housing news and views spring 2013
DESCRIPTION
Housing News and Views is the quarterly newsletter for tenants and leaseholders of Dacorum Borough Council.TRANSCRIPT
The nine two-bedroom flats at Galley Hill
in Gadebridge, Hemel Hempstead, can
claim two firsts: the first wave of our new
home building programme, and the first
development in Hertfordshire to use an
innovative low energy building technique.
The Galley Hill homes will only cost
around £100 a year to heat, saving
tenants money on their energy bills.
Councillor Margaret Griffiths, Portfolio
Holder for Housing, said: “This year we’re
investing £14 million in our new-build
programme – and this is just the start of
our plans to create more homes for our
residents in Dacorum. As soon as these
homes are built, they will be offered for
rent to households on our waiting list.”
A further 62 homes will be started this
Council hunts for the keys to homesThroughout March we’re spreading
the message far and wide that our
tenants and leaseholders are the key to
making the housing service work better
for us all.
You can get involved in a variety of
different ways, such as:
� Giving valuable feedback as a Housing
Hero
� Checking on services as a Tenant
Inspector
� Meeting with managers
and councillors to influence
policy
Whether it's ten minutes a
year or two hours a month, there's
something to suit everyone. It’s all
voluntary, but free training and learning
new skills really help boost your cv.
We think it’s so important to get your
input that we’re advertising on Heart
97.6FM, on the jobs pages in the Gazette
and Herald Express and online at
www.jobstoday.co.uk
Although many of you already make an
impact on how housing is run and look
out for your neighbours, we need
more of you to get involved.
Tenants and leaseholders who
are already on board – such as
Adam Weissand (left) – have
helped out by starring in a YouTube film
and sharing their own stories on our
Facebook and Twitter pages (see page 3).
Call 01442 228000 and ask for tenant
involvement or visit
www.dacorum.gov.uk/key
HousingNews and Views
Spring 2013
First newcouncil homesget go ahead
year, as well as a new homeless hostel.
Over the next five years we aim to
provide a further 1,000 affordable
homes in partnership with housing
associations.
You can see for yourself how the three
development sites are shaping up on our
new homes special feature on pages
6 and 7.
Plans to build our first new council homes for over twenty
years have gathered pace, with the first bricks due to be
laid this summer.
02 | News and views www.dacorum.gov.uk
No ID? No entry!Always remember to ask to see an
identity badge before letting
someone you don’t know in to
your home – including our
contractors and council staff. If
you have any concerns, call
housing on 01442 228000 and
ask us to check them out.
Chips are upfor Scrappy Micro-chipping your dog can help you
to protect it.
Make an appointment to have your
dog micro-chipped at Hemel
Hempstead Civic Centre. The service,
available on Tuesday mornings, is free
to council tenants. We are also giving
out neutering vouchers.
Tenant Vivienne Ferrereira brought
Scrappy along: “If my dog is stolen and
escapes, I know we’ll be reunited,” she
said.
To make an appointment please call
our Dog Warden Sarah Lewis on
01442 228000.
News and Viewsaims high Housing News
and Views
newspaper was a
finalist at the
Local Public
Services
Excellence in
Communications
Awards in
February. If
you’d like to
share your experience of being a tenant
or leaseholder please call Luisa Clarke
on 01442 228000. Next year we’d like
to win!
We know from the Survey of
Tenants and Residents (STAR) that
improving parking in Dacorum is a
major priority for you.
With the help of ward councillors,
council staff and the emergency
services, we have identified several
possible locations for extra parking:
1. Marlins Turn, Hemel Hempstead
2 Ritcroft Street, Hemel Hempstead
3. Cowper Road, Markyate
4. Fennycroft Road, Hemel Hempstead
For more information call Gill Barber on
01442 228000 or email
If parking is a problem in your area you
could also consider renting a garage,
which costs tenants and residential
leaseholders £8.75 each week from
1 April.
Visit our website
www.dacorum.gov.uk/garages to
download an application form or call
lettings on 01442 228000.
News pages 2-3
Help and advice pages 4-5
New homes special
feature pages 6-7
Your tenancy page 8
Tenants and Leaseholders
Committee page 9
Repairs and maintenance page 10
Supported housing page 11
News in brief page 12
Do you have an idea for a story?
Call Luisa Clarke on 01442 228000
News and Views Spring 2013
Contents
Large print reminderWe are putting large print colour copies of News and
Views in the communal lounges of all our supported
housing schemes and also recording it onto CD for people
to listen to. To receive either version call 01442 228000
and ask for tenant involvement or email
STARsurvey update
New parking spaces
01442 228000 [email protected] News and views | 03
We’re continuing to improve the standard of
cleaning in the communal areas of our blocks
of flats – one of the priorities you
highlighted last year in the STAR survey.
If you live in a flat you will get a booklet
about cleaning standards with this newsletter.
The new cleaning rota signs are also going up in every
block. Please help us by reporting fly-tipping or any
cleaning issues. Call 01442 228000 and ask for cleaning
department or email [email protected]
Managing complaints locallyFrom 1 April there will be a more local way of getting a complaint resolved.
At the moment, if you’re unhappy with the way we’ve investigated your complaint,
your only option is to approach the Local Government Ombudsman. Thanks to the
Localism Act, tenants and leaseholders will now be able to ask a ‘designated person’
to consider if the Council has acted fairly.
You can ask any MP or local councillor to act as a designated person. Alternatively,
you can set up a tenants’ panel to consider complaints.
If you are interested in finding out more about setting up a tenants’ panel to consider
complaints call 01442 228000 and ask for tenant involvement or email
[email protected] by Friday 5 April.
Leaseholders:your housingservice needsyouLeasehold services wrote to all our
leaseholders recently and we have
had a fabulous response from you –
thank you!
So many of you have told us you
want to get involved, representing
the views of other leaseholders at
regular meetings. This will help us to
help you and will improve the service
we offer. If you haven’t sent your
form back yet, please fill it in and use
the pre-paid envelope to return it as
soon as possible.
Look out for full feedback on the
consultation in the next issue. You
can call leaseholder officers Alison
Chatterjee and Julie Moseley on
01442 228000.
Getting to know youYou are the key to improving the housing service and a
change in the team means we can work with you more
locally to improve the areas where you live.
Team Leader Carolyn Leech says: “We want more tenants and
leaseholders to begin working with us; either by joining one
of our committees, helping us to tackle litter problems,
creating community gardens or activities for local children.
Contact your Tenant Involvement Officer to find out more –
and if you see us out and about pop and say hello, we can’t
wait to meet you all”.
Contact tenantinvolvement@dacorum. gov.uk or call 01442
228000 and ask for tenant involvement.
STARsurvey update
Look out for cleaning leaflet
04 | Help and advice www.dacorum.gov.uk
We sent you a leaflet with the last issue of News and Views
explaining the changes that the Government is making to Housing
Benefit and Council Tax Benefit from 1 April.
Clear your arrearsThe week beginning 25 March is a ‘rent free’ week, so
if your account is up to date you do not need to make
a payment.
If you have fallen behind, please use this opportunity
to reduce or clear your debt.
If you owe us money we’ll be calling you in the
evenings or at weekends to remind you to pay. If you
are having problems paying your rent talk to us as
soon as possible.
If you’re struggling, we’re here to help. Call
01442 228000 and ask for housing rent.
You will not be affected by these
changes if you are:
� old enough to receive Pension Credit;
� of working age and you, your partner,
or a child (who lives with you and who
you get Child Benefit for) is disabled;
� of working age with a child under the
age of five;
� or of working age and receive a War
Disablement Pension or a War Widow’s
or War Widower’s Pension.
If you’re working age, claiming Council
Tax Benefit and you’re not in one of the
protected circumstances above, you will
only be able to claim Council Tax
Support for up to 75% of your council
tax charge. If your home is council tax
band E or above, you will only be able
to claim support for up to 75% of the
band D council tax charge.
Housing Benefit:
Social Sector Size CriteriaIf you live in a council home and
you have one or more extra
bedrooms, you may see a reduction
in your Housing Benefit – sometimes
called the bedroom tax. The new
rules set out how many bedrooms
you need depending on the age, sex
and circumstances of your
household. Your benefit will be
reduced by 14% of your rent if you
have one extra bedroom and by 25%
if you have two or more extra
bedrooms. If your Housing Benefit is
reduced, you will need to pay us, as
your landlord, the difference
between your Housing Benefit and
your rent.
To find out more about what is
considered to be an extra bedroom,
go to www.dacorum.gov.uk/benefits
Help is on handMore information about all of these
changes is available on our website
at www.dacorum.gov.uk/benefits
If you need help or advice, a team of
specialists is on hand. Call them on
01442 228999 between 8.45am and
5.15pm, Monday to Friday, or email
Changes to benefits
Council Tax Benefit is changing
If you are of working age, under the
Council Tax Support scheme there will
also be a flat-rate deduction of £5 each
week from the amount of support you
receive for each non-dependant living
with you. (Non-dependants are people
living in your household who do not
need you to support them, such as
children who have left school, parents,
other relatives or friends).
Your council tax bill will tell you what
you need to pay. To find out more about
the Council Tax Support scheme go to
www.dacorum.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport
In April, Council Tax Benefit will stop.
Instead, all councils, including Dacorum,
will run their own local Council Tax
Support scheme. The Government is
reducing the amount of money available
to fund the scheme, which means that
we will have less money to help you
pay your council tax.
01442 228000 [email protected] Help and advice | 05
Brave tenant warns of candle dangerEarlier this year council tenant Loren Goldenberg-
Kosbab rescued her neighbour from a fire in their
block of flats. Loren, pictured here receiving an
award for outstanding bravery from the Dacorum
Community Safety Partnership, tells the story in
her own words.
By Loren Goldenberg-Kosbab
At around 8pm, 24th January 2013, an elderly
disabled woman, living alone, was trapped in her
blazing flat. Upon being alerted by a smoke alarm,
her next-door neighbour with quick realisation and
without hesitation kicked her front door in, whilst
screaming "Fire!" and got her to safety.
All very dramatic and something you see on TV,
but this was a very real situation. That neighbour
was me.
We have all been there, burnt the toast setting off
the smoke alarm, but it usually only takes a few
moments to grab a chair and stop the deafening
noise. If this happens on a regular basis, we get
fed up and disable it. STOP and THINK!
Smoke alarms are not just to alert the person in
the home, they are there to alert anyone who can
hear it.
A candle caused the fire, setting alight near by
furnishings and the fire spread very quickly,
trapping my neighbour. Thankfully, I heard the
smoke alarm along with her screams of help, and
managed to get her out. It only takes two breaths
of toxic fumes to render a person unconscious, a
few more and it would have been a different story.
The fire brigade arrived quickly and extinguished
the fire but the damage was severe. I felt for my
neighbour, as her home was nothing more than
soot – losing everything she valued.
Dacorum Borough Council properties are fitted as
standard with smoke alarms. If they keep going
off, don’t just disable them, either stop the cause,
or if defective get the Council to replace it. Check
them regularly too and make sure family and
friends also have them.
My neighbour could have been insured with
Dacorum Borough Council for under a fiver. It
wouldn’t bring back all that she lost but it would
have helped her rebuild her life.
Call Herts Fire and Rescue Service on 0300 123
4060 or 01442 265028 to get a free smoke
detector fitted or for a home safety check.
You can read the full version of Loren’s article
online at www.dacorum.gov.uk/firesafety
© D
av
id S
atc
hel
It’s an exciting time for social housing in Dacorum. We wanted to
share with you the plans we’ve put in place to start building 71
new homes for the borough, the council’s first for over twenty
years.
The new homes are being built over three sites which are all in need
of regeneration, so have the added advantage of improving how the
whole area looks.
We’ve considered the design of each site individually, and have
chosen architects for their creativity and commitment to high quality.
We’ve also specified that homes need to be built to high eco
standards, reducing their environmental impact during construction
and lowering energy bills for our tenants.
06 | New homes special feature www.dacorum.gov.uk
Farm Place, Berkhamsted
Background: The 26 new homes at the Northchurch
end of Berkhamsted are being built on
the site of one of our former supported
housing schemes.
Types of homes: 8 one-bedroom flats
12 two-bedroom flats
6 three-bedroom houses
Progress update: Tendering for a builder and expect to
start on site later this year
Design: Avanti Architects won a competition to
design this site
Our new homes are close to our heart, and unusually for a social
landlord, we’ve put our own team in place to manage every step of
their development. We’re aiming for them all to be finished by
March 2015. Meet Housing Development Manager Jack Burnham,
who leads the team, on page 7. He’ll be updating our Facebook site
with news and photos.
Laying the foundations for new hom
Galley Hill, Gadebridge
Background: St Peter’s Church in Gadebridge shut several years ago. After a h association scheme fell through bought the site.
Types of homes: 9 two-bedroom flats
Progress update: Tendering for a builder and expe start on site this summer
Design: Architects Chambers Goodwin an Partners are using an innovative energy building technique called Passivhaus. It is one of a handful developments to be built with thi technique around the country. Th will only cost around £100 a year heat.
[email protected] New homes special feature | 07
Behind the scenesWho are the people who make up
Dacorum’s housing service? In this
issue we meet Housing Development
Manager Jack Burnham.
“I joined the council in September
2011, having previously worked for
Uttlesford and Broxbourne councils. I
also have experience of working with
a Canadian Housing Association. I’ve
taken on different roles, mainly
focusing on developing new affordable
homes.
“I now manage Dacorum’s
development and we’re responsible for
building the first new council homes in
over 20 years, something we’re all
proud to be doing. I work with
architects, builders, engineers and
other professionals to coordinate the
construction. This includes everything
from purchasing land and finalising
plans, to checking the final homes for
quality and finish.
“I also work with housing associations
to create more new affordable houses
to home people waiting on the
Housing Register. Together, we’re
aiming to build 1,000 new housing
association homes in Dacorum over
the next five years.”
“The best part of my job is knowing
that we are not only building energy
efficient, sustainable buildings, but
providing high quality affordable
homes for those that need them. I
can’t wait until the first tenants move
in.”
You can call Jack on 01442 228000 or
email [email protected]
mes
was housing
we
ect to
nd e low
l of
is he flats
r to
London Road, Apsley
Background: We are building 36 homes and space for
two shops on a site that has been
derelict for years. When the owner, a
private developer, went bust in 2011, we
bought part of the site at an auction and
the rest of the site this March.
Types of homes: 12 one-bedroom flats
24 two-bedroom flats
Progress update: Putting planning application together
and expect to be on site later this year
Design standards: Our own planning department has
helped RG+P Architects come up with a
high quality design that fits in with the
local area. Features include a roof
garden and shops.
08 | Your tenancy www.dacorum.gov.uk
Tenancy agreement updated You should have received a draft copy of our new Tenancy Agreement at the
beginning of March. The letter included with it tells you how to express your views
on the changes made to the agreement.
The deadline to send us your comments is 29 March. We’ll then make any changes
needed to the document and send a final version out to you in April.
If you have a question, please call housing on 01442 228000.
Moving out?See our new leaflet ‘Leaving your home’ if you are
moving out. It reminds you what we need you to do to
make sure the house is left in an acceptable condition. It
also contains a helpful change of address checklist list
and tips on making the move easier.
You can download a copy from www.dacorum.gov.uk/
leaflets or call housing on 01442 228000.
John’s in themoneyHow would you improve your area if
we gave you some money?
John Baumann applied to our estate
improvement budget to ask for a
petrol lawnmower as he cuts the
communal gardens in Singlets Lane,
Flamstead after his original one broke
down.
“I saw the article in News and Views
and just decided to write in,” he said.
“I knew it was something that would
benefit all my neighbours. When the
weather gets better I can’t wait to try
it out. If there’s any one else out
there who has an idea, my advice is
just to ask. The money’s there and if
you don’t ask, you won’t get.”
We know everyone will enjoy John’s
well cut lawn and would like to thank
him for all his efforts.
Tenants and leaseholders can apply
for a grant from the housing service’s
estate improvement budget of up to
£1,000. There is no minimum amount.
For more information and details of
how to apply please call 01442
228000 and ask for estate
improvement.
When Mr and Mrs Austen moved from a
three-bedroom house in Highfield to a
two bedroom house in Adeyfield, we
helped them move their carpets,
furniture and cooker – and gave them a
one-off payment of £1,000.
If you’re thinking of moving to a smaller
home, we can now offer a range of
incentives to help. From April, if you do
decide to move to a smaller home we
will:
� Take up and relay your carpets
� Arrange and pay for your furniture to
be packed and moved
� Arrange for your cooker to be
disconnected and re-fitted in your new
home
� Make a one-off payment when the
transfer is completed (the amount
depends on the size of the property
you are moving from)
We have also revised our Allocations
Policy to increase the points available to
tenants wishing to move to a smaller
property, while still allowing you to keep
a spare room.
Feedback from the Tenant and
Leaseholder Conference last September
and from tenants who have recently
applied to move to a smaller property
has been positive. One tenant said: “It
makes sense for people wanting to
downsize to be given priority as this
would free up bigger houses for the
people who need more bedrooms.”
For more information about moving
to a smaller home call housing on
01442 228000.
Thinking of downsizing?
01442 228000 Tenants and Leaseholders Committee | 09
TLC updateby Rose Kosmalski, Chair
Meet the TLC: John Howard
Dear Residents
Even though this is the spring issue I
would like to wish you all a Happy New
Year. My Christmas was very quiet, as
we had to cancel our meeting on 14
January because of the snow.
Like John [below], I’ve been helping out
with the ‘you are the key’ campaign to
get more of us to have a say in how
Dacorum’s housing is run. It got me
thinking about how I started. My
involvement with the council dates way
back to 2002. The first reason was to get
the council, in the street where I lived, to
replace the old metal windows with new
PVC windows. It was not done straight
away, however all the windows were
eventually replaced.
Have you ever watched a television
programme or read an article about
council tenants? They seem to have this
second class stigma attached to them,
Hi my name is John Howard. I’m 56
years young and reside in the Chaulden
area of Dacorum. I actually live in the
same house as I did from the tender age
of six weeks old.
I have been employed with the same
company, now called Safran, for all my
working life. I’m a keen musician and
have played the guitar in numerous local
bands.
As a native of this area, I have seen some
changes over the decades from the
fledgling Commissions for the New Towns
to the Dacorum Borough Council.
One of these changes, when the council
was thinking of transferring housing out,
actually got me involved with the issue
of affordable social housing. I’m now on
the TLC, which isn’t all a bed of roses, but
new budding ideas appear in the mix.
I helped put the Survey of Tenants and
Residents (STAR) together which
produced a bountiful windfall of your
views and priorities. This gives the
council a foundation to build upon and
the TLC ideals to champion for you.
The discussion topic of late is that of the
housing welfare reforms [see page 4],
which will affect the way bedroom under
occupation is assessed in relation to
housing benefit. My advice is to discuss
this issue with the housing officers and
not sweep it under carpet.
Recently I’ve taken part in the ‘you are
the key’ campaign to get more of us
involved in Dacorum’s housing. Have a
look at our film on You Tube and think
how you could help. We’re in this
together.
and to say that this angers me is an
understatement. What makes you and I
any different from the person next door
who owns their house? Nothing. The
council staff view has changed quite a
lot over the last few years and I can say
that there are now some terrific people
working there, but it is not the people
that need to change; it’s the perception
that needs to be changed.
And this is what I want to change, and I
want you and I together to make a
difference.
You might say that you don’t need any
help at all from the council and you are
happy with things just ticking along. But
the reason for the campaign on the front
page is that we do need you to get more
involved.
You will learn a great deal and as
knowledge is power, the more of us who
do get involved the greater the voice we
have to make a difference.
Best wishes
Rose, on behalf of the TLC
Contacting the TLC
Please remember the TLC represents you, the tenants and resident leaseholders
from all over Dacorum. To get in touch, email us [email protected] We
promise to respond to all emails. You can also write to us, in confidence, c/o
Tenant and Leaseholder Committee, Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre, Marlowes,
Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1HH.
10 | Repairs and maintenance www.dacorum.gov.uk
The news that we terminated our
contract with Carillion for gas boiler
servicing and repairs back in December
just missed the last issue of News and
Views.
We were unhappy with the service they
were providing and did not want to risk
any problems over winter. Local Hemel-
based company Orion Building
Repairs drop-in extends to Berkhamsted The handy weekly repairs hot desk has been extended to Berkhamsted Civic Centre.
Maria McKenna, Resident Liaison Officer for our repairs and maintenance contractor
MITIE, has been a regular presence at Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre on Thursday
mornings for some time. She will now spend alternate weeks at the two locations. Call
customer services on 01442 228000 to check where she is that week.
There’s no need to make an appointment: just drop by to see her, and she will raise
your repairs questions directly with the MITIE Housing Repairs Team.
Requesting a repairTo report a fault during normal working hours between 8am and 6.30pm
Monday to Friday, contact Dacorum Borough Council:
� By phone: use the freephone number 0800 0186050 or call 01442 228000
and ask for repairs
� Online: www.dacorum.gov.uk/repairs
� In person: visit your nearest Customer Service Centre
To ask for an emergency repair between 6.30pm and 8am Monday to Friday,
at the weekend or on a Bank Holiday, call the freephone number
0800 0186050. Do not report emergency repairs online.
See your Tenants’ Handbook to find out more about what is considered to be
an emergency repair.
Set your boiler right
Handyhints #3
Boilers are designed to work more
efficiently if they are on the
correct setting. It’s false economy
to set them too low.
Some boilers have their controls
behind a panel, which you will need
to open to get access.
Your boiler needs to be on a high
setting to heat your home up
properly in the colder months. This
will also help to prevent problems
with condensation. When it gets
warmer, remember to turn it down
again.
Orion takes over heating repairs
Contractorreview updateWe are reviewing our arrangement with
housing repairs and maintenance
contractors. Our aim is to create a more
efficiently run service, better quality
workmanship and customer care, and
fewer emergency repairs.
Tenant representatives have been
helping us choose the option that will
benefit you all most.
After reviewing the options we have
decided that it is necessary to have a
number of different contracts to achieve
our aim:
� One main contract for all repairs,
maintenance and improvement
works;
� One contract for heating;
� Several smaller contracts for specialist
work such as community alarms, fire
alarms and lifts.
Most of the new contracts will start next
year. To prepare for this we will be
asking you for your opinions on how the
service can be improved when you
contact us to ask for a repair.
Engineering Services has taken over
until we can go through the formal
process of procuring a new contractor.
So from now on our engineers will be
wearing shirts with the Orion logo and
carry Orion identity badges. Please ask
to see their identity before letting them
in. If you are in any doubt please call
Pat Coles at the council on 01442 228000.
%
01442 228000 [email protected] Supported housing | 11
Spring clean keeps you safe
Using scooters
It’s time to start thinking about the annual supported
housing gardening competition.
Last year we had an Olympics theme (pictured), but
this year you’re free to design your garden the way
you want.
As usual there are two categories: supported housing
schemes and individual tenants who live in flats or
bungalows and are eligible to receive support from
the supported housing service. There will be prizes
for the best three gardens in each category.
Ask your supported housing officer for an
application form from 27 May or call supported
housing on 01442 228000.
Tenants have their sayby Mr Wiggins from Christopher Court scheme
I was asked by my Supported Housing Officer if I would like to attend the
Supported Housing Tenants Forum. While I didn’t quite know what to expect I felt
it gave me a chance to have my opinions heard.
The forum provided an opportunity to meet other tenants who lived in similar
accommodation and to discuss ideas between us. I felt it enabled us as tenants to
swap notes and collectively suggest changes that affect us on a regular basis that
could improve our quality of life.
I feel it is positive that Dacorum are communicating with their supported housing
tenants. Meeting at different sheltered housing schemes improved our
understanding of the layout of other schemes, and the fact transport was provided
meant that no one was denied the opportunity to participate. I feel it is going to be
a good thing for us.
To join the Supported Housing Tenants Forum call supported housing on
01442 228000.
Get set, grow!
We’ll be joining you at supported
housing coffee mornings to talk about
the importance of keeping corridors and
exits clear: not because we’re being
bureaucratic, but because as your
landlord it’s our responsibility to meet
fire, health and safety regulations.
We carry out fire risk assessments every
year to make sure you are safe. Our
recent inspection picked up a number of
things which become dangerous when
fires start and smoke makes visibility
zero, becoming trip hazards, giving off
poisonous fumes or blocking escape
routes:
� Plants, both fresh and plastic, on
communal window sills
� Ornaments and pictures in corridors
and window sills
� Mobility scooters
We are organising a spring clean at each
of our schemes. We’ll remove all fire
hazards and are happy to move any
items to the communal lounge. We’re
looking at providing more mobility
scooter storage areas (see below).
Have a look at the BBC One Show clip
we’ve put on www.youtube.com/
dacorumBC where comedian Arthur
Smith highlights the dangers of objects
in hallways when trying to escape during
a fire.
There are now a new rules about having
a mobility scooter which tell you how to
safely use, store and charge them.
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
has said that they must not be stored in
corridors.
If you have a mobility scooter already,
you need to park it in a designated area
and provide us every year with proof
your scooter is serviced and has an
electrical safety certificate. You are not
allowed to take scooters into lifts
because their weight can cause damage
and it is also a fire risk.
If you are thinking of getting a scooter, it
will only be allowed in your scheme if:
� A medical assessment says you need
one;
� There is a designated parking space;
� You live on the ground floor. If you live
upstairs, we may be able to move you.
For more information call supported
housing on 01442 228000.
12 | News in brief www.dacorum.gov.uk
Spring Digestout nowHave you read the
latest Dacorum
Digest, our quarterly
residents’
newspaper? This
issue includes:
� Details of our new
mortgage scheme
to help first time
buyers onto the property ladder
� How we’re helping a local sports club
to boost the economy
� A handy guide to what goes where in
your recycling
� Plus council news, events and what’s
on across the borough.
If you haven’t received your copy
through your door, please let us know by
emailing [email protected] or call
01442 228694 with your postcode. You
can also get a copy of Dacorum Digest
online at www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest,
at your local library or from our civic
centres.
Contact us...If you would like more information, want to give us some
feedback or would like this issue in another format such as
large print, CD or in another language, please call
01442 228000 and say the name of the person you want to
speak to or simply ask for housing or tenant involvement.
You can also email us on
or visit www.dacorum.gov.uk
Find us on the Council’s main
facebook and twitter sites
Adeyfield unpacks the bunting If you missed last year’s Jubilee festivities, don’t despair. We’re organising a family
event from 10am to 3pm on Sunday 2 June in Queens Square, Adeyfield, to
commemorate 60 years since the Queen’s Coronation.
If you have any photos from the coronation we’d love to hear from you.
Look out for more information nearer the time on the community noticeboard or call
Sarah Hubbard on 01442 228000.
Save the dateDon’t forget to put our annual Tenant
and Leaseholder Conference on
Saturday 28 September on your
calendar. If you have any suggestions
about what we should include, or want
to help organise it, please call Selina
Burris on 01442 228000.
Congratulations...Congratulations to Mrs Kubik of Tring
who won £50 in our recent prize draw.
The draw was open to everybody who
responded to an email questionnaire
about paying their rent by direct debit.
The survey found that most people
wanted to be able to sign up on the
phone or online rather than filling in a
form, so we’re now putting systems in
place for this.
Paying by direct debit is quick, easy and
secure. If you would like more
information please call 01442 228000
and ask for housing rent.
Have your say in local electionsA by-election will be held on Thursday 21 March 2013 for the Adeyfield West Ward
of Dacorum Borough Council.
Polling stations will be at Communal Hall, Old House Road and
Adeyfield Community Centre. They will be open from 7am to
10pm on 21 March.
Look out for Hertfordshire County Council elections taking place
on Thursday 2 May 2013, when all residents across the borough
can have their say. For more information on the elections or
about registering to vote, go to www.dacorum.gov.uk/elections
or call 01442 228000 and ask for electoral services.
USEYOURVOTE