Goddard led a seated

exercise session, providing

participants with an easy way to

exercise and keep active.

11Housing News 11

Finally, fire-fighters from Dunmow

Fire Station led by James Taylor

provided advice on home fire

safety, making an emergency

escape plan and how to apply for a

smoke alarm to be fitted free of

charge. A quiz was held and the

winners each received a box of

chocolates.

Next up was Sandra Curran, who

explained the services available

from the Papworth Trust, including

adaptations for the home,

measures to avoid slips, trips and

falls, advice on grants and a

handyperson service for small jobs

at low cost.

12Housing News 12

Here are some of the comments

received after the events:

‘Excellent presentations from allservices thoroughly enjoyed themorning and the exercises. Learnt a lot.’ Marion Kaye

‘Very good advice given. It wouldbe a great idea if everybody weregiven advice in all areas of thecounty.’ Kathy Prior

‘Have one of these sessions yearly,so that more of the communityknows about things.’ Barbara Turner

‘It was an excellent event.’ Alison

‘Once again, let me thank you foryour organisation of the session inthe day centre last week. It wasvery well received and allowed meto talk to a number of tenants andshowed again what a wealth of talent we have in our tenants we do not make use of.’ Sam Sproul -

Chair of the Uttlesford Tenants’ Forum

Following the event, a delicious free

lunch was provided for all by the

day centre cooks and their teams.

“A big thank you to all our

colleagues who made the events

possible, the day centres’ staff and

volunteers as well as the residents

who attended and for all the

positive feedback we received.

We are sure that all those who

came along are now much better

equipped to keep safe both at home

and whilst out and about”.

Nicole Shephard-Lewis

Safer Living Events Review

13Housing News 13

My name is Amie Jones and I have recently been

appointed the Rent Arrears and Debt Support Officer

at Uttlesford District Council. My main focus is

liaising with tenants who are having problems paying

their rent and are experiencing general financial

hardship. I will be working with them on a one-to-one

basis in order to make an action plan to enable debt

issues to be addressed at the earliest opportunity.

This will reduce the risk of debts to the Council and

other bodies becoming unmanageable.

My aim is to work with tenants to assess their income

and expenditure and provide support based on their

individual needs. I will be working very closely with Karina McLoughlin in the

Council Tax Recovery department, who has a similar role supporting Council

Tax payers in receipt of Local Council Tax Support. Whenever possible, we

will be working together to provide appropriate debt advice. If you would like

to discuss your Council Tax account, Karina’s contact details are shown

below. I will also be liaising with a number of partner agencies who can offer a

variety of different services to suit the needs of our tenants. These include

activities such as floating support or attending the local children’s centre.

Tenants will be directed to these agencies if more in-depth advice is required

regarding any particular issues.

I can visit Council Tenants at home or meet them at the Council Offices in

Saffron Walden, or in Great Dunmow Library - all by appointment. I am

available 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Thursday and 9:00am to 3:30pm

on Friday.

Please contact me if you wish to make an appointment to discuss any issues

regarding rent arrears on 01799 510630 or email amiejones@uttlesford.gov.uk

or for Council Tax queries call Karina on 01799 510510,

email recovery@uttlesford.gov.uk

Rent Arrears and Debt Support

14Housing News 14

If the answer to any of the above is YES! then it may be time for you to think

about moving to a smaller property.

The council has recently introduced two new policies that will make it easier

for you to downsize (move to a smaller property) if you are ready to make that

move.

Firstly we have changed the allocations policy so that any tenant wanting to

downsize will be placed in the highest Band on the housing register, this will

greatly increase their chances of successfully expressing interest in properties

through the HomeOption choice-based lettings scheme.

Secondly, tenants who downsize will be eligible for a cash payment of up to

£2,500 for moving to any size of older person’s accommodation from a

general needs property or up to £2,000 for downsizing from any larger

general needs property to a smaller one.

For example

If you are either a single person over 60 or a couple where one of you is over

60 and you are living in a two- or three-bedroom house, you could downsize

to a one- or two-bed bungalow and receive up to £2,500 to help cover the

costs of moving.

or

If you are either a single person under 60 or a couple both under 60 and you

are living in a two-bed flat, you could downsize to a one-bed flat and receive

up to £2,000.

Money to move

Are you living in a property bigger than you need?

Are you affected by the bedroom tax?

Is your house and garden morethan you can manage to lookafter?

15Housing News 15

If I need help to move instead of money can you still help me?

YES! The payment can be a cash payment paid to you once the move is

complete or we can help pay for goods and services such as removals,

carpets, disconnection and reconnection of cooker and washing machine up

to the value of the cash payment.

Can I move if I have rent arrears?

YES!

Even if you have rent arrears, as long as the grant you will receive will cover

the costs of the rent arrears and any tenant damage to the property, then you

can still move. If these costs come to less than the grant, then you will be paid

the difference.

For example

A tenant has £450 of rent arrears and is eligible for a £2,000 grant. After the

rent arrears have been cleared and they have moved, the tenant would

receive a payment of £1550.

Do I need to be on the housing register to move?

YES!

If you join the housing register, you will be able to look for properties to move

to through the HomeOption choice-based lettings scheme. To join the register,

either go to www.homeoption.org and complete the online application form, or

contact your housing officer who will be able to help you complete the

application process.

Full details of the Council’s Allocations Policy and Decant and Downsizing

Policy can be found on the Council website, or if you wish to speak to

someone about downsizing then please call the housing department on

01799 510630.

16Housing News 16

You could be having the outside of

your house painted this year. For

details of each area please visit

www.uttlesford.gov.uk/yourhome

Contractors Mitie will be carrying

out the work and all their staff will

carry identification, which we would

encourage you to ask to see.

Work on preparing properties and

then painting has started this

month. All work should be

complete by the end of October

(subject to weather conditions).

Any necessary internal decorating

will be done during the winter.

Bill Golbourn, Senior Property

Surveyor said: “Any areas such as

doors, windows, soffits, fascias and

walls which have previously been.”

painted will be decorated again this

year as part of our ongoing

maintenance programme

If your property is to be done, you

will receive a letter from the council

informing you of proposed dates.

Other planned works to be carried

out in this financial year are:

• The installation of 100 new

kitchens throughout the district.

• Making health and safety

improvements to the sewage

plants we own within the district.

• Upgrading the gas and oil

boilers, which are 15 years old

and replacing them with more

efficient boilers.

• External wall insulation to 131

solid-wall properties throughout

the district. Work has

commenced and is due to be

completed by October.

In addition, 200 properties will be

surveyed this year for electrical

upgrading or rewiring.

Improving and maintaining your home

17Housing News 17

By the end of this year, all timber

windows will be replaced with

uPVC double-glazed windows.

Replacement windows will be

installed at the following locations*

By the end of this year, all timber

windows will be replaced with

uPVC double-glazed windows.

Planned works for replacing doors

in houses and flats is scheduled to

last for four years.

This follows on from the now

completed replacement programme

of doors on bungalows.

Emergency Repairs

An emergency repair is any fault,

which threatens further harm to

persons or property. An

emergency should be reported

on 01799 510573 as soon as

possible. If your call is outside

normal working hours, please

ring 01223 849755 and the

answering service will relay your

information to a duty officer.

When an emergency repair is

accepted by the council, we aim

to have a contractor at your

property usually within three

hours. You in turn must arrange

access to your home when the

repairs person arrives.

Do you have a few hours to spare

each month?

Do you enjoy meeting new people?

Then your Day Centre wants to

hear from you.

The Day Centres are run by volunteer

management committees. Perhaps

you could sit on the committee or

maybe you are a more practical

person and would like to help serve

meals.

Interested?

For an informal chat about any of

the centres, please call Nicole

Shephard-Lewis on 01799 510630

or visit or call your nearest centre

directly, details overleaf.

Picture above: Nicole Shephard-Lewis

and Melanie Inwood, Dunmow Day

Centre’s Cook, out canvassing for

new committee members.

Your Day Centre Needs You!

18Housing News 18

Great Dunmow Day Centre

Chequers Lane

Dunmow

Essex

CM6 1EQ

01371 872874

Saffron Walden Day Centre

3 Hill Street

Saffron Walden

Essex

CB10 1EH

01799 522772

Stansted Day Centre

Crafton Green

72 Chapel Hill

Stansted Mountfitchet

Essex

CM24 8AG

01279 815091

Day Centres

If you are aged 55 or over and you want

to try something new, why not dine at

one of our Day Centres?

The Centres serve a reasonably-priced

two-course meal. The meals are

prepared to a high standard by the

resident cooks. Book your roast today!

Takeley Day Centre

South Road

Takeley

Bishop’s Stortford

Herts

CM22 6RB

01279 871198

Thaxted Day Centre

Vicarage Mead

Thaxted

Dunmow

Essex

CM6 2RJ

01371 830094

19Housing News 19

If you would like further information

please contact:

The Home Ownership Section on

01799 510630 or visit the Council’s

website www.uttlesford.gov.uk

20Housing News 20

If you require this publication in an alternative format and/or

language please contact us on 01799 510510.

Feedback

Do you think the council could be doing something better? Have you got an

idea for a new initiative that would make things better where you live?

If you have an idea for a new scheme or an improvement, please fill in

the form below with your idea. You can use a separate sheet of paper to

explain your suggestion if you wish.

My suggestion:

.................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................

Name: .....................................................................................................

Address: ..................................................................................................

.................................................. Postcode: .............................................

Phone: ................................... Email: .....................................................

Send your idea to Nicole Shephard-Lewis

Tenant Participation Officer

Uttlesford District Council

London Road, Saffron Walden

CB11 4ER

Telephone: 01799 510630

Email: tenants@uttlesford.gov.uk

Website: www.uttlesford.gov.uk