meres news spring 2011

In this issue...

Meres NewsFor all the local news about your community | Issue 17 – Spring 2011

Tel: 0300 303 1190 Email: [email protected] Web: www.shropshirehousing.org.uk

Thank you’s we have received from tenants...Page 2

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Eco Familiespilot project for sustainable energy...Page 4

Your Views on our Serviceand what we are doing to improve...0

Spring has sprung!2011 let’s get started

57001_Meres_News_Spring_2011_HR.indd 1 3/7/11 11:26 AM

CONTENTSH

OW T

O C

ON

TACT

US

PAULINE DEE was nominated to the Board by Shropshire Council in September 2009. She has been involved in local government as a Wem town Councillor since 1980 and as a North Shropshire District Councillor as an Independent Councillor since 1983. She was elected as an Independent to Shropshire Council in June 2009 as one of the two representatives for Wem, Wem Rural and Whixall. She is mother of four grown up children. She is President/Chairman of Shropshire Scouts and a Vice President of Shropshire Guiding.

Pauline DeeMMHA Board Member

2 Meet the board/Thank you’s3 Local Offers/Bogus Callers4 Eco Families/Tenancy Visits5 Group News9 Tarca Update10 What You Said About Our Services12 Competitions

If you require this document in audio, braille, large print or if English is not your fi rst language then please contact us.Si vous avez besoin de ce document en audio, braille, gros caractères, ou si l’anglais n’est pas votre langue première veuillez nous contacter. French Jeśli wymagasz tego dokumentu w audio, Braille’a, duże wydruku, lub jeśli angielski jest nie pierwszy język prosimy kontakt. Polish Если вам требуется этот документ в аудио, Брайля, крупных печатных, или если английский является не ваш первый язык напишите нам. RussianOs oes angen y dogfen hon mewn ffurf wahannol, er enghraifft Braille, llythrennau mawr, tâp audio neu iaith wahanol, gadewch i ni wybod os gwelwch yn dda. WelshSe ha bisogno di questo documento in audio, Braille, grande stampa, o se inglese è la prima lingua contattaci. Italian

You can contact us in a number of ways:� PHONE 0300 303 1190� FREEPHONE 0800 4346289� EMAIL [email protected]� IN WRITING by sending your letter to us at

Meres and Mosses Housing Association, Talbot House, High Street Wem SY4 5AA

� IN PERSON by coming along to the reception desk at Talbot House.

OFFICE OPENING HOURSOur normal offi ce opening hours are:8.45am - 5.00pm Monday - Thursday8.45am - 4.30pm Friday.

2 | Meres News Spring 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1190

Mr and Mrs Bevan from Market Drayton wrote in to praise Dianne Williams on all the hard work and dedication she puts in to her day-to-day jobs on the Fairfi elds Estate. ‘We believe that she deserves a mention as she is one of Meres and Mosses best members of staff. Whenever anyone goes to Dianne with a problem, nothing is ever too small, she deals with anything with the upmost dedication and works hard to solve any problems.’

Mrs Smith from Childs Ercall called to say that the TRL operatives have done a great job and the property was left spotless.

Meet the board


Tenant Involvementand Empowerment

standard

Tenant Involvement

13 45 6

213 45 6

2Neighbourhoods

and Communities standard

13 4

5 6

2

Value for Money standard

13 45 6

2Tenancy standard

13 4

5 6

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Governance and Financial Viability

standard

13 45 6

2Home standard

Our regulator, the Tenants Services Authority has asked

all social landlords to produce ‘local offers’ through six

standards that cover all aspects of the work we do.

Local offers are the services you want Shropshire Housing Group

to offer in the future. Our current service is set out in

the Tenants Report 2010.

We will give you updates on how we are shaping the local offers

in each issue of your newsletter. The updates will be highlighted

with the appropriate sticker (see right) for the standard it applies to.

We have had reports of bogus callers in the North Shropshire area. Bogus callers use a variety of ways to gain access to a person’s home in order to steal. They may pose as offi cials from the council or gas/electricity/water companies, with a plausible explanation for needing to enter your home. Bogus callers commonly prey on vulnerable, older or disabled people. Make sure in your own mind that callers are who they claim to be by following these simple steps:

• Think before you open the door – use a chain or spy hole if you have one or look out of the window to see if you recognise them• Ask callers for proof of identity, genuine contractors should carry an identifi cation card with their photograph on it. Check these carefully, and if you are unsure telephone the

company the caller claims to be from using a telephone number from a directory, and not the number they may give you. • Beware of callers who attempt to distract you by claiming they have seen something untoward that may encourage you to leave your home. They may be distracting you for someone else to enter your property. • If you are not convinced of the identifi cation of the caller, do not let them in. Ask the caller to come back later and arrange for someone to be there with you when they return.

“Treat every stranger with caution and never open the door to someone you do not know”“Treat every stranger with caution and never open the door

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Meres News Spring 2011 | 3

We have had reports of bogus callers


Four eco-families are taking part in a pilot project, with the aim to demonstrate that “real people” can engage with the issue of sustainable energy. Each household has received an energy report highlighting where they can make savings by changing the way they use energy within their home. For one of these families, a change of behaviour could also translate into savings of up to £176 per year.

In other words, lower bills and more money to spend on the children, whilst helping the planet; it can only be good!

The families decided to join this pilot project for different reasons.

For Debbie and her family, it is about reducing their carbon footprint. “It is our planet and by looking after it, we look after the future generations.”

Not only will these energy champions benefi t from lower fuel bills, but also from an improvement in their skills. They now use a real-time energy monitor, and log onto www.wesave.org.uk to see www.wesave.org.uk to see www.wesave.org.ukwhat effect their behaviour change has had on their energy consumption.

Every family member is involved in this project and the younger you start, the easier it is.

These energy champions will be able to share their experience and knowledge with neighbours, relatives and friends; the wider community will also benefi t from their learning.

The project started in November 2010 and is delivered by Marches Energy Agency, a local charity and social enterprise which works with a wide range of individuals, businesses and public bodies, to help them understand and reduce their energy use.and reduce their energy use.

Although we have regular contact with our tenants, it is important that there is a programme of routine tenancy visits is in place. This will ensure that tenants are able to talk to someone about their needs, ensure that we are doing everything we can to support them, and that the information we hold about them is correct.

The visits will be carried out by Community Housing Offi cers over the next three years, and will also give tenants the opportunity to ask questions, report repairs, and give feedback about the services we offer.

If you would like more information, please contact customer services.

For one of these families, a change of behaviour could

In other words, lower bills and more

“It is our


13 45 6

2

Not only will these energy champions benefi t from lower fuel bills, but also from an improvement in their skills. They now use a real-time energy monitor, and log onto what effect their behaviour change has had on their energy consumption.

Every family member is involved in this project and the younger you start, the easier it is.

These energy champions will be able to share their experience and knowledge with neighbours, relatives and friends; the wider community will also benefi t from their learning.

The project started in November 2010 and is


Group News

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Spring 2011 | 5

Once again, Shropshire Housing Group are holding their annual tenants’ day.

This year we will be having a Family Fun Day with lots of events and activities

to entertain the whole family. The Family Fun Day will be held at Shrewsbury

Sports Village on Saturday 13th August.

Look out for more information coming your way soon!

Once again, Shropshire Housing Group are holding their annual tenants’ day.

The resident involvement team encourages tenants to become involved in shaping our services to you.

The team also plans events and supports the residents groups,TARCA and TASS.

To fi nd out how to get involved, please contact them on 0300 303 1190.

Meet the Resident Involvement TeamInvolvement Team

Sarah Plat

t -

Resident I

nvolvement

Manager

Sheila Standley - Resident Involvement Offi cer (MMHA)

Mike Cotton - Resident Involvement Offi cer (SSHA)

57001_Group_News_Spring_2011_HR.indd 1 3/7/11 11:26 AM

6 | Group News Spring 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1109 www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Spring 2011 | 7

What is a non-dependant?A non-dependant is someone who normally lives in your property but who are not dependent on you fi nancially. These can include:

• Your children over the age of 18• Other relatives living in your household• Anyone else that lives in your household that is not

related to you

Any non-dependant that lives with you can affect the amount of housing benefi t and council tax benefi t you are entitled to. Deductions are usually made from your benefi t for non-dependants over the age of 18.

No deductions are made if you or your partner are registered blind or get Attendance Allowance or the care component of Disability Living Allowance.

If you have more than one non-dependant living at home then a non-dependant deduction will apply to each of them.

The amount of deduction is increasing in April 2011. This means that the amount of housing benefi t you receive will go down and you, as the tenant will have to pay more rent directly to Shropshire Housing Group.

If you believe that you may be affected by these changes we suggest that you need to think about taking the following steps:

• Visit a benefi ts advice agency to establish how much money you will lose each week.

• Talk to the people who live with you and explain that they will have to pay you a contribution each week, in return for living in your home, to make up for the reduction in your benefi t.

What can you do?It is important that you take advice before taking any rash steps. In particular, it is important to think carefully before you ask any non-dependants who may be living with you to leave home, in order to avoid the non-dependant deduction being applied to your benefi t. This is for two reasons:

1. The non-dependant may struggle to fi nd somewhere to live with 8,000 households already registered on Shropshire Homepoint’s waiting list. Housing benefi t is also going to be restricted for single people aged under 35 from April 2012.

2. From 2013 the Government plans to limit housing benefi t to the number of bedrooms a household needs. So, any household that under-occupies a property will lose housing benefi t for every unoccupied bedroom.

Changes to Welfare Benefi tsNon-Dependant Deductions to Housing and Council Tax Benefi t


6 | Group News Spring 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1109 www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Spring 2011 | 7

Deductions to Housing Benefi tNon-dependant’s income if on benefi t

Weekly deductions: 2010


Aged 25 & over, and on: Income Support orJobseekers Allowance (Income Based) orMain phase Employment & Support Allowance (Income Related)Or aged 18 or over & not in paid work

£7.40 £9.40

Deductions to Housing Benefi tNon-dependant’s income if aged 18 or over and in paid work



Gross income (before tax & deductions) less than £122.00 per week £7.40 £9.40

Gross income is £122 to £179.99 per week £17.00 £21.55




Gross income is £387 & above per week £47.75 £60.60

Deductions to Council Tax Benefi tNon-dependant’s income if aged 18 or over and in paid work



Gross income (before tax & deductions) is under £180.00 per week £2.30 £2.85



Gross income is £387 or more per week £6.95 £8.60

Others aged 18 or over £2.30 £2.85


We want to provide the best possible service we can to all our customers, whoever they are and whatever their needs.

To enable us to do this well, we need to have detailed, up-to-date information about you, the people we’re working for.

We will shortly be sending out a questionnaire to all our tenants and customers. By completing this questionnaire you will be helping us ensure you get the service you need.

SHG and You

Decent HomesAll social landlords had a responsibility to reach the Governments Decent Homes standard by December 31st 2010.

Meres and Mosses and South Shropshire Housing Associations have reached the target.

The Decent Homes Standard is only a minimum standard and both Association’s are targeting a higher Shropshire Housing Group Standard.

The higher standard will include fi ghting fuel poverty, agreeing communal area standards and working towards Decent Estates.

Plans for the new Shropshire Housing Group Standard will be discussed with tenant groups over the coming months resulting in a new Shropshire Housing Group Investment Plan from 2013.

Please contact us if you would like to become involved

Meres and Mosses and South Shropshire Housing Meres and Mosses and South Shropshire Housing

Standard will be discussed with tenant groups over

8 | Group News Spring 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1109

You don’t have to answer every question if you don’t want to. It will help us, though, if you answer as many questions as you can.

By returning your form quickly, you will be automatically entered into a free draw with a choice of prizes worth £100 each. If you have any questions please contact the Resident Involvement team on 0300 303 1190.

Re-letting our homes

When a tenant moves out of their home, Shropshire Housing Group then starts work on it, to make sure it is up to our lettable standard to be re-let to someone else. We try and carry out this work in the shortest time possible, to reduce the waiting time for the new tenant to move in.

We monitor the time this work takes as part of our performance monitoring programme. The results below

show the average number of days properties were empty for, from the end of one tenancy to the start of the next.

Target 25.3 days SSHA January 27.9 days MMHA January 24.1 days


Sponsored by Meres and Mosses Housi

ng As

socia

tion

TownsAndRuralCommunitiesAssociation

Smart WaterTARCA are investigating the use of Smart Water as a crime deterrent.

Smart Water can be used to invisibly mark your property so that it can be detected if ever it is stolen. Almost anything you can think of can be marked with Smart Water.

Each bottle of Smart Water is individual and can be traced back to the user like a DNA system, therefore if something in your home is marked with Smart Water, a UV torch can be used to show a code to tell the Police, shopkeepers and scrap dealers that the item has been marked and is probably stolen. The Police can then fi nd out by the code exactly where it came from.

If you would like more information on this, or to register your interest in having Smart Water for your belongings, please contact us. The more households that become involved, the less the scheme will cost.

Comfy seats for readingLonglands County Primary School, Market Drayton applied for a grant from MMHA’s Community Development Fund for seating in their reading areas, the children are over the moon as it gives them somewhere to sit comfortably and read. They are seen with Lin Sherwin Vice Chair and representative for Wem.

Calling all gardenersIt’s that time of year again for all you keen gardeners to enter the TARCA garden competition Sponsored by MMHA. There are categories for; Best Front, Back, Environmental and Group dwelling gardens, also best pots and baskets. A best overall winner will be picked from all entries.

The photo shows last years overall winners Mr and Mrs Edwards of Baschurch with one of our TARCA representatives for Wem Mrs Shirley Ellis.

TARCA UPDATE


www.tarca.org.uk Tel: 01630 652953 Mobile: 07530 002771 email: [email protected]

gardens, also best pots and baskets.

Calling all gardeners

for a grant from MMHA’s Community Development Fund for seating in their reading areas, the children are over the moon as it gives them

comfortably and read.

Lin Sherwin Vice Chair

Comfy seats for re

ading

✃CUT OUT HERE

Garden competition entry formName:

Address:

Telephone No.:

Category:

front garden back garden

environmental garden group garden

pots baskets



What did you say about our services?

What you said about our services We’ve recently had the results from our 2010 customer satisfaction survey.

The survey was carried out by an independent organisation, the National

Housing Federation’s Feedback Services on behalf of a group of housing

organisations – South Shropshire Housing Association, Meres and Mosses

Housing Association and Severnside Housing.

We are pleased that there has been a big improvement in satisfaction with our

services since the last survey in 2008 and that, for all tenants, overall satisfaction

is as good as that for the top 25% of associations across the country

and in some areas as good as the top 10%.

Satisfi ed with the services provided by MMHA

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2008: General Housing Sheltered Housing

2010: General Housing Sheltered Housing KEY

about our services 13 45 6

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Whilst we are pleased with the results overall, there are areas of our service that we need to improve. For example, we know that many tenants are not satisfied with the way in which we deal with anti-social behaviour.We have already invested in a new system which will help us to monitor action we take. We are working with the Council to look at ways to make reporting anti-social behaviour easier and to provide extra staff training.

Tenants are also not very satisfied with some of our grounds maintenance services. We will be working with you over the coming year to find out what you want from this service and how we can improve it whilst keeping an eye on costs.

Satisfaction with some aspects of our customer service has dropped slightly – for example, a slightly smaller number (76% of tenants compared with 77% in 2008) found it easy to get hold of the right person. We have made some changes to how tenants contact us and over the coming months will work with you to make sure you know how to contact us and that our staff are able to deal with your enquiries more effectively.

We also know that younger tenants, leaseholders and those people who occupy shared-ownership properties are generally less satisfied with our service and will be digging a bit deeper to find out the reasons for this and how we can improve.

Satisfied with the overall repairs and maintenance service

Tenants felt that MMHA kept them informed

Thought MMHA took account of their views

Said their rent is value for money

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✃

5700

1: 0

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/11

Name

Parent/Guardian

Address

Postcode

Telephone number

Please send all entries to: Vicki Coleman, Communications Offi cer, The Gateway, The Auction Yard, Craven Arms SY7 9BW by Friday 15th April.

The winner of the Christmas Quiz was Mr J Busby from Whitchurch who won a £30 ‘Love to Shop’ voucher.

The Childrens competition was won by Finnley New from Ellesmere who won a £30 toy voucher.

Adults CompetitionFind the words listed below for your chance to win £30 worth of ‘Love to Shop’ Vouchers.

Competition Winners

APRIL GARDENING BABY ANIMALS GROWTH BIRDS MAYBIRTH MILD BLOOMS PLANTING BLOSSOMS RAINBUDS SHOWERS EASTERTHAW FLOWERS UMBRELLA

Name

Address

Postcode

Telephone number

A S T R O A P R I L N O M I BC A L L M S L P R I N G B E IG I N S A W A I T H T H E S RP R I N Y G N E R E T S A E DQ U I N Y O T X A N D H E N SB A B Y A N I M A L S O A D SL W I T D H N T L H E W S W UO M N E S R G F L O W E R S SS N I A R O L S E T I R C E HS S R R E I N H R G T S I T MO E D A H Y T L B I S G R H TM H O U T W R S M D L I M A RS E B L O O M S U A B T L E AS T T R M W E B D L V E H O UR S G N I N E D R A G A D A Y

Kids Competition for under 16sDesign a Thank You cardShropshire Housing Group would like to have a Thank You card designed and printed. The cards would be used for many different things, including thanking tenants for a particularly well looked after garden or for tenants who have gone ‘the extra mile’ to help someone in their community.

If you would like to design a thank you card, please draw your design on an A4 piece of paper and send it along with the entry form to the address below.

Enter now for your chance to win a £30 toy or games voucher.

Competition Winners

Kids Competition Kids Competition Mr J Busb

y from Whitchurch

Kids Competition Mr J Busb

y from Whitchurch Finnley New from Ellesmere


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