Agenda item - Residents Question Time

Responses to items raised at the Tenant Only Meeting held on 19 May 2016 (copy attached as ‘blue pages’).

4.1       The following points and actions were raised by residents and officers:

4.2       Item 1 – Roof repair at Highden, Westmount and Crownhill:

·         It was confirmed that Mears had a roofing team that managed and maintain the roofs in the city.

·         Theresa Youngman, Mears, confirmed roofs with water leaks or water ingress to the property would be given important status as it could be a slop hazard.

4.3       Item 2 – Communication with leaseholders:

·         Residents should be consulted on upcoming major works in further in advance. It was explained that, due to policy, consultation could only happen once jobs had been confirmed. It was noted that Mears had recognised that communication with residents needed to be improved and welcomed ideas from the panel on how to action this.

·         It would be useful to have a plan of upcoming maintenance work published on the website.

4.4       Item 2 – Scaffolding:

·         An agreement had been made where the scaffolding companies, used by Mears, would be charged if the scaffolding was not taken down within two weeks of the job being completed. Residents were encouraged to report scaffolding that had been left up for a lengthy time.

·         Scaffolding was often the safest way of working on a multi-storey property; however, other options could be cherry pickers, mast climbers and abseiling.

·         Letters would be sent to residents before scaffolding is erected and notices would be on display in communal areas, unless the repairs are at emergency status.

4.5       Item 5 – Estate inspections

·         The dates for all upcoming estate inspections were available on the website; however, improvements were looking to be made with the communication before an inspection.

·         Residents were encouraged to report repairs needed in communal areas directly to Mears helpdesk.

·         “I’ve Been Reported” stickers would be sent to all relevant parties to prevent repairs being reported multiple times.

4.6       Item 6a-6f – EDB

·         The EDB review was ongoing and Officers were gathering comments from residents regarding what areas should be covered EDB.

·         An EDB bid could be placed for the redecoration of the communal areas; however, a redecoration program was being introduced and this would ensure communal areas would be redecorated approximately every ten years.

·         The Resident Involvement Officers can work with tenants to help them make a bid.

·         EDB queries should be emailed to Mears or tenants could call the EDB telephone line. It was added that they did not have the capacity to receive and respond to letters.