Agenda item - Chairs Communications

66.1    The Chair stated the following:    

PRS Bid

“We are very happy to report that we have been successful in our funding bid to Government for expanding access to private rented accommodation for homeless people and reducing reliance on Temporary Accommodation.

We will be receiving just over £728k in total to the end of the next financial year (19/20).  We are aiming to support 300 households by enhancing the offer we make to private sector landlords and tenants while targeting the crucial areas of single homelessness and the Reduction of Temporary Accommodation.

We have a proven track record in linking with private rented sector landlords to acquire properties & prevent homelessness. However, access to private rented accommodation is becoming harder and we are still a high user of Temporary Accommodation.

However, we need to do more and this grant will help us build upon our strategic work with landlords under Trailblazer.

Housing Estates Services Hard Surfaces team

Towards the end of last year Housing Estates Services Hard Surfaces team were formed. They are improving our estates by removing weeds, moss and shrubs on hard areas. This makes them look nicer but makes them safer for residents, as they are less slippery.  The feedback from residents has been very positive. The visuals circulated to members of before and after pictures are very impressive.

Field Officers’ work with Housing

Housing officers are currently reviewing estate inspections before handing this function over to the Field Officers in a new format in spring 2019.

A Project Group is looking at innovative ways in which to deliver neighbourhood improvements, including looking at how this work can link in with Neighbourhood Action Plans.

Residents will be involved through an online survey and through community meetings to look at the survey outcomes (planned for summer 2019).

Field Officers have already been supporting Housing by carrying out tasks such as intelligence gathering about anti-social behaviour, investigation of noise complaints, and developing relationships with police prevention teams.

We will be monitoring all the developments and we anticipate being able to report back to tenants and members on progress from Q1 19/20.

Awards for Seniors Housing Schemes

I am pleased to be able to let you know that we have won a regional award in the Elderly Accommodation Counsel Older People’s Awards. This is a Gold Award for Hazelholt and Bronze for Churchill House. The award is based on resident feedback. Further to this Hazelholt has also been selected as one of 27 schemes in the UK for a national award.

We’re particularly pleased given some of the challenges we’ve seen in the city to be recognised by our residents in these schemes. Scheme manager, Kathy Boyce has done a fantastic job of developing this scheme and community into the vibrant one it is today.”

66.2    Councillor Barnett commented that she had never seen the Field Officers in Hangleton. They appeared to be based in the centre of the city and the outside areas were neglected. She asked where the Field Officers were based and requested that contact information for the Field Officers could be sent to councillors in order for members to be able to directly get in touch with them. She also asked for information on how many hours the Field Officers were putting into other areas of the City. The Chair agreed that information could be circulated to members. Councillor Atkinson added his congratulations to Hazelholt which was in Chalky Road, Portslade and to Kathy Boyce the scheme manager. Councillor Page asked if the awards could be presented at full council. The Chair confirmed that the awards could be presented at the next Full Council meeting.