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Thank you from Castle Rock High School Page 2The council’s bank details are changing Page 2

Grow your own Page 4 Your tenancy Page 5Easter egg hunt competition Page 7

< T E N A N T N E W S L E T T E R , A P R I L 2 0 1 5 I S S U E 3 4 >

Inside this edition

If you would like this information in another language, Braille, LARGE PRINT or audio, please contact our Resident Involvement Team on 01530 454 605 or resident.involvement@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

ContentsCouncil bank account changes 2

New tenants home contents insurance scheme 2

Sheltered housing 3

Improving your experience of Decent Homes 3

Thank you from Castle Rock High School 4

Grow your own 4

Tenancy support 5

Your tenancy agreement 5

Housing Fraud 5

Risks of using low quality coal 6

Local apprentice gains national recognition 6

Easter egg hunt 7

Get involved with your housing service 7

Food banks 8

Redecoration discount 8

Down Your Way 8

A message from the Editorial PanelThe editorial panel of this magazine is a group of involved residents who are keen to keep you informed on issues that affect tenants and leaseholders of North West Leicestershire District Council. If you’d like to find out more about getting involved in improving housing services, contact the Resident Involvement Team on 01530 454795 or email resident.involvement@nwleicestershire.gov.uk.

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If you pay by standing order or make any payments to the council through your bank, please take note. Our bank details have changed recently. The details can be found below:Bank: Lloyds Bank Sort code: 30-94-97 Account number: 00371029You will now need to use the above account details when making any or standing order payments to North West Leicestershire District Council.If you pay by Direct Debit, through the Post Office, Paypoint, automated telephone line or through our website www.nwleics.gov.uk you will not need to change anything and your payments will continue to be collected as normal.

PAYMENTS FROM YOUR BANK TO OUR BANK

Tenants home contents insurance:Caught between paying too much for contents insurance and trying to save a little extra, it’s easy to see why people decide to ‘risk it’ and don’t bother at all. But recent changes mean we are now able to offer standard insurance cover at lower premiums underwritten by Royal and Sun Alliance plc.All the cover you need:• From as little as 43p per week for standard cover (that’s just

£21.50 per year for up to £6,000 of cover)• Accidental cover starts from just 97p per week• No excess to pay on any claim• No minimum home security requirements• No annual commitment – the insurance premium is collected with

the rent on a weekly or monthly basis• Cost of lost and stolen keys covered as standard (up to £500)• Contents in garages and outbuildings also covered (up to £2,000).If you already enjoy the additional peace of mind that insurance can offer, you will have received a letter telling you about this recent change to the insurance provider. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, or if you are interested in how Accidental Cover might benefit you, please contact your Housing Officer or the Rent Accounting team on 01530 454798 or rent.accounting@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

Improving your experience of Decent HomesLast year our Tenants Scrutiny Panel looked into how we communicate with tenants who are having work done in their home as part of our Decent Homes Improvement Programme. In March 2014 they reported their findings to the housing service and since then they have been monitoring our progress in implementing the improvements they recommended.This is a summary of what the Tenants Scrutiny Panel said as a result of their work:

You must improve communications with tenants before work starts by ensuring that we:• Are able to influence the design of work to be carried out• Understand exactly what work will be carried and on what days • Have the relevant contact details for all staff involved• Receive whatever assistance can be offered to prepare for works.You must improve the management of work in progress by ensuring that tenants: • Are notified in advance of any variations to works or changes to the scheduling of activity• Receive the appropriate coverings to protect our household furniture, carpeting and possession• Receive daily customer care checks to ensure our homes are being respected, left appropriately tidied and clean

at the end of each working day, work is quality assured, any temporary facilities have been provided and we know what is happening next.

You must improve the aftercare service by ensuring that: • Our views and input is part of the ‘sign off’ of completed works• Any outstanding snags are communicated to us and a timetable for completion is agreed with us• All snags are completed in the agreed timescales and quality assured• Contact is maintained with us during the ‘snagging’ completion period• Contact is made with us one month after completion to check no defects have arisen and we are still satisfied• Get our views through a customer satisfaction survey and use the feedback to monitor progress and improve performance.To make sure the improvements recommended by the Tenant Scrutiny Panel are done, the council changed its focus accordingly to incorporate all of the findings above into its day to day activities and increased its staffing resources accordingly by appointing two additional temporary Contract Supervisors and a temporary Resident Liaison Officer. Janet Higgins, Chair of the Scrutiny Panel said:“Having major improvement works done in your home can be an extremely stressful experience for tenants if the quality of communication and support provided is not of the highest standard. Since we identified the need to improve in certain areas, the council has listened to what we said and improved things as a result. The recent feedback we have received from tenants is that they have noticed a positive change.

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Sheltered Housing is independent accommodation for people over the age of 60 years. Chores like gardening and exterior maintenance are taken care of, so you’re free to enjoy independence in an environment that offers you privacy and assistance when you need it.

With a resident’s lounge and communal gardens for socialising, you’re free to enjoy life with your

friends, relatives and neighbours. And when you have friends or relatives over, there’s our convenient guest room available for them to stay in.

We currently have properties to let in sheltered housing accommodation in :

• Coalville

• Hugglescote

• Ashby

• Kegworth

• Whitwick

• Measham

• Castle Donington

If you or someone you know might be interested in living in Sheltered Housing, or would like to have a look around, please contact our Housing Management Team on 01530 454660.

Would you like to know more about our sheltered housing schemes?

Are you over the age of 60?

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Lynn Moralee, Assistant Head at Castle Rock High School said “The use of the polytunnel has gone from strength to strength.The school has never looked so good! The polytunnel is an integral part of the school and has helped projects in the community, helped forge intergenerational relationships and provides educational projects to inspire young lives.“At the front of the building there is a designated quiet area, for the students to sit and reflect or eat their lunch quietly; this has been well stocked with flowers. It has become the most popular social area in the school.The students grew some flowers which were put into containers and given to the residents at Blackbrook Court (A local housing scheme for older people), students also helped tidy the gardens and did some more planting to help create a better environment for the residents.

“The students have also made good use of the polytunnel, helping the gardener and learning more about how plants grow and how different types of food produce grows. We have developed a growing lab where students have grown all manner of different fruit and veg; this learning all starts in the polytunnel.“Our year seven students have a personal challenge project to complete after school on Mondays. In spring and summer, one of their options is gardening. The polytunnel has meant that more students want to be involved and it has become a very popular activity.“You may recall you also funded a hatchery for us. Two of the hens we hatched a couple of years ago now, are still with us – that makes them very old chickens! Again this has been a popular job for our students – we have a waiting list of students who can’t wait to help clean out the hens and keep them fed and watered.

“Our continued gratitude.”

Grow your own!!Now is the time of year to think of growing your own vegetables and salad ingredients. As the days get longer, and spring put in a welcome appearance, it’s the right time to consider what you can grow yourself.Why? It’s often cheaper than shop-bought produce, but the real benefits are far greater than this. The taste of a home-grown tomato and the sense of well being you feel from digging up a row of fresh new potatoes are second to none. The good news is with a little gardening know-how anyone can have a go at growing their own vegetables. You don’t need acres of space, or years of horticultural training, just roll up your sleeves and start having fun.

Container growing? If garden space is limited, or you have no garden at all, you can still grow veg in a sunny spot on a patio, balcony or even a windowsill. Tomatoes, lettuce, cabbages and potatoes will grow equally as well in a city setting, as a country garden. The key is to use quality compost that’s been specifically designed to grow fruit and vegetables. It’s important to remember that all the principles for successfully growing veg in containers, are exactly the same for veg-plots and allotments -

just on a smaller scale.Allotment? North West Leicestershire District Council manage a small number of sites. For more information or to check for allotment availability please contact the parks office by phone (01530 454654) or email (parks@nwleicestershire.gov.uk) Further Information? Just do an internet search for ‘grow your own’ and you will find lots of websites offering tips, advice and guidance. e.g. www.lovethegarden.com

Thank you!Castle Rock High School has recently been in touch to let us know how they’ve been getting on with the polytunnel which was funded by the council’s Resident Involvement Team in agreement with involved tenants in 2013.

Supporting youTenancy support has been in place since 7 April 2014 to work with tenants who need more intense support.

After an initial assessment theTenancy Support Officer will work closely with the tenant to help take some of the pressure and stress away from them.

Tenancy support can offer a one-off visit to help complete forms for things like Housing Benefit right through to long periods of support.

Some of the things the Tenancy Support officer has helped tenants so far, include: • Budgeting, contacting utility companies to get set up or discuss more

affordable payments• Applying for welfare funding for household items like furniture and carpets• Applying for funeral grants, Personal Independent Payments, Severn

Trent water funding• Assisting with benefit appeals and reviews• Referring to other organisations and working alongside other agencies like

CAB, probation and Social Services.

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Your Tenancy Agreement is changing…

The Tenancy Agreement, the contract between you and North West Leicestershire District Council for the use of your home, is up for review. A group of tenants has been helping the council to review and update the agreement and make it easier to understand. All tenants will be sent a draft of the revised Tenancy Agreement in June 2015. Look out for this in the post - you will have three weeks to let us know whether you are happy with the proposed changes.

CALLING TIME ON HOUSING FRAUDDid you know that housing fraud deprives those who are in genuine need of a home?Some examples of housing fraud are when: A tenant sublets their home to someone else without seeking permission from the councilWhen a house is obtained by giving false information in an application. Some housing fraud can also be considered a criminal offence under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act, and tenants may lose their home if they are convicted.

If you suspect someone of housing fraud contact us on 01530 454660, or ehousing.mgt@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

You can contact the Housing Management team on

01530 454660 or housing.mgt@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

Tenancy Support is there for those tenants who need a bit of extra help and support. If you, or someone you know would like to talk about how we can support you, contact the Housing Management Team to see how we can help

Andrew Wallace, Principal Housing Management Team Leader stated:

Low quality coal – more expensive for you and a risk to your healthNorth West Leicestershire District Council has found that poor quality coal is currently being sold locally and being bought by some of our tenants.

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This is costing tenants – in money and in health. You may not save money if you buy cheap coal. The council is responsible for carrying out an annual service on heating and hot water systems in council properties. This includes sweeping the chimney once a year.Low quality coal produces more soot, so the chimney must be swept more regularly to keep it safe to use. If the chimney needs to be swept more than once a year this is your responsibility. Using cheaper, low quality fuel may seem like a cost effective idea, but not when you consider the cost of chimney sweeping.You may be risking your health if you buy cheap coalUsing low quality coal increases the risk of toxic carbon monoxide and sulphur gases building up in your home, and significantly increases the risk of a chimney fire.Carbon Monoxide is a deadly gas which can cause illness, permanent health damage and far too often, death.

Elderly people are often more vulnerable because they have a reduced sense of smell. Although the gas is odourless, the other combustion products from the fuel are not.Almost all cases of carbon monoxide poisoning with solid fuel are the result of a blocked chimney.To keep your chimney safe, you must: • Empty and check the ash pan every day• Clean the flue ways at the back of the boiler once a

week, but always let the fire go out and allow ashes to cool before cleaning

• Remove the throat plates at the top of the room heater clean monthly.

This is your responsibility.If you feel you need support to affordably heat your home, contact your Housing Officer on 01530 454660 or housing.mgt@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

Twenty year old Gabby works on the large scale property improvement scheme that Lovell is carrying out in partnership with the council. The work includes the installation of new kitchens and bathrooms alongside boiler and central heating upgrades, and window and door replacements. “I work hard to make sure that the work goes to schedule and targets are met,” Gabby said. “I love the variety, but most of all I really enjoy the fact that we are making a difference to people’s lives. It’s great to know that I am part of a team giving people nicer, warmer and safer homes to live in.”More than 500 applications were submitted, and Gabby was shortlisted with seven other apprentices from across the UK. At the ceremony in Manchester, Lovell won the award of Contractor of the Year which made Gabby and her colleagues very proud. Although Gabby did not win Apprentice of the Year at the Building and Engineer Awards, she did win Lovell’s

Apprentice of the Year Award 2014, which was presented at a Lovell conference for the whole of the eastern region.More recently, the Housing Service has advertised for two housing apprentice roles and we will update you more about the journey of our apprentices in a later edition. Glyn Jones, Director of Housing at North West Leicestershire District Council said: “One of the key requirements in the Decent Homes work is to offer training and apprenticeships for young people to increase their skills and potentially develop a career in the construction industry. We are also looking at more opportunities within the housing service for apprenticeships and recently we have advertised for two roles within the department which we look forward to recruiting to.“We wish Gabby well and hope that her success can inspire other local youngsters to take steps towards a career in construction”.

Local Apprentice Shortlisted for National AwardGabby Landico, an apprentice business administrator at our regeneration partners Lovell, has been shortlisted for an Apprentice of the Year award in the 2014 Builder and Engineer Awards.

Easter egg hunt!Have you spotted them yet?! Dotted around the pages of this edition of In Touch are lots of lovely Easter Eggs!

See how many you can findeither fill in the form below and return to us at North West Leicestershire District Council, Council Offices, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3FJ, or email us at resident.involvement@nwleicestershire.gov.uk with your name, address, telephone number and the number of eggs you foundYou’ll be in with the chance of winning one of ten Chocolate Easter Eggs!We will be randomly selecting ten names from all the returns in mid April.

Number of eggs you found: .........................................................

Your name: ………………………………….………….................

Address: ………………………………………………………....…

..................................................................................................

..................................................................................................

Contact number: .......................................................................

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“Why not come along to one of the following working groups and get involved in shaping the service council housing tenants in North West Leicestershire receive? Working groups are usually held at the council offices in Coalville.• Performance and Finance – This groups looks at the

financial performance and service performance of the Housing service and next meets on Thursday 30 April, 10am – 2pm

• Housing Repairs and Maintenance – This group meet to review matters that affect the repairs , maintenance and Decent Homes services and will next meet on Tuesday 5 May, 10.15am – 12.15pm

• Older Persons – Tenants interested in discussing housing matters that are important to older persons meet in this group and next meet on Wednesday 13 May, 10am – 12noon

• Housing Management – This group meet to discuss tenancy matters and next meet on Wednesday 20 May, 10.30am – 12.30pm

You could also help shape this magazine by joining the In Touch Editorial Panel. We meet in the run up to each publication to review and agree articles to go to press.

You could also send in your contributions to the Resident Involvement Team.Or, why not join the Tenant Scrutiny Panel? This is a specialist group which inspects housing services to make sure they’re doing things in the right way and in an efficient and cost effective manner that meets the needs of tenants. Finally, there is a Tenants and Leaseholders Consultation Forum on the last Monday evening of every month. This group is the main consultation forum for considering Housing service and policy decisions and the next meeting is the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday 27 April from 6pm until 7.50pm. Venue: Howe Road Community Lounge, 2 Howe Road, Whitwick, LE67 5DSI have been a tenant for the past four years and attend most of the meetings. I have learned a lot about how the Council works and about tenants’ problems and met many people who have become friends. It has been a very interesting journey and I hope you can join us.If you would like to know more about getting involved, or would like to send us some information for inclusion in our next In Touch magazine, contact our Resident Involvement team on 01530 454795 or by emailing resident.involvement@nwleicestershire.gov.uk.

TENANT SCRUTINY LOSES KEY MEMBERIt is with great sadness that we advise of the loss of Brian Kendrick, who was Treasurer for the Tenant Scrutiny Panel almost from when it was set up two years ago.Brian was a real stalwart on the panel and his gift for accounting and analysing figures made him the obvious choice for the post of Treasurer. Always very dedicated to the financial side of our function, Brian would report the panel’s position against the budget at our monthly meetings to the penny!Unfortunately, Brian had serious health issues that impacted on his ability to continue with us during the last three months of his life. He kept in touch via his mobile during his frequent periods of hospitalisation towards the end of his life.Brian passed away in late December and will be greatly missed by all of us. Our condolences go to Brian’s family and friends.

How can you get involved?Pam from Ibstock explains how you can get involved in shaping your housing service…..“Have you got a spare two hours and would like to meet like-minded people for tea or coffee to discuss various parts of your housing service?

Down your WayFriends of Westfield’s Tenants and Residents AssociationMonday 4 May, 12 midday - 4pmFamily Fun Day with face painting, bouncy castle, BBQ, and community stalls. If you would like a stall at the event contact Sue Ross on 01530454736Playing fields off Abbey Drive, LE65 2LELinford and Verdon Tenants and Residents AssociationFish and chip lunch - first Friday of every month at 12.30pmCoffee morning – every Wednesday at 10amTrips out to:• Sunnyside Garden Centre in April• The National Memorial Arboretum in MayGreenacres Sheltered Scheme, Linford Crescent, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 4QTGreenhill Tenants and Residents Association4-11 year olds After School Club every other Monday 3.45pm until 4.45pmTeen drop in every Tuesday 7pm until 9pmCoffee morning - Every Tuesday and Thursday 10am until 12 middayPrize Bingo - Once a month from 6.30pmGreenhill Community Shop, Cropston Drive, GreenhillRiverview Tenants and Residents AssociationCoffee morning every Wednesday, 10amChildren’s Club every Friday, 4pmRobin’s Nest, Eagles Close, Measham DE12Willesley Tenants and Residents AssociationCoffee morning every Wednesday, 11am Family Fun day Saturday 1 August Macmillan Coffee Morning September The Cabin, Ridgway Road, Ashby LE65 2PLHowe CourtCoffee morning every Monday, 11.15am – 12.30pmCraft Group every Tuesday, 10am – 12pm (bring your own craft)Bingo twice weekly Wednesday and Friday, 2pm - 4pmHowe Court Communal Lounge, Howe Drive, Whitwick LE67 5DSIbstock Palace Film Nights ‘The Hundred Foot Journey’ (PG), Friday 17 April, 7pm, £5 ‘Mr Turner’ (R), Friday 15 May, 7pm, £5Ibstock Palace, High Street, Ibstock, Leicestershire LE67 6LHAshby de la Zouch Farmers MarketSaturday 18 April, 9am – 2pmManor House School, South Street, Ashby LE65 1BRAshby Venue Theatre‘A Month of Sundays’, Thursday 23 April to Saturday 2 May, £8. Ashby Venture Theatre North Street, Ashby LE65 1HUCentre Stage, Kegworth Village Hall ‘Old Herbaceous’, Thursday 23 April, 7.30pmKegworth Village Hall

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Ashby de la Zouch

Ashby Food bank – linked to Trussell Trust

Congressional Church, Kilwardby Street, Ashby De La Zouch, LE65 2FG Jean Harrison/ Noreen Mewies - 07542 118878info@ashbyfoodbank.org.ukTuesday 9.30-11.30Friday 2pm-4pmReferrals only. In an emergency, may be able to provide parcels at other times – call 07542118878

Coalville Agar Nook Community Centre

Charlie Rowntree Agar.Nook@emha.orgOpens every other Friday 10am – 11amNB normally only do food parcels for people that live in Agar Nook. Accessed directly at the centre

Coalville Coalville Foodbank (Trussell Trust)

Newlife Church, Margaret Street, Coalville, LE67 3LY – Tuesday and Friday 10am – 12 middayGreenhill Community Church, Charnborough Road, Coalville, LE67 4SF – Thursday 1.30pm – 4p.m.Referrals only

Coalville REACT Project (FareShare)

Marlene Reid Centre, Belvoir Street, CoalvilleLesley Massey – 01530 510515lmassey@mrc.uk.netMonday – Friday 9am – 5pmSaturday mornings by prior arrangement

Ibstock Ibstock Baptist Church (FareShare)

Chapel Street, Ibstock, LE67 6HF – 01530 260205Monday 2.30pm – 3.30pm

Whitwick Whitwick Community Enterprise (FareShare)

North Street, Whitwick, LE67 5HARhonda Dean - 01530 519696 – Access by phone call rhonda@ whitwickcommunityenterprises.co.ukMonday – Friday 9am – 5pm

Food Banks in North West Leicestershire

Decoration Discount!All tenants can now get 15% discount on prices for products available at Johnstone’s Decorating Centres!

The discount used to be provided to new council tenants, in a partnership between the council and Johnstone’s paint, but it’s proved so popular that we’re extending it to all tenants. To get the discount, just take the flyer sent to you with your rent statement to your local Johnstone’s decorating centre.As well as the discount, Housing Management is always looking for feedback on the Decoration Allowance Scheme (paint packs).Please give any comments to Housing Management department on housing.mgt@nwleicestershire.gov.uk or 01530 454545.