Agenda item

Area Managers will each deliver a presentation on the Department’s work in the Braunstone and Humberstone & Rowlatts Hill Housing Management Areas.

Ellen Watts, Area Manager, delivered the presentation on Braunstone. The following points were covered during the presentation:

·         There were few younger tenants on the estate;

·         The ‘Farm’ (community allotment) had had a huge impact, with gardening donations made by Housing and the tenants’ incentive budget to fund a poly-tunnel.

·         Conversions relocating bathrooms, using the smallest of the three bedrooms in properties had taken people out of the ‘bedroom tax’ bracket.

·         Challenges included further funding to complete / continue renovation projects on the estate.

Members asked questions and received the following responses:

·         High levels of deprivation, the lower life expectancy and use of food banks was noted.

·         Work would continue with the ‘b-connected’ community group in Braunstone to promote health.

·         Braunstone Park had been redeveloped with park run paths, and there were schemes to help people get into exercise.

·         Hockley Farm health centre were addressing the health priority of smoking through the smoking cessation scheme.

·         Insulating properties had had a big impact on health – properties were warmer, less damp, which led to less asthma.

·         The void figure was usually around 20 properties, though turnover was usually good. Housing tried to convert where possible properties from three bedrooms to two bedrooms to accommodate and upstairs bathroom, usually when the properties were empty.

·         The farm allotment volunteer base fluctuated seasonally. The intent was to get people growing at home, and send excess produce back into the community.

Councillor Connelly congratulated Ellen for bringing two houses on Raven Road back into use, and also noted that Ellen had put considerable effort into the external wall insulation scheme, which in itself had benefits in reducing heating bills for tenants, and improved the look of the properties. He also noted the levels of food poverty in the area which would benefit from a supermarket.

The Chair thanked Ellen for the area reports which provided a useful understanding of issues on other wards.

Suki Supria, Head of Service, presented the Humberstone & Rowlatts Hill presentation. The following points were covered during the presentation:

·         Humberstone & Rowlatts Hill tended to have a larger proportion of empty private sector homes.

·         Capital works had included the installation of parking bays on some roads, though parking still remained a concern across the area.

·         Growth bid monies had been used to improve landscape issues. Use of knee-rail fencing had also been used, and the look of green areas had improved since its installation.

·         Priorities for 2015/16 were established by tenants, and included resurfacing hard standing areas, improved lighting and shrub removal.

Members asked questions and received the following response:

·         Parking was an intense issue across the city. Where feasible, car parking spaces and laybys were created using the environmental budget. Car parking space for 6 cars cost approximately £20K. Work would have to be prioritised for the next year, as the level of spending could not be guaranteed year in, year out.

Councillor Connelly informed Members that with a 1% reduction in rent, there was a reduced amount of money that could be spent. For 2015/16 half a million pounds had been given to Highways to improve area roads, but that would not be possible for 2016/17. He added that the outside of houses was important, and when the financial opportunity arose landscaping works would continue. He also added it was hoped that knee-rail fencing could be introduced in other areas of the city.

That Chair thanked Suki for the presentation, and requested that larger maps included in the presentation be sent to the Scrutiny Commission Members.

AGREED:

that officers send larger paper copies of the maps, as outlined in the presentations, to Commission Members.