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AN
E FOR A'
Housing & Social Work Services
In The Neighbourhood
Falkirk Council Tenants’ Newsletter
Issue 1 SUMMER 2007
Housing Challenge
CONTENTS Today’s Housing Service
2 What’s Happening in your Area faces a number of
challenges.
3 Housing Service in the Spotlight
New Look Kitchens We want our housing stock to
be improved to the best
4 Tenant Participation - Get Involved! possible standards and to create
estates where residents can take
5 Switching on to New Heating pride in their surroundings
Funding Matters
Our waiting list is considerable
6 Investing in the Future and we need to use every
What to do about Nuisance Neighbours measure we can to effectively
match the available housing
7 Community Wardens Make a Difference! stock to meet people’s needs
A Step Up? and aspirations. This includes
Housing Performance improving the time we take to
8 How Your Rent is Calculated re-let empty houses.
Your Views on Repairs Councillor Gerry Goldie, Through initiatives like shared
Convener, Housing &
Contacts Social Work Committee
ownership and working in
partnership with other
landlords, we are providing
options for people to find
affordable homes.
Caring For Our Customers All this has to be done within
our budget. Council tenants pay
for the service through their
Customer Care rents and we want to keep these
Standards for all at an affordable level.
Neighbourhood We are committed to tackling
Housing Offices have anti-social behaviour and will
been developed as part take quick action to prevent
of Falkirk Council’s escalation of problems.
continuing commitment Raising standards of service
to providing high and meeting the expectations
quality services to all of tenants can be assisted by
customers including: looking at good practice
elsewhere, including the private
Falkirk Council tenants, housing sector and our partners
their families and in social housing and – most of
all – by listening to our tenants.
representatives YOU know what you expect
people seeking social of us and the standards we
rented housing in the Neighbourhood Office Staff, Denny should meet. So, please tell us
what YOU think – see inside
Falkirk council area for more details on how you
treat our customers Copies of the Standards are can get involved.
residents of mixed- respond to enquiries and available from all
tenure estates Your views can help us to
complaints and, Neighbourhood Offices or make Falkirk Council’s
The Standards state how we provide information by contacting the Tenant Housing Service better for all
will: about our services. Participation Co-ordinator. tenants.
What’s happening in your area?
New Look Kitchens
In Falkirk: three years and keep them At Craigleith Road, Langlees.The Link Group Last year Falkirk
New Look High Rises watered throughout the outdated and unpopular and Ogilvie Homes have Council installed new
summer season. tenement blocks have been worked together with the
Callendar Park high rise kitchens in 487
demolished to make way Council to deliver 38 units
flats are to have new “rain Installations are carried out homes.
for a new development of for rent and six for shared
screen” cladding system, by HEROS, a Council
32 properties by the Link ownership. Kitchens are replaced
and re-roofing to protect Employment Training Unit
Group who will transfer 16 generally because of age
from water penetration and scheme. At Carron Road, two old
of them to Paragon with the oldest
improve insulation. sandstone blocks will be
Anyone interested in the Housing Association.
demolished to allow the properties given priority,
Belmont Tower is top of verandas scheme can find
In Wood Street and development of social and surveys have shown
the priority list and work out more and see examples
Chisholm Place, seven rented homes and flats for around 50% of homes
will start in early summer, of the troughs and baskets
blocks of flats and market sale next year.
taking about nine months at the Project Office at 80 need new kitchens.
associated lock-ups have
to complete Torwood Avenue which is In Lomond Drive 66 three-
open for business every
been demolished and work
storey flats have been When your home is
High flats residents were by the Link Group is due identified as needing a
Monday: 01324 473795 or demolished to make way
consulted on possible uses to start this autumn on 36 new kitchen a surveyor
0784 3258948 or by email: for 32 low-rise properties
for the open spaces at the properties for rent and 34
base of the towers.
deryk.wilson@falkirk.gov.uk on the site. Redevelopment visits to discuss the
properties for low cost
of Lomond Drive by Link standard layout and
Proposals include the Old Flats For New ownership.
forms part of Falkirk amend it to suit your
provision of medical Homes
Council’s successful bid for own appliances and any
facilities, such as a In Dawson:
The Council has worked funding from the Housing
chiropody clinic as well as
closely with its partners in New Developments specific needs.
Environmental
shops and a laundry.
the private sector and with A mixed low-rise Regeneration Fund Tenants can choose
other landlords to identify development of new houses (HERF). Work is hoped to from two styles of doors
In Grangemouth opportunities for housing start in October.
has replaced the old Inver and two worktop
Flower Power In regeneration in and Birnam Court flats in patterns plus a range of
Kersiebank Grangemouth.
colours.
Grangemouth verandas are
blooming again in the In Camelon
second year of the
Council’s popular verandah Ship Shape Changes For
scheme.
It’s part of a range of
Mariner Shops
Changes have been made to
Housing service in the spotlight
environmental a popular shopping area in
improvements in certain Camelon. All Scottish Councils The inspectors will ask: recognised best practice homelessness
housing estates thoughout The Mariner Street have to go through an in housing and
the Fakirk Council area by how good are the services for owners
shopping precinct is well independent services? homelessness service
HEROS - the Housing used by local residents and inspection to assess provision. planning & managing
Estate Regeneration provides a range of services how effective their how well are they performance
Outcomes Squad. managed for Performance standards
such as Post Office, housing service is. social inclusion
newsagent, general store
improvement? are published on
The verandas planting service delivery &
scheme, provides tenants and a Co-op supermarket. This year it is the turn of They will use Communities Scotland’s
Falkirk Council. website (www. communication
with wall troughs and The precinct, built in the Performance Standards to
hanging baskets of flowers The inspection will be judge how well Falkirk communitiesscotland.gov. If you would like to
1950s, was due for uk) and set out the
at flats in Torwood Avenue, upgrading but before any improvements.These were new disabled access ramps carried out by Council complies with know more about the
Cultenhove Crescent, plans were made, housing taken into account in the Communities Scotland the Housing (Scotland) standards that all housing Inspection Process, or to
Croftside Court and installing a raised central and homelessness
staff visited the area to ask improvement plans and the area incorporating an which was set up by the Act, 2001 and other comment on the Falkirk
Glenside Court to help customers for their views project was started this “anchor” theme providers should attain in Council housing service,
brighten the area. Scottish Executive to relevant statutory
on what should be done. summer. It includes: look at Council housing legislation. the provision of services please contact the Tenant
new lighting posts and including:
The floral decorations are Around 70 people took the removing uneven paving litter bins services and make Participation Co-
free provided the tenant They will also assess the ordinator on 01324
time to answer questions and replacing it with cleaning and repair of recommendations for housing management
agrees to maintain and extent to which the 590829
and offer their ideas about tarmac exposed brickwork improvement. property maintenance
replenish the flowers for Council meets
2 3
activities of the various
Getting Involved Associations – and have
some fun, too.
The Tenants Conference is
open to all tenants of
Falkirk Council and we’ll
Have you ever wanted be providing plenty of
to tell us what you publicity about it during
think about the the coming months. If you
Housing Service? Well, want to know more about
here’s your chance. this forthcoming event,
We work with tenants please contact the Tenant
and residents in a Participation Co-ordinator
whose details are listed on
number of ways to
the back page.
involve people in
decisions about their
homes and their
communities.
Funding
Registered Tenants
Organisations (RTO’s)
Matters
Local organisations
There are around 10
looking for funding
Associations currently should make Falkirk
registered with the Council Council’s External
and Communities Scotland. Funding Unit their
These Associations provide New Clubrooms at Breton Court are given the thumbs up!
first call.
a valuable local community
resource and also work The Unit deals with a
with Council staff and wide variety of
other agencies to improve
the quality of life for
Upper Greenhill Tenants & Residents Fun Day, 27th August 2006
inquiries and produces
a quarterly newsletter
Switching On To New Heating
which provides up-to- Falkirk area – 134
residents in their areas.You RTO’s Forum Neighbourhood Housing participation from the
date information on The first high flats tenants are now
can find out if there is an staff last autumn? If so, comfort of your own switched on to affordable heating in
Registered Tenants funding opportunities Programmed for 2007-08
Association in your area by you’ll be pleased to know home? We have a register
contacting your
Organisations can send
that your efforts resulted in of tenants who are regularly
for every size of Falkirk’s Callendar Park. are:
representatives to meetings project.
Neighbourhood Housing a plan to include all areas consulted about service Falkirk Council’s Falkirk Council also has Bo’ness area – 54
of the Forum which are The current edition is
Office or the Tenant held regularly in Falkirk. covered by our issues by post or by Combined Heat and plans to instal a Camelon area – 190
Participation Co-ordinator Neighbourhood Offices. telephone. If you would available at Power (CHP) project “BioMass” district
The Forum considers issues www.falkirk.gov. Grangemouth area –
– see back page for contact that affect all residents From this month, like to join this provides heat and hot heating system for 29
uk – click on Funding 49
details. throughout the Falkirk Neighbourhood Housing consultation register, or find water to the mainly homes in Letham and a
staff will advertise regular out more about it, please at Falkirk and follow elderly residents starting Stenhousemuir area–
Interested in starting an Council area and provides a communal heating
walkabouts where tenants contact the Tenant the links, or contact at £6 per week for a 80
Association in your useful mutual support system at Dorrator Court
the External Funding single-bedroom home.
area? network for the can meet the staff to Participation Co-ordinator in Camelon involving 26 Falkirk area– 45
Unit to obtain a paper
Associations. Through the “inspect” their area and whose details you can find The £2,435,000 project homes.
If there isn’t an Association copy.
Forum, the Associations are discuss any issues or on the back page of this will provide central
already up and running in If you are looking for Falkirk Council also Energy Saving
helping to plan a Tenants improvements affecting the newsletter. heating and hot water to
your area you can get funding sources for any installed gas central
Conference which will be area. For details about Breton and Corentin For information on
information about setting ideas or projects your heating systems across
held in the Municipal walkabouts in your area, Tenants Conference – Courts, and Maxwell, energy saving contact
one up from your group may have, the area 2006-07
Buildings on Saturday 29th please contact your local Saturday 29th Paterson, Symon and your local One Stop
Neighbourhood Office. Neighbourhood Officer. September contact the External Denny area - 169
September. Marshall Towers using a Shop or visit
We’ll provide help and Funding Unit at
Come along and tell us funding@falkirk.gov.uk central boiler. Surplus Grangemouth area – www.falkirk.gov.uk and
support and you can meet Armchair Consultation 196
Estate Walkabouts what you think would or telephone 01324 electricity generated is look in the A to Z under
with established Associations
to get their advice and the Did you join in an estate Maybe you would like to improve the housing 506065 or 506263. sold back to the national Stenhousemuir area – E for energy advice,
benefit of their experience. walkabout with become involved in tenant service, hear about the grid. 155 efficiency and tips.
4 5
Investing In The Future A Step Up! Community Wardens Make A Difference!
That’s the view of residents
who took part in a recent
Bo’ness tenants were survey of the Community
Improving the given improved access Warden Service.
quality of its housing to their homes as part
The survey involved face-to-face
of a range of work
is a priority for carried out over the interviews with people living in
Falkirk Council and each of the Community Wardens
past year. areas – Bo’ness, Camelon, Denny,
it has developed a More than £800,000 of Grangemouth, Hallglen and
long-term investment works including footpaths, Stenhousemuir.
plan to ensure steps and ramps, and Interviews were carried out with
fencing were carried out 287 residents for their views on
national quality following a pre-planned their neighbourhoods and what
standards are met. maintenance programme needed improvement.
survey which identified Most people said they felt safe in
The Scottish Quality what improvements were their neighbourhood during the
needed in the Bo’ness day but less so after dark.
Housing Standard area.
requires all Councils to Many of those interviewed
thought there should be more
set out how their houses community pride and that people
will be improved by needed to take more
responsibility for neighbourhood
2015. improvement.
It was also found that a majority
The Falkirk Council of people in each area knew
investment plan about the Community Wardens
service and almost 90% believed and other forms of antisocial have a wide range of duties which
estimates that £258 the service should continue. behaviour and, developing close involve Crime Prevention and
million is needed over Key areas for investment strategies for energy private sector links with young people Community issues.
this year are: efficiency and fuel A Community Warden’s role is to
the next seven to eight continuing to try and ensure that everyone can Community Wardens will provide If you would like more information
years to meet and carrying out a house poverty enjoy the area they live in by a friendly face to promote the about the Community Wardens
improve council helping to reduce the fear of area as a safe, attractive area to Service, please contact them on
maintain the quality condition survey a strategy to tackle housing by, for crime, incidents of crime, graffiti visit, shop, work and live. They 01324 503634.
standards. developing new disrepair in the example, replacing
central heating,
What To Do About Nuisance Neighbours
the Council’s Antisocial
kitchens and
bathrooms Housing Performance Matters
Antisocial Behaviour does not have to be The Housing Service homelessness. It took us 3.9 housing applications; time
Behaviour Helpline24 Housing & Social Work Services is committed to
tolerated. will continue to consult weeks on average to assess taken to process medical
for advice, information continuous improvement in the Housing Services we circumstances where people applications;
Everyone has a right to live in a safe and secure and assistance widely with tenants provide and we want residents to know how well we are presented as homeless or
community and enjoy a peaceful home life. doing. As part of this commitment we want to provide potentially homeless (this Number and percentage of
the Mediation Service about improvements to close inspections completed;
But with rights come you with key information on our Housing Services. compares to the Scottish average
behaviour applies to Housing Services staff at their homes and will of 16.5 weeks) Number and percentage of
responsibilities and we should everyone. your One Stop Shop The following information shows of the net amount of rent due
keep tenants informed the performance in 2005-2006 (compared to the Scottish average Local Performance common drying area
all treat our neighbours and inspections completed;
others in the wider If your neighbour is an the Council’s Private about progress towards and compares this to the of 7%)
Housing Services also collects and
Sector Team if your performance of other Councils: Number and percentage of
community with respect. owner-occupier or the meeting the Quality Council House Sales monitors a great deal of local
garden inspections completed;
tenant of a private or social neighbour is a tenant in Rent loss due to empty performance information in order
Those people who cause the private sector
Standard. homes 79.4% of Council house sales to ensure that the Housing Number and percentage of
landlord, Falkirk Council were completed within 26 weeks Service is of a high standard, to
trouble need to know their common bin store inspections
Housing Services can still the Antisocial Behaviour For more information 2.2% of rent was lost due to (compared to the Scottish average check that we are achieving our completed;
behaviour will not be give you advice and in Noise Team if the issue houses being vacant (compared to of 74.6%) objectives, and so that we can
tolerated and that on the investment the Scottish average of 2.3%) continuously improve the service. Number and percentage of
certain circumstances take is noise related Repairs
appropriate action can and proposals for Falkirk Dwelling re-lets This information, monitored by new tenant visits
action. the Police if the matter 88.2% of all repairs were area housing offices, includes:
will be taken against them Council housing please 29.8% of houses that were not completed on target (compared to
Number and percentage of
if they persist. Often, it is enough to have is serious, or of a Time taken to carry out Job annual visits
criminal nature.
visit the Council considered to be ‘low demand’ the Scottish average of 89.8%)
a word with your were re-let within four weeks of Inspections; Homeless applicants – length
Falkirk Council has a range neighbour and discuss the website becoming vacant (compared to 96.6% of all repairs categorised as
of time waiting to be re-
Always remember you can an emergency were completed on Annual gas check
of services to deal with problem, but if that doesn’t www.falkirk.gov.uk or the Scottish average of 44.2%) performance; housed since homeless points
get help and assistance. target (compared to the Scottish
neighbour nuisance and work or you feel contact Alex Barr, It took us an average of 48 days to average of 93.8%)
awarded
Number of refusals by
Antisocial Behaviour. uncomfortable talking to Don’t suffer unnecessarily. re-let empty houses (compared to property type and area office Time taken to process
Senior Investment the Scottish average of 64 days) Homelessness
homeless applications
Your neighbour doesn’t your neighbour, there are Helpline 0808 100 3161 and reason for refusal; Reason
Officer on 01324 Rent Arrears Falkirk Council had the best for tenancy termination;
have to be a Council tenant other options.You can performance in Scotland in
Number of Acceptable
as the law on antisocial contact: Mediation 01324 30700 504000. Current tenant arrears were 6.2% dealing with cases of Time taken to process Behaviour Agreements
6 7
How Your Rent Is Calculated CONTACT
DETAILS
Running the Housing
Service in 2007-08 will Other Costs Neighbourhood Offices:
cost around £47.3 £1.92 Bo’ness One Stop Shop
million which comes 24 East Pier Street,
Bo’ness EH51 9AB
from the rents paid by T: 01506 778899
tenants.
Callendar Square One
This includes repairs, Capital Repayments Stop Shop
maintenance and the Callendar Square,
For Major Works Falkirk FK1 1ZF
interest on money Cost Of Managing £10.73 T: 01324 506868
borrowed to pay for major The Service Camelon One Stop Shop
work like re-roofing £11.43 256 Main Street,
projects. Camelon FK1 4EQ
T: 01324 503640
This year, the average rent
for a council house or flat is Dawson Centre
Maintenance Costs David’s Loan,
£45.78 a week. Bainford FK1 4EQ
£26.04 T: 01324 503640
Of course, some tenants pay
less than this and some pay Denny One Stop Shop
more – depending on the Carronbank House,
Carronbank Crescent,
size and type of house you Denny FK6 6GA
live in. T: 01324 504050
The chart shows how much Grangemouth One Stop
Shop
money is needed to pay for
the various parts of the
service.
Your views on repairs 5 York Lane,
Grangemouth FK3 8BD
T: 01324 504550
Consultation on the from across the Falkirk
As you can see, the total Stenhousemuir One Stop
repairs and maintenance Council area. It was a Shop
amount of rent needed to service was held with successful event with good 398 Main Street,
pay for the various housing tenants last autumn. responses and Stenhousemuir FK5 3JR
services works out at an Overall, a large majority of recommendations for T: 01324 503340
average of £50.12 a week. tenants responding were improvements to the service
either satisfied or very satisfied like an appointments system Private Sector Team
This is offset by income the with the repairs service. being set up.This is now being Suite 5,The Forum
Council receives from tried out in Stenhousemuir. FK1 1XR
Designed by Communications Unit, Corporate and Commercial Services, Falkirk Council
things like house sales so The consultation was done T: 01324 590797
through: Surveys
the average rent works out The three surveys posed
Debt Advice
at an average of £45.78 a tenants focus groups Telephone: 01324 506735
questions on:
week. telephone surveys Welfare Benefits Advice
repairs reporting Telephone: 01324 501404
KEEP ON TOP OF face to face surveys and,
inspections Maximising your income
YOUR RENT consultation register postal Telephone: 01324 501404
PAYMENTS surveys the repair itself
Tenant Participation Co-
Every few months you are Tenants were asked what they tenants’ overall impressions ordinator
thought was good about the of the repairs service Suite 5,The Forum, Callendar
issued with a rent statement Business Park, Falkirk, Fk1
which tells you what you service, what needed to be and revealed high levels of
improved and what the satisfaction with repairs 1XR
have paid and whether priorities should be. reporting but less so with the Tel: 01324 590590
there are any arrears on inspections process, although Mediation Service
your rent account. Tenants Focus Groups most respondents were satisfied. Telephone: 01324 506735
The first was held in Bo’ness Tenants were either satisfied or Community Wardens
If you have rent arrears, it is and concentrated on a 01324 503634
important that you seek very satisfied with the standard
recently completed planned of workmanship of repairs but Repairs (Contact Centre)
advice right away. maintenance contract in the less so with the arrangements 01324 590590
Mingle area.Those attending for access.
You can contact the said they were happy with
Council’s Welfare Benefits most aspects of the contract. Tenants’feedback is extremely
Advice Service or your The second focus group
valuable and is being taken into AN
E FOR A'
local Neighbourhood account in making changes to the
looked at the whole repairs service. Housing & Social Work Services
Office who will be able to service and involved tenants www.falkirk.gov.uk
help and assist you.
If you would like this information in another language, Braille, large print or audio please contact
one of our Neighbourhood Offices or One Stop Shops
