Cabinet member for housing tours North Sheffield (21/7/2010)

SHEFFIELD Council’s new Cabinet Member for Housing has visited the north of Sheffield to find out how frontline housing services are delivered.

Cllr Penny Baker met representatives from various TARAs (Tenants and Residents Associations) who told her about the good work they do to bring communities together and improve the areas where they live.

She saw where new council homes are being built in Shirecliffe and also the redevelopment of the Chaucer Buchanan District Centre in Parson Cross which will eventually house a host of new facilities, including a supermarket, library and housing office.

Cllr Baker also met with Sheffield Homes staff covering a wide range of services including anti-social behaviour, estate services, customer care and tenancy management.

“Its really important that I get out there and see for myself what is happening in the north of Sheffield, as well as meeting some of the people who are making these things happen,” said Cllr Baker, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning.

“It was interesting to see all the exciting new developments that are underway to provide better housing and facilities for local people, as well as hearing about what the TARAs are doing in their communities to make a difference to people’s lives.

“I take my role working on behalf of the people of Sheffield very seriously, and I want the decisions I make as a Cabinet member to be informed by a real understanding of what is important to the people who live and work in the city.”

North Area Manager for Sheffield Homes, Surjan Tiwana, said: “It’s great that Cllr Baker has taken time out to come up here and meet some of our staff and TARA reps, who I know really appreciated her visit.

“It was also a great opportunity to showcase some of the work taking place in the north area.”

Cllr Baker has already visited other areas of the city to meet tenants, local area board members and Sheffield Homes staff and will be visiting more areas over the coming weeks.

The voices of the future talk to Sheffield Homes (9/7/2010)

What: Sheffield Homes will be hosting a special “Voices of the future” event for young tenants aged between 16 and 25 with Britain’s Got Talent guest celebrity Sophie Mei, local rapper MC Sickless and local magician, Steve Faulkner.

Where: Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS), The Circle, 33 Rockingham Street

When: Saturday 17 July, 12 – 4pm

Sheffield Homes has set up a special “Voices of the future” event for young tenants featuring a celebrity visit from Sophie Mei, local rapper MC Sickless and local magician, Steve Faulkner.

Sophie Mei will be entertaining guests during the event with belly dancing and offering master classes to those who want to have a go. Everyone will be treated to lunch and a goodie bag including a £10 Meadowhall voucher.

The organisation is running the event to get young people’s views on current and future housing services. There will be money advice workshops including games about managing finances and the dangers of doorstep lenders. There will also be sessions about how to apply for council housing and being a good tenant.

Dawn Wragg, Community Engagement Co-ordinator for Sheffield Homes, said: “As an organisation we recognise that it is important to actively engage with all of our customer groups – young people being one of those.

“This event will encourage young people to get involved with helping to shape the future of Sheffield Homes’ services and will also help to educate young tenants about managing finances and being aware of the dangers of loan sharks.”

This is already proving to be a popular event as places are booking up fast. For more information about the event or to book your place please call Sheffield Homes on 0114 273 5566, email getinvolved@sheffieldhomes.org.uk, visit www.sheffieldhomes.org.uk or find us on Facebook by searching for Sheffield Homes Ltd.

Welwyn Sheltered Scheme in the grip of World Cup hysteria (1/7/2010)

Tenants from Welwyn Court sheltered scheme have thrown a special party for every World Cup game and will be keeping their parties going despite England being knocked out.

29 tenants from the scheme chipped in to buy a 50” TV especially for the competition. Sheffield Homes helped them out by fixing the huge television to the wall to ensure everyone can see it.

Despite England going out on Sunday they are determined more than ever to keep up the World Cup hysteria. Norman Coxon, a tenant from the scheme, even went out and bought a vuvuzela (South African blowing horn) to recreate the atmosphere at the stadiums.

Barbara Smith, a tenant from the scheme said: “We have held a party and a baked a cake for every World Cup game. It’s been really good fun and we’ve created a fantastic atmosphere.

“England going out has been a real downer but we’re still carrying on with our World Cup parties right to the end.”

Sue Cook, Sheltered Warden for Sheffield Homes, added: “Every one is really enjoying themselves and no one can hear themselves think, thanks to Norman’s vuvuzela.

“The tenants here would celebrate a sneeze. It’s been great fun and a fantastic example of how successful sheltered schemes can be. Whoever said older people don’t know how to enjoy themselves should call in here. They have to be seen to be believed.”

For more information about Sheffield Homes managed sheltered schemes please call 0114 293 000 for the North Call Centre or 0114 205 3333 for the South Call Centre or visit www.sheffieldhomes.org.uk.

Sun shines on Wincobank fun day (10/6/2010)

LOWER Wincobank Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) raised over £150 as good weather helped pull in the crowds at its recent fun day

The  “springbank@wincobank” event took place on Wincobank field and featured stalls, a tombola, raffle, refreshment tent, and fun and games for the children, organised by the Parks and Countryside Rangers.
Pictured are raffle winner Isra Siraj, aged 10, with her brother, three-year-old Adam.

The money raised will help the TARA continue its work to help communities in the local area.

Chair of Lower Wincobank TARA, Maureen Wilson, said: “It was a great day and we were blessed with lovely weather.  It was nice to see the local kids enjoying themselves whilst their parents had a chance to natter with their neighbours. 

“We also had a chance to tell people what the TARA can do for them and we hope to see a few new faces at our future meetings and events.”

Councils new cabinet member for housing begins tour of Sheffield Homes' estates and services (10/6/2010)

Sheffield Council’s new Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning, has begun a whistle-stop tour of Sheffield Homes front line services to meet staff and see for herself how the services to Sheffield’s council tenants are delivered.  She will also visit local estates to meet with tenants and visit Tenants and Residents Associations in the area to find out first hand what issues they may be facing. 

Cllr Penny Baker made Crystal Peaks First Point Area Housing office in the south east of Sheffield her first official stop this week, where she congratulated staff, and Sheffield Homes as a whole, on receiving its maximum three star status for the third year in succession along with excellent prospects from the Audit Commission. She also paid a visit to the Scowerdons, Weaklands and Newstead ( SWaN) estates at Hackenthorpe where redevelopment work began in 2009 to provide quality new housing to the area. The estates are being regenerated by the Council in partnership with Home Group and the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA).

Councillor Baker said: “The best way to find out what matters to people and businesses is to look for myself, and get out and about and speak to them. By visiting Scowerdons and the other Sheffield Homes sites and Area Housing offices, I am building a picture of the issues that people are facing and how I can best support them. I take my role working on behalf of the people of Sheffield very seriously, and I want the decisions I make as a Cabinet member to be informed by a real understanding of what is important to the people who live and work in the city.”

South East Area Manager Paul Voyse said: “It’s always good to work closely with the council’s Cabinet members and today was a great opportunity to show just some of the excellent services we are providing to the local community and the fantastic progress that’s been made to the regeneration in the south east area with a wide range of quality new housing on the SWaN estates.   Around 1,000 new homes will be available for rent, shared equity and outright sale.”

Cllr Baker is hoping to visit other areas of the city on a weekly basis to speak to tenants, Sheffield Homes staff and local area board members.

Threatening council tenant is ordered to stop (8/6/2010)

An injunction has been granted against a 33-year-old woman who repeatedly threatened her neighbour and played loud music.

Sarah Newey, of Grimsell Close in Foxhill, has been ordered to refrain from using threatening behaviour, abusive language and playing amplified music for a period of one year.

Ms Newey had previously received a Fixed Penalty Notice from the police following an incident on 21 May 2010, and there was then another incident on 26 and 27 May 2010 when Ms Newey threatened to kill her neighbour.

On the day after the neighbour reported this final incident, Sheffield Homes acted quickly to make an application for an emergency injunction to Sheffield County Court. Evidence was presented from the neighbour, an officer from Sheffield Homes and an officer from South Yorkshire Police, who were also instrumental in providing a statement very quickly to allow us to do this.

Councillor Penny Barker, Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning, said: "Threatening and violent behaviour is not acceptable from Council tenants or any Sheffield residents. I am pleased that Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Homes and South Yorkshire Police are working together so well to ensure cases like this are brought to court quickly, and to achieve a positive outcome for neighbours who want to live peacefully without the threat of violence."

At the hearing on Friday, 3 June, Ms Newey failed to attend, saying she was ill. Her barrister asked for an adjournment but District Judge Smythe judged there was no medical evidence in support of Ms Newey's purported illness, and agreed not to adjourn the matter. If Ms Newey breaches the injunction then a further application can be made to the court for her committal to prison.

Sheffield Homes staff celebrate being the best (4/6/2010)

Sheffield Homes’ staff wanted to shout from the rooftops that they are working for the best housing organisation in the country!

They joined Chief Executive Peter Morton and mascot ‘Homesy’ to celebrate being rated as top of the class for the third time in a row. The organisation, which manages 42,000 council homes on behalf of Sheffield City Council, was awarded the top three star excellent rating for the third time in succession by the Audit Commission. It is the first ALMO (Arms Length Management Organisation) in the country to have achieved this.

An independent report released on, 3 June 2010, by the Audit Commission also found that Sheffield Homes’ services have ‘excellent prospects for improvement’.

Dennis Slack, Customers Services Housing Co-ordinator said:  "I'm really proud to be working as part of the Sheffield Homes family. My colleagues and I are very excited to have achieved the three star status for the third time and it is a fantastic reflection of the hard work and commitment to providing the best services we can for our customers."

Sheffield Homes Chief Executive, Peter Morton added: “This is a fantastic achievement. Three star status not only enhances the reputation of Sheffield Homes but also that of the council and the city as a whole.  I'd like to thank everyone involved for their contributions and support.”

The inspectors felt that Sheffield Homes had a good understanding of its customers’ needs and a strong commitment to customer care. Improvement works to bring all homes up to the decent homes standard were planned and managed well. Customers were involved in the delivery of services and satisfaction levels were high. Repairs were carried out promptly and housing management services were performing well.

Sheffield Homes is addressing the Audit Commission’s recommendations through:

•   Reducing complaint response times from 21 to 14 days.
•   Reviewing all service standards in partnership with customers
•   Producing a sustainability, investment and marketing plan for garage sites.
•   Using profile data to ensure governors better reflect customers.
•   Working with Tenants and Residents Associations to map how representative they are of Sheffield’s diverse communities.

  Improving the quality of cleaning for communal areas through a new inspection regime

•   Involving more leaseholders through improved satisfaction surveys, strengthening the Leaseholder Forum and encouraging more onto Area Boards and forums.
•   Increasing the number of repairs completed in one visit.
•   Replacing hard-wired alarms that aren’t in sheltered schemes with those compatible with smart technology.
•   Reducing the time it takes to let vacant homes through process improvements with repairs partner Kier, such as improving the use of the notice period, streamlining repairs and cleaning and investing in technology that will speed up the process.

Sheffield Homes has reduced rent arrears by £5.5m since it was set up and has a specialist Money Advice Team to support tenants with debt problems. It has agreed challenging 3 year targets to drive a further reduction in rent arrears while also reducing the use of enforcement actions such as Notices Seeking Possession and eviction.

Copies of the report are available from Sheffield Homes by clicking here or from the Audit Commission website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk.

Warden you know it. Rainbow Forge welcomes junior wardens (2/6/2010)

Eight enthusiastic pupils from Rainbow Forge Junior School in Hackenthorpe have become Sheffield Homes Junior Neighbourhood Wardens. Junior Neighbourhood Warden uniforms were presented during the afternoon assembly on Friday 28 May with the children’s parents and carers in attendance.

The Junior Neighbourhood Warden Scheme has been running in the south east area of the city for the past three years.  Neighbourhood wardens have worked closely with local children at Stradbroke School during this time to educate them about issues in their area, such as litter, graffiti and other environmental problems and have now rolled the scheme out to Rainbow Forge Juniors.

The children will now go out with the neighbourhood wardens during school time on foot patrols where they have the chance to report issues such as fly tipping, litter and graffiti. Visits have also been arranged to the local fire and police stations.

Paul Voyse, South East Area Manager, said: “Our Junior Warden Scheme is a fresh approach to tackling problems that affect the quality of life for everyone.  Sheffield Homes has a firm commitment to invest in our communities and it is encouraging to see young people making a positive contribution to society."

Head Teacher at Rainbow Forge, Rob Poole, said: “We are delighted that our children have graduated as Junior Neighbourhood  Wardens. They are very good at taking care of our school and I am sure that they will enjoy this exciting opportunity. We had 26 applicants but could only select eight. It was a very hard choice.”

The new Junior Neighbourhood Wardens are Ashley Carr, Kara Toft, Cameron Lowe, Darien Easton, Levi Street, Danyelle Burrows, Sol Bennet and Liah Irvin.

Have your say (20/5/2010)

Have your say on how council housing should be funded at our event on Thursday 27th May, from 12 noon-4pm at the Cutlers Hall in Sheffield. Call us now to book a place! 

Currently council housing is paid for through a national system. Tenants’ rents from across the country are paid into a central pot. Councils then get money for running council housing depending on the needs of their area. The system is complicated and makes long term planning difficult because funding is set annually.

The Government is now suggesting a different approach called ‘self financing’. This means that there could be the opportunity for councils to manage their own housing finances independently. Before anything changes the Government needs to look at all councils’ views and decide the way forward.

Sheffield City Council has to give its views on the plans by 6 July and, together with Sheffield Homes, wants to know what you think before deciding on how to respond.  

We want to hear your views!

You are invited to have your say at a city wide consultation event on Thursday 27 May from 12 noon to 4pm at the Cutlers Hall. Places are limited, so please call us to book your place on 273 5566.

For further information see the Government website http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/housingreformresponse

Quiet life for neighbours as council tenant agrees to get rid of dogs (13/5/2010)

A 34-year-old woman whose dogs repeatedly disturbed her neighbours has agreed in Sheffield County Court to get rid of the animals, and never have a dog again in her Sheffield Council flat.

Joanne Betts has been the tenant of a two bed upper flat in Scotia Drive on the Manor since 2004. She kept dogs at her property, which is prohibited by her tenancy agreement. There have been complaints about the noise from the dogs, and Ms Betts has been asked on numerous occasions to get rid of her dogs, and failed to do so.

Ms Betts had also been abusive to her neighbour who reported the problem to Sheffield Homes, and has further agreed to refrain from speaking to this neighbour in future.

The judge in the case informed Ms Betts that if she breaches these conditions she could face further legal action for contempt of court that could have serious implications to herself and her tenancy.

Richard Webb, Sheffield City Council’s Executive Director of Communities, said: “Ms Betts has acted in breach of her tenancy agreement, and shown no respect for other residents. We are delighted that this situation is resolved and she has agreed to remove all the animals from her flat.”

Ms Betts was also ordered to pay the Council's costs of bringing the case to court in the sum of £943.30.

If you are affected by a neighbour’s antisocial behaviour then you can visit any First Point in the city for advice or email FirstPoint@sheffield.gov.uk, or call the Sheffield Homes Advice Lines: North 0114 293 0000 or South 0114 205 3333.