On your bike! - Redditch Borough Council - Worcestershire Hub

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NEWS from housing Tenants encouraged to get involved COUNCIL tenants are going to have more opportunities to get involved and have their say on how services are delivered as part of a new strategy. The Council is aiming to provide a wider range of ways for tenants to help develop housing plans, policies and procedures as well as organise events and improve their estates. As part of the new strategy the Council will be: ➤ Creating a database of tenants who are interested in being involved. They can then be contacted by email, text, telephone or post to give their views. ➤ Setting up community groups which 12 Redditch matters can meet informally to focus on their own specific estate or scheme. ➤ Creating community panels, which will meet formally with Estate Tenancy Officers to look at estate management issues. ➤ Setting up special interest groups to look at particular topics. ➤ Setting up a Borough Tenants Forum with representatives from all groups as well as local councillors. ➤ Holding conferences and community events for tenants. For more information on getting involved call the Tenant Involvement Team on (01527) 534188. You said... we did... In December 2008 Redditch Borough Council asked tenants to take part in a Status Survey. Here is what tenants told us and what we have done in response to their views. You said… You were not told when workers would call We did... 90 per cent of our repairs are now carried out by appointment.. We did... We have introduced a web-based reporting system which also offers advice and useful information. You said… Overall, Housing Services are not very good at keeping tenants You said… You didn’t find it easy to contact the right person to report anti-social behaviour. We did... We have met with a group of tenants to discuss how we can communicate better. We have increased the informed. number of ways that you can become involved with us and have produced a document called the Tenant Involvement Strategy. This document is available on the website and at One Stop Shops. We did... We now have more officers working in your local area and have sent all tenants a newsletter You said… You don’t always find it easy to contact the right person. notifying you of who your Tenancy Officer is, with useful contact information. What we are planning to do in 2010 ➤ Give all new tenants an Introductory Tenancy. ➤ Introduce repairs inspections by appointment. ➤ Work with tenants to produce a document on how we will deal with anti-social behaviour. ➤ Work with tenants to improve our standards of service. ➤ Continue to train officers to deal with more specialist areas, such as housing advice, anti-social behaviour and welfare. ➤ Tackle tenants who fraudulently sublet their property. ➤ Send a quarterly tenants newsletter ➤ Visit all tenants annually. Changes for new tenants NEW Council tenants are now being put on a 12-month introductory period as part of a scheme to provide extra support for the new occupants and tackle any problems with anti-social behaviour. The Introductory Tenancy Scheme, which was started in January, gives the Council the right to end a tenancy if occupiers fail to meet the terms of their tenancy agreement within the first 12 months of them moving in. The introductory period will allow the Council to take quicker action when dealing with anti-social behaviour, neighbour nuisance, rent arrears and other tenancy breaches. It also means that new tenants do not have the automatic right to make home improvements, have the right to buy or ‘mutual exchange’ their home. The Council will also make more frequent visits to the property and officers will help tenants with any difficulties they are having settling into their new home or paying their rent. Jayne Bough, Housing Services Manager, said: “As well as helping the Council deal with problems of anti-social behaviour and rent arrears, the i ntroductory period will also be great for new tenants who will be given extra support in their first few months to settle in to their new homes. “It should also help our neighbourhoods become safer and more enjoyable places to live as tenants will have a greater incentive to adhere to their tenancy conditions.” After 12 months, those who have followed the terms of their tenancy will automatically be given a secure tenancy. Redditch Borough Council
Residents helped to boost their income REDDITCH residents are being encouraged to boost their income by finding out what benefits they may be entitled to. The Benefit Section at Redditch Borough Council has put together a new strategy to enable them to actively target those who may not be claiming all the benefits that they could be entitled to. They have employed two Income Maximisation Officers to work face-to-face with residents and external organisations. The Income Maximisation Officers will also work closely with companies and speak to those at risk of redundancy to make sure they are aware of the benefits they can claim, whether it be Housing or Council Tax benefits, grants, or payments towards their bills. David Taylor, Benefits Services Manager, said: “Many people have no idea of what grants and benefits are out there for them whether it be help with paying the bills or free insulation to keep down the costs. “Redditch Borough Council wants to help everyone maximise their income as benefit take-up provides a safety net in hard times and also helps to put money back into the local economy. “Benefit take-up puts extra cash into local areas as increased benefit income is usually spent on local goods and services; such as housing, food, transport and leisure. Supporting family income is a good way of supporting local communities.” Michele Conway, Income Maximisation Officer, said: “There are millions of pounds that go unclaimed simply because people don’t fully understand the benefits system. We are here to advise and to promote the benefits that are available to claim.” As part of the strategy, the Council will also be working closely with Age Concern, the local Job Centre Plus as well as the local Citizens Advice Bureau. To find out if you can claim benefits visit www.redditchbc.gov.uk and try the new entitlement calculator. Residents can also email hbenefits@redditchbc.gov.uk, call (01527) 534050, or call in at one of the Council's One Stop Shops. Walking the Patch TENANCY Officers regularly walk Redditch estates and the communal areas of Council flats to check whether they are clean and identify any problems. Residents can join Tenancy Officers on one of the following inspections taking place until June in different areas of Redditch: ➤ Woodrow, 26th March ➤ Greenlands, 21st May ➤ Church Hill South, 9th April ➤ Winyates West, 4th June ➤ Mayfields, 23rd April ➤ Batchley, 18th June. ➤ Lodge Park, 7th May For more information call (01527) 534188 Michele Conway and Laura Fyles, Redditch Borough Council’s two Income Maximisation Officers. Did you know your entitlement may have changed Child benefit and child maintenance are no longer counted when the Council calculates a claimant's weekly income and disregards are made for child care costs. The Council also no longer assumes income from any savings or investments below £10,000 for those aged 65 or over. Although, if you have more than £16,000 in savings or investments you will not be able to receive either Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, unless you receive Guarantee Pension Credit. Help us improve our services REDDITCH tenants are being given the chance to have their say on how services are delivered by the Council. Next month all current and future tenants will be invited to a Housing Service Standard event where they will be able to give their views on some of the services which are most important to them. Anyone interested in attending this event or keen to have their say on any housing related matters should contact the Tenant Involvement Team on (01527) 534188 or email tpteam@redditchbc.gov.uk. Pay your rent at any time from anywhere! COUNCIL tenants can now pay their rent over the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (01527) 534005. A recorded message asks callers to select one for Council Tax and two for rent or support charges. It then prompts callers to enter their reference number before taking card payment. Tenants can also choose to pay online, at Pay Zone outlets with a swipe card, by direct debit or in one of the One Stop Shops. Redditch Borough Council Redditch matters 13
Page 1 and 2: inside this issue... Redditch matte
Page 3 and 4: Contents 4 Redditch Round-up. New a
Page 5 and 6: Shared management team appointed TH
Page 7 and 8: Introducing the Redditch Partnershi
Page 9 and 10: News from the Council’s visitor a
Page 11: New partnership aims to transform t
Page 15 and 16: Help is close at hand for Redditch
Page 17 and 18: Artist’s impression of entrance t
Page 19 and 20: Council and college team up CHILDRE
Page 21 and 22: Webheath walkers wanted CALLING all
Page 23 and 24: We offer a local, friendly and reli
Page 25 and 26: Fantastic fishing at Arrow Valley L
Page 27 and 28: Friends across the miles FRIENDSHIP
Page 29 and 30: Walk in the woodlands TAKE a walk o
Page 31 and 32: ❁ Re-use this spring This time of

On your bike! - Redditch Borough Council - Worcestershire Hub

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