Get documents about "Inside
Document Sample
Winter issue 2010 no 32
StreetsAhead News and views from Eastlands H
omes
Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
from everyone at
Eastlands Homes
Inside
Investment Annesley Gardens World Aids Day
Programme - Page 4 clean up - Page 8 - Page 13
The news from Eastlands home
s
Contents
Welcome to the Winter issue of Streets Ahead.
No more counting down the wrapping paper. Turn to
days until Christmas, it’s page 14 to see how you
almost here! can do your bit for the
environment by recycling
Within this jam-packed some of this waste.
issue of Streets Ahead you’ll
find a Quids In magazine Estate walkabouts have
and Eastspeak as well as a now been planned for
2011 calendar. The calendar 2011 and the first ones
features photos taken by our are printed on page 15.
customers and entered into Check out the website
our photography competition www.eastlandshomes.co.uk
as well as top tips on each to see the full list.
page. Pin it up in your
kitchen we think you will Have a great Christmas
find it useful. and an even better 2011!
Every Christmas, we all
have a lot of waste including
Abi
Christmas Cards, trees and Editor
Opening hours over Christmas
Please be aware that we close for the Christmas repair, please call your local eastline number.
break on Friday 24 December 2010 at 4pm. Please report any non-emergency issues when we
Eastline will re-open at 8am on Tuesday 4 January re-open on Tuesday 4 January 2011.
2011 and our reception at Eastlands House will be REMEMBER: You may incur a charge if
open from 8.45am. you call out the repairs service for a non-
An emergency repairs service will be provided over emergency issue.
the festive period. If you require an emergency
In this Issue…
Your rent at Christmas p5
Customer Involvement p8
Money Matters p12 Frozen Frank Hatton
Walkabouts p15 Pipes p4 Operation Impact p8
2
Rechargeable Beat
Repairs Bogus
Customers who damage their homes
through neglect, misuse or vandalism
Callers
will be charged for repairing the damage Eastlands Homes
- even if they no longer live there. Neighbourhood Wardens
are currently visiting
all sheltered housing
Between April 2009 and member of staff identifies the schemes to provide
March 2010, Eastlands Homes damage during a visit to your a safety talk and
has spent £559,000 fixing home. information on bogus
the damage caused to 833 If you are moving out of the callers.
properties, including putting property a Housing Officer will
right unauthorised installations. Bogus callers trick their way
arrange a home visit to carry out
into people’s homes to steal
We are determined not to an inspection. You will be given
let this huge bill reduce our the opportunity to put right any money and valuables while
improvement plans for your potential recharges before you the householders attention
homes so we make sure the leave the property. is elsewhere.
customers responsible are If work is still needed after Residents will be left with
recharged for the repair costs. you've left you will be invoiced leaflets about bogus callers
What items count as a and given 28 days to pay the and a DVD called ‘Beat
rechargeable repair? bill. If you leave your house the Bogus Caller’ will be
without giving notice we will shown. Security equipment
• Replacing locks/keys and trace you and take action to
door frames (following forced is also being offered to
recover the costs.
entry) due to loss or theft of provide extra security and
your keys. Remember you must have a reassurance.
police crime number for any
• Any internal or external vandalism caused to your home, In addition to the sheltered
damage such as broken otherwise you will be charged schemes, in partnership
windows, holes in doors and for the repairs. with the police, areas most
plasterwork, caused by you or likely to suffer from crime
anyone who visits your home. For more information please
contact your local Eastline. and Anti Social Behaviour
You will be informed that the will be focussed on as a
repair is rechargeable when you priority. The wardens will
report it to Eastline or when a patrol the streets to act
as a deterrent and speak
to residents about safety
measures. Any elderly
residents will also be
asked if they would like a
regular call or visit from the
Wardens.
If you would like more
information on this, please
contact Aaron Lowe,
Our The Neighbourhood Warden,
who is leading this initiative
Performance p10 Green Section p14 on 0161 230 1011.
3
You Said… Investment
Programme
You said that you liked the
new plasma screens that we
have in our receptions but
wanted us to alter the way
we displayed the messages
In this edition we thought we’d
highlight the continuing improvements that are taking
We Did place in the areas that originally transferred in 2003. Our
We have now slowed down focus over the past couple of years has been on replacing
the speed of the information rear fencing in the Clayton area and in that time we’ve
slides on the plasma screens installed around 10 miles of timber fencing.
so that you have longer to
This will be followed by We continue to replace
read the information.
replacing the brick walls in the heating systems and carry out
Beswick/Openshaw areas that environmental improvements
haven’t already been tackled. across Beswick, Clayton and
Openshaw.
Frozen
We’re also continuing
our successful bathroom In Gorton, Levenshulme,
replacement programme that Longsight, Rusholme and
Pipes
has moved on from Beswick Ardwick we continue to carry
to Openshaw Village this year. out a range of improvements,
We sadly lost our contractor if you’ve not been offered any
Connaughts who went into improvements yet we will be
administration in September, contacting you before March
but fortunately Lovells stepped 2011.
in to continue the programme So far this year we’ve spent
and have also taken on many of around £20m and completed
Connaughts staff at our request. almost 10,000 improvements
The replacement roofing since the start of the
programme in Clayton has now programme. One of the benefits
started, the latest phase is being of the programme is that our
carried out by Allied Roofing contractors have been able to
after DLP Services successfully employ nearly 50 people from
completed last years work. the Eastlands postcode area.
We’re looking to replace over
180 roofs between now and
Spring 2011.
Last year was the coldest
Winter for 31 years and many
customers last year contacted
Eastline with frozen pipes.
If your pipes freeze, before
ringing Eastline, turn off the
Customer Awards
water at the main stop tap It’s time again to vote in the Eastlands Homes
and open the cold taps. It is
better to leave the pipes frozen Customer Awards.
and wait for them to thaw out There are five categories this year including Peoples
but you can try and thaw the Choice for Outstanding Achievement, Good Neighbour
pipe using hot water bottles Award, Young Person of the Year Award, Volunteer of
or a hairdryer. Do not use the Year and Contribution to the Community.
a blowlamp. Thaw from To vote for someone you know, ring 0161 274 2149
one end of the frozen section and we’ll send you out a nomination form. Alternatively,
and not from the middle. This drop into any of the offices and pick up a form.
should eventually thaw the You can also download a form from our website
pipes out. www.eastlandshomes.co.uk.
4
Would you know Your rent at
Christmas!
an emergency if
you saw one?
If you are up to date with
your rent, you can enjoy
a week off from your
payments this Christmas!
Most repairs will be attended to by appointment. However, if your rent
However, occasionally emergencies can occur account is in arrears, you
which need to be dealt with immediately. must pay your rent.
If your repair is classed as an emergency repair, it will be carried If you are on a monthly
out within three hours. arrangement or paying
Emergency work includes: monthly Direct Debit or
Standing Order, please note
• Blocked toilets where you have only one toilet that you should continue to
• Blocked or leaking drains (but not blocked sinks) make your payment as usual,
as your rent-break week will
• Serious storm, accident or flood damage to rooms already have been calculated
• Dangerous structures and included.
• Serious electrical faults
Is your
• No mains water supply
• Regaining entry where a tenant is locked out. However a charge
is likely to be made in this instance
• A loss of central heating during very cold weather. Applies only
for elderly people living alone and families with a child under the home
too big?
age of 12 months.
Protecting your
information
There are times when we need to
share information about you with If you are living in a
other organisations. property that is too big
When carrying out improvement work on your home, we may need for you, we can help.
to let contractors know key pieces of information about you to We can help you talk through
ensure that they carry out the work to the highest standard. your options about a new home
We want you to know that we work strictly within the Data (you might save yourself some
Protection Act. Any organisations who we share data with sign an money if you have extra space
agreement that states clearly that they cannot misuse or share this or rooms).
information with anyone else. We can provide support from
helping you find the right home,
National Fraud Initiative through to helping you move
We also use the data held in respect of your tenancy to supply and getting your home ready.
information to the Audit Commission and this information will Call your local Eastline to find
be used for cross-system and cross-body comparison for the out how we can help you.
prevention and detection of fraud. 5
Police work with
communities to cut
anti-social behaviour
Police officers have been working Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson said: “The
hard to reduce anti-social behaviour in police are keen to work with local people to cut
your neighbourhood. anti-social behaviour.
Between 1 April and 20 October anti-social “We want to hear about the problems that people
behaviour (ASB) has been cut by 43.5 per cent are having and how we can help them improve the
across the Metropolitan Division compared to the places where they live and work.
same period last year. “People can talk to the police by coming along to a
This means there have been 4,133 fewer reported police surgery, calling their neighbourhood policing
incidents of anti-social behaviour in Fallowfield, team or sending them an email.”
Gorton, Levenshulme, Longsight, Ardwick, Hulme,
Moss Side, and Whalley Range. If you have a policing issue you would
like to discuss you can contact your local
Officers have listened to people’s concerns and as Neighbourhood Policing Team:
a result they are running several operations and
have executed a number of warrants in addition to Longsight & Ardwick Neighbourhood Policing
increasing patrols during times when anti-social Team Tel: 0161 856 4223
behaviour is most common. email: b1.npt@gmp.police.uk
In addition, the police have been working with Gorton & Levenshulme Neighbourhood Policing
Youth Services to talk to young people and give Team Tel: 0161 856 4288
them advice about the types of sports and hobbies email: b2.npt@gmp.police.uk
that they can get involved in. Fallowfield, Rusholme & Whalley Range
Officers have also been working with Trading Neighbourhood Policing Team
Standards to visit off-licences, pubs and clubs to Tel: 0161 856 4423
make sure alcohol and cigarettes aren't being sold email: b3.npt@gmp.police.uk
illegally. Beswick, Clayton and Openshaw Neighbourhood
In addition, the police have supported a number Policing Team Tel: 0161 856 3502
of Respect days run by Manchester City Council email: a6.apt@gmp.police.uk
to remove rubbish and graffiti and clean up the
streets.
Stock It’s about nine years since
the last major survey of
our properties took place
We have commissioned an
external company to carry out
the surveys between now and
Condition in Beswick, Clayton and
Openshaw. Although we’ve
done a lot of improvement
next Spring. The survey will
only take 30 minutes. They
will write to you in advance of
Survey work since then it is about
time we assess what we’ve
done and check what else we
calling but please ask to see
their ID and if you are in any
doubt contact Eastline before
need to do over the next 30 letting them in your home.
years! Genuine surveyors will not
insist on entering your house.
6
Get the Feel Good
Factor with Active
Lifestyles
We all know the Look out for a range of activities
and programmes that will
benefits of being be taking place at a
active but when do variety of indoor and
you find the time? outdoor venues near you.
From Tots on the Move to
and where do you Easy Rhythms, there really
start? will be something for
That’s where Active Lifestyles everyone and it’ll be so easy
comes in. From January 2011 to join.
Manchester City Council will For more information
be launching this brand new about the programmes
service, to keep you and your available in your area, and
family active in your local area. how you can join in, visit
Membership costs as little as £5 www.manchester.gov.uk/
a month, and if you sign up for activelifestyles or call
an annual membership you get 0161 232 3100.
two months FREE!
Gas safety checks Extra
funding
We’ve now set up our own gas and repairs team and as part of
our annual visit to check the safety of your boiler and gas fire (if
you have one). We are also checking your smoke alarm and fitting We have been successful in
a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is known as the securing around £500,000 of
‘silent killer’ so by fitting these detectors you’ll will get a warning European grant towards the
if the levels of carbon monoxide in your home reach a dangerous external insulation of our multi
level. If this is the case turn off gas appliances, open windows, storey blocks. This is great news
contact Eastline and we’ll respond immediately. and will allow us to do more
improvements to our homes.
In order to fit the detectors and carry out your safety checks it is The work is due to start during
vital that you give us access to your home when we contact you. 2011.
This is such an important service we will not give up if you don’t
set up an appointment with us. If necessary we will go to Court We’ve also appointed an award
and recharge the cost to you, so please allow us access so that winning design company,
we can protect you and your family. Dwelle, who will help to design
the project in consultation
We are looking to catch up with our multi block residents
on the gas safety programme in Phase 1 (Platt, Worsley,
over the next few months Bickerdike Courts). This
and we may even contact will ensure we get the best
you to arrange an insulation standards from the
appointment in the evening, completed work as well as
weekends or between making sure the multi’s look
Christmas and New Year. good for miles around...
7
Customer Involvement
Annesley Gardens Clean up
After successfully receiving as weeding and litter picking. customers from Annesley
a cash grant to brighten up Our Youth Involvement Officer, Gardens as well as Customers
Annesley Gardens, Diane, one Bridget Halliday, enlisted her from Cornwall Court including
of our customers asked us if we team of little helpers (Eastlands the Caretaker.
could get on board to clean up Homes Task Team) who got Diane and the residents were
the area. stuck in along with MCC Street very grateful for the help
Diane purchased wooden Environmental Managers Russ provided that afternoon and
planters and flowers to sit along and Carla. Bridget, Ashleigh the children really enjoyed
the pathway but needed some and Wendy from the Customer themselves!
help in cleaning up the area such Involvement team helped
Frank Hatton Court
Operation Impact
On Thursday 11 November the Despite the weather the event
Customer Involvement Team was a huge success, students
organised a clean up of Frank worked really hard to enhance
Hatton Court in partnership the appearance of the scheme.
with Manchester University. 54 The residents and students had
students attended and worked lunch together which was a This is the second event
with the residents to help clean great success and helped break we have held with student
up by clearing weeds, planting down some of the barriers that volunteers following a
bulbs and painting the fence can exist between different age successful garden clean up on
around the scheme. groups. the Anson estate.
8
Customer Involvement
Danny O’Sullivan, Customer Involvement
Manager, discusses how we have involved
customers in our work over the past year.
“The Customer Involvement • Met with Housing Managers • Had involvement in
Team worked with customers and improved the way that interviewing and appointing
over the last year to ensure we neighbourhood walkabouts are repairs contractors and
listened to you and provided the undertaken Customer Involvement
services that you want. • Had their say in the new Manager.
We have a number of different service standards that are Readers Panels
ways that we consult with being developed. The readers’ panels have
customers. We have three Service Improvement Panels reviewed and commented on
Neighbourhood Assemblies various policies including:
that look at issues in their • Fully involved in writing
specific areas as well as Service Eastlands Homes Annual • Neighbourhood Management
Improvement Panels that look Report Strategy
at specific service areas for • Had their say in the new • Challenging Neighbourhood
example Anti-Social Behaviour or service standards that are Policy
Allocations and Lettings. being developed • Gas Safety Policy
We know that some customers • Reviewed the way we deliver
do not have the time to attend • Rechargeable Repairs Policy
services to ensure we are
regular meetings so we have providing Value for Money • Stronger Communities
set up reader’s panels where Strategy.
we send questionnaires out on • Written a Customer
subjects that interest them. Involvement Charter detailing Youth Forums
how we involve our customers • Reviewed Eastlands Homes
We also work with young people
in our communities and have • Have analysed the amount of website
youth forums that meet regularly money that we have charged • Produced a leaflet regarding
in our neighbourhoods. and collected from customers Internet safety for young
who damage our properties people
We have worked with customers
on a variety of issues over the • Agreed what the quality and • Sent representatives to Service
last year and they have made condition of homes should be Improvement Panels and
a real difference in the way we when we rent them to new Neighbourhood Assemblies.
deliver our services. Customers customers
If you’d like to get involved,
have: • Visited empty properties to contact the Customer
Neighbourhood Assemblies check that the agreed quality Involvement Team on
and conditions were being 0161 274 2149
• Changed the Tenant Board achieved
Member election process
• Analysed Eastlands Homes
• Reviewed the complaints performance and requested
policy and now have explanations where
representatives who meet with performance was below target
staff when reviewing the types
of complaints made
Congratulations to Mr Stenson
Well done who won our sunflower
competition. His sunflower was a
Mr Stenson! whopping 383cm / 12.4ft!.
Mr Stenson, pictured here with his
granddaughter, won a lawnmower
for his winning entry.
9
Our Performance
YOuR
Complaints
• Complaints received
(Jul to Sept 10): 56
• % tenants satisfied with the
way their complaint was
handled: 74%
How are we doing?
Complaint Number
Type received
Anti-social behaviour 6
Estate Services 1
Staff & Customer Services 2 We monitor our performance Ardwick, Gorton North, Gorton
closely so we know how we’re South, Levenshulme, Longsight
Housing Support Services 11
doing and where we need to and Rusholme:
Repairs & Maintenance 19 improve. Total improvements since
Investment programme 15 April 2009: 7,757 including:
You can keep an eye on our
Tenant rents & service charges 2 performance too – every issue • Double Glazed Windows and
of Streets Ahead includes the Doors: 2971
Ways to Complain
latest on how we compare • Electrical Rewiring: 335
We want to hear from you and with some of the targets set in • Kitchens: 1188
will act on every complaint we
receive. You can call, write, email, our Customer Service Charter.
If you have any ideas on how • Bathrooms: 1240
visit us in person or online at
www.eastlandshomes.co.uk or we can improve this page, • Boilers: 1229
request a complaint form from please let us know – whether • Cavity Wall Insulation: 67
us, available in reception. you want more, less or different • External Wall Rendering: 116
Ways to Comment or information. Just email • Structural Improvements: 319
eastline@eastlandshomes.
Compliment us co.uk or call your local • Roofs & Chimneys: 292
We are pleased to hear what we Eastline team. Target: All 5,234 homes
are doing well so if you’d like to be offered at least one
to tell us what you are happy improvement within two years
with then please use one of the of transfer (March 2011)
contact methods above.
Here is how we performed Current Progress: On target.
YOUR views – 4274 homes have received an
Thank you to everyone who during July, August and
September 2010 – improvement 18 months into the
helped us review our complaints, Programme.
compliments and compensation quarter 2.
policy. Customers will now
be more involved in regularly Investment Programme Beswick, Clayton & Openshaw:
assessing the way we handle Number of improvements as Total improvements since
complaints to help us improve at 30 September 2010. 2003: 16,594
our services.
10
Repairs Service
Type Our Target 10/11 Quarter 2
Emergency Repairs – within 3 hours 100% 99.9%
Urgent Repairs – within 5 working days 100% 99.9%
Routine repairs – within 10 working days 100% 98.7%
How are we going to improve?
We are meeting our targets in all but a very few instances. We will continue to work hard
to achieve 100% of repairs within our target times in future.
Eastline – Customer Service Calls
Calls answered within service standard of 15 seconds 93% 77.7%
How are we going to improve?
Technical issues and several vacant posts have affected our call answering times during
this period. However, new advisors are now in place, which has contributed towards an
improved performance more recently.
Rent
Current rent arrears (%) 2.83% 6.84%
Former tenant arrears – rent collection (%) 10.5% 10.8%
Rent loss from empty properties 1% 1.34%
How are we going to improve?
An action plan has been developed to reduce rent arrears. We will continue to carry out
early intervention work and promote our financial inclusion service to those who need
support.
Empty Properties
Empty properties as a % of the properties we own 1% 1.73%
Average re-let times of empty properties 20 days 28 days
How are we going to improve?
Work is underway to increase the average re-let times and reduce the number of empty
properties. A specific action plan has been developed on this issue to help us achieve
these targets.
Nuisance & Anti-Social Behaviour
Cases referred 157
Cases resolved and closed 179
Legal actions taken 11
11
Money Matters For the past few months, the Financial
Inclusion Team have been doing a lot
of work around finding out what grants
are available to you.
Help from
Your Financial Inclusion Officer
can help you completing the
application form. Please visit
www.uutf.org.uk/app or ring
utility grants?
0845 179 1791
United Utilities also have
“Arrears allowance scheme”
to help reduce water debts.
Some energy and utility form. You can either apply online, For example, if you pay £3.00
suppliers have set up by email or by post. You can a week for current charge and
independent charitable trusts contact your Financial Inclusion £1.00 a week for arrears, you will
which give grants to some of Officer to help you completing have paid £52.00 in 13 weeks.
their customers to help them the application form. Please visit Because you have paid £52.00
pay for gas, electric, water www.britishgasenergytrust.org. United Utilities will reduce
or other household arrears. uk or ring 01733 421 060 for more your arrears by further £52.00.
If you are behind with your information. Please visit www.unitedutilities.
payments or in arrears with com/arrearsallowance for more
Energy advice: Homeheat
your bills you can apply for information.
gives advice on utilities
grants. Contact your financial (including grants and reduced Single person’s household
Inclusion officer for more tariffs) to people struggling to tariff:- If you live on your own,
details and help applying for pay their bills and keep warm. unable to get a water meter and
the grants. You can call think you are paying too much
Here are the top five: 0800 33 66 99 or check their water bill, you can apply for
www.homeheathelpline.org.uk single persons household tariff
Gas and electric grants:
for more information. which is £244.19 for 2010-2011.
British gas energy trust: Please contact your financial
To apply to the trust, you must Water Grants:
Inclusion Officer how you can
be a current domestic account United Utilities is one of apply. Please visit
holder (person/persons named the major water providers for www.unitedutilities.com
on bill) of British Gas or Scottish Eastlands Homes residents. If
There are plenty more grants
Gas. Grants are available to you are in hardship and unable
available. Please contact
help individuals and families in to pay your water charges, for
your Financial Inclusion
need to meet arrears of energy example due to illness, family
Officer for more details and
charges and other household crisis or losing a job then you
help with your applications.
bills and costs. If you would like may be able to receive a grant
to apply for help, you will need to from united utilities trust fund.
fill in the Trust's application
Coalition Cancellation!! savings accounts and several
ways to save.”
Saving with them also means
In our summer issue we told Saving, difficult though it is on
that you may be able to borrow
you about a new government a low income, can provide a
from them if you need to. They
scheme called “Savings cushion against some of life’s
also offer a current bank account
Gateway” designed to help inevitable ups and downs.
as an alternative to dealing with
people on very low incomes Contact Manchester Credit
the big banks.
put a bit aside for a “rainy Union for help and advice on the
day”. Unfortunately this savings accounts they can offer. Contact them on
was one of the first things They say “Committing yourself 0161 231 5222 or at www.
cancelled by the new to a regular saving pattern can manchestercreditunion.co.uk
government that came in be difficult, but at Manchester Or contact the Financial
after the elections. Credit Union we make it as easy Inclusion Officer at your local
as possible, with a variety of Eastlands Office for further
12 details.
Equality
and Diversity
Understanding you Supporting • Early Intervention Services
– a service to assist families
and your needs Customers With with young children between
You may be aware that Eastlands Different Needs 6 and 12 years, who may be
Homes has undertaken an displaying signs of anti-social
important initiative to increase Eastlands Homes recognises that behaviour
our understanding of our our customers have a wide range • Enforcement – customers
customers. The initiative is called of individual needs and all have with additional needs can also
Customer Profiling which gets an equal right to live in a safe and be the cause of anti-social
information about customers secure environment. behaviour; consideration will
so that we can tailor services to We do not provide any care be taken as a result of their
customers’ needs and to help services, but any customer who needs
strengthen our communities. is facing harassment or abuse • Monitoring – all reports of
Many customers have helped us will be given all the support anti-social behaviour and
by providing information about they need to help them access harassment are recorded so
themselves. All information services. that trends can be established
provided by our customers As explained in our new Single and additional support offered.
is strictly confidential. We Equality Policy Statement, we
still have a low response rate take a zero tolerance approach
from our elderly and disabled
customers. In addition we
towards racial abuse, harassment,
homophobia or discrimination,
World Aids Day
have a low response rate with and will take all possible steps to On the 1 December, we showed
regards to sexual orientation. put a stop to it. our support for World Aids Day
We understand that this is by wearing the iconic red ribbon
very personal and customers Our staff look out for where and making donations.
can chose whether or not to support may be needed, and
will provide choice, respect and Over 90,000 people are living
share this information with us, with HIV in the UK and new
however, it is important, for dignity in the way they offer help.
infections continue every year.
example, if we are assessing a Some of the services we provide
pattern in anti-social behaviour include: World Aids day aims to take
and hate crime against our action to tackle HIV prejudice
• The Sanctuary Scheme and to protect yourself and others
customers. – available for customers
If you haven’t yet completed a experiencing or in fear of from HIV transmission.
customer monitoring form, please domestic abuse, hate crime or
do contact us and we can either harassment.
send one out to you or discuss it • Tenancy Support – setting up
with you over the phone. utility services, help looking for
a job
Hearing loops • Compliance Tenancies
We now have hearing loops – a service provided by
available in all receptions that Manchester City Council
can be taken into interview to support customers who
rooms if you need one. have a history of committing
Please also be aware that if criminal offences
you would benefit from having • Sheltered Housing
a hearing loop in the room
when we come and see you at • Community Alarms
home, this can be done. Ask the • Customer Involvement
member of staff who is coming to • Neighbourhood Wardens
visit you for more details.
• Young People – support
13
The Green Scene
Tips and ideas on how to save
money and the environment Large
or bulky
Every Christmas we have a lot of waste. Make
sure you are doing your bit for the environment by waste
recycling what you can. Bulky waste includes
beds, sofas, cookers
Christmas cards Christmas trees (real) and fridges.
You can reuse the front of your Take your real Christmas tree
best Christmas Cards for gift to your local Household Waste Donate
tags next year and then recycle Recycling Centre for recycling. Give your items to someone
what’s left in you mixed paper Christmas wrapping paper who could use them. Swap
and card recycling container at them on www.freecycle.org
Recycle wrapping paper in your or donate your unwanted
your home. After Christmas the mixed paper and card recycling
Woodland Trust runs a special items to a charity; there are
container at your home. They several in Manchester that
Christmas card collection can also be taken to a paper
scheme in partnership with will collect certain items in
bank at your local Household reasonable condition.
Tescos, WHSmith and others – Waste Recycling Centre.
look out for further information. Furniture, some electrical
goods, household
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com Save money on appliances, clothes, toys -
your food bills this Christmas! please check with one of the
charities below.
Visit www.recyclingforgreatermanchester.com
for more information. • The Mustard Tree
Tel: 0161 228 7331
• Wesley Community
Furniture Project
Solar panels Tel: 0161 226 9051
You might think it’s the wrong time of year to be • Tree of Life
talking about the sun, but next year we are looking Tel: 0161 437 0835
into the potential to fit solar panels on to the South • Age Concern
facing roofs of our homes in order to generate Tel: 0161 205 3851
electricity. The benefits would be reduced electricity Recycle
bills for customers plus the ability for Eastlands to
secure a higher rate of return for any electricity that Take your items to your
is sold back to the national grid. There are a range of nearest Household Waste
schemes available which are based upon a 25 year and Recycling Centre where
there are different areas for
contract period and are known as Feed in Tariffs. dropping off various types
Any income received from the initiative would be of waste.
spent on further investment in our services. Last resort!
If your items are not in good
enough condition to donate
to a charity or can't be
recycled, Manchester City
Council will dispose of them
for you.
Ring Environment On Call
on 0161 234 5004.
14
Top tips this Christmas
• Don’t overload electrical sockets and make • In extreme weather consider leaving the
sure extension leads are safely routed. heating on at night or if away from home
• Turn off Christmas lights when leaving the but turn the thermostatic radiator valves
property and before going to bed. down to a low setting – don’t forget to turn
them back up in the morning or when you
• In cold weather we all need to stay warm return home.
but by turning the room thermostat
(page 60 of repairs manual) down by 1c can • If you have a bedroom that you are not using
save 10% of heating costs. At this time of turn the thermostatic radiator valve to it’s
year energy use is high so you can make lowest setting. This will save money but the
savings on your bills. radiator will be protected from freezing.
• Close curtains at night to help to retain heat • Know where your stop tap is in case of
but if you have thermostatic radiator valves bursts.
(see page 62 of repairs manual) make sure • Make sure you allow access for your gas
the curtains don’t cover them otherwise safety as use of gas appliances will be in
they wont work properly as they need a flow heavy use during the coming months.
of air around them.
Walkabouts
In each issue of Streets Ahead we publish all of the walkabouts scheduled for
the next three months. Details of the walkabouts for the year can be found on
our website www.eastlandshomes.co.uk
Use your Eastlands Homes calendar to make a note of the dates in your area.
Date Time Location Housing Officer Start Point
08/03/2011 10-12am New Bank Street Estate (Ardwick) Ian Fauguel Cornbrook
House
09/03/2011 11am Pioneer Street Andrea Andrews Corner Pioneer
Street
14/03/2011 10am Anson B – Kelstern Square Trish Bryant 1 Kelstern
Square
15/03/2011 10-12am Longsight Ian Fauguel Northmoor Road
/Belgate Close
junction
16/03/2011 10-12am St John’s/Toll Gate Jo Casson No 2 Toll Gate
16/03/2011 11am John Heywood/Clayton Street Andrea Andrews Corner John
Heywood/
Clayton Street
17/03/2011 10am Area 1 Rusholme Diane Roughley Viscount Street /
Claremont Road
junction
23/03/2011 10-12am Holker/Swinton Grove Jo Casson Hathersage-side
no 4
28/03/2011 10am Area 2 Rusholme Diane Roughley Claremont Road/
Victory Street
junction
15
Vacancy HOW TO CONTACT US
☎ Call Us 8am – 5.30pm weekdays.
Lines open
There is currently a vacancy for a voluntary
Tenant Board member of Eastlands Homes ☎you liveVueGorton North 230 1000
Belle House: 0161
for tenants from the Beswick, Clayton and (if in
Openshaw areas. The closing date for or Gorton South)
applications is 12 noon on 5 January 2011.
This is an important position. The
☎ Cornbrook House: 0161 276 7300
(if you live in Ardwick, Levenshulme,
Board of Eastlands Homes is responsible Longsight or Rusholme)
for the efficient use and management
of approximately 8000 homes in East ☎you live in Beswick,0161 274 2390
(if
Eastlands House:
Clayton
Manchester and for the delivery of promises or Openshaw)
made to tenants as part of the stock transfer
from Manchester City Council last year. An out of hours service is provided
If you require more information, an for emergency repairs.
application pack or wish to discuss the
position in more detail, please contact
✉ Write or visit: Receptions are
open 8.45am – 4.30pm weekdays
Victor Hassan on 0161 274 2140 or by email:
victor.hassan@eastlandshomes.co.uk. ✉ Belle Vue House, 27 Garratt Way,
Gorton, Manchester, M18 8HE
✉ Cornbrook House, 217 Stockport
Road, Ardwick, Manchester, M12 4DY
✉ Eastlands House, Victoria Street,
Openshaw, Manchester, M11 2NX
Email: eastline@eastlandshomes.co.uk
Web: www.eastlandshomes.co.uk
If you would like information in another language or format such as large print or audio, please ask us.
16
