Housing Information Bulletin — Issue 23, April 2005

Improvements Programme On Schedule

Year 2 of the massive programme of improvements to Council properties in the borough has just been completed. In the 2004/05 financial year around £67 million was spent on improvement schemes involving our ten partner contractors. And a staggering £110 million has been spent over the two years of the programme to date.

What was the money spent on last year?

Over £25 million on kitchens
Around £10 million on roofing
Over £13 million on environmental and security improvements
Around £1 million on insulation
Over £17 million on planned maintenance works including structural repairs, painting and new hardwood front doors.

How many improvements have been carried out in the first two years?

10,700 properties – new kitchens
3,500 properties – new roofs
8,000 properties – new fencing, gates and off street parking, where possible
8,000 properties – planned maintenance works.

The latest monthly tenant satisfaction surveys for March show that 93% of tenants were satisfied with the work. This figure was obtained from a 30% response rate and maintains the highly commendable levels of satisfaction we have been getting throughout the programme.

And in 2005/06 the targets are equally challenging with the initial budget set at £63 million. Plans for the coming year include a further 8,000 kitchens, 1,700 roofs, 5,000 planned maintenance works and 3,500 environmental and security improvements.

All this work is having a significant impact on the image and appearance of our Council estates. Demand for Council housing in the borough has never been higher.

Sheltered Housing Awareness Event - Tuesday 17th May

Wigan and Leigh Housing will be joining other service providers to promote sheltered housing at this event in the Charter Suite and Atrium at Wigan Town Hall. There will be displays and information in both areas.

The event will have a VE Day theme to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the end of world war two. There will be a local forties tribute singer and a Swing Band and entertainment will be provided by Low Hall Primary School. There will also be a photography competition, raffles, demonstrations, organised trips to sheltered schemes with free bingo and a guided tour of the Town Hall. Refreshments will be available on the day.

Anyone interested in attending or wishing to find out more can contact our sheltered housing team on 01942 486547.

Rent Incentives

The Wigan and Leigh Housing Board has agreed to introduce a twice yearly prize draw as part of an incentive scheme to reduce rent arrears.

Prize draws will be held twice a year with a first prize of £500 and two second prizes of £250. Prize winners will be generated automatically by a random number computer programme.

Tenants who hold a clear rent account at the time that the prize draws are made will be eligible to go into the draw.

The Board has also approved a limited budget to try other initiatives aimed at encouraging tenants to pay off rent arrears and keep a clear account.

The impact of the initiatives will be reviewed after two years.

Gardening Competition Launched

Our "Borough in Bloom" gardening competition has recently been launched and is now in its third year. We are again encouraging residents from Council estates in the borough to enter the competition.

B & Q PLC and ten of our partner contractors are providing sponsorship for the event. Staff from Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust will again be assisting with the finals judging.

There are seven different categories that will be judged.

Most Promising Young Gardener
Best Communal Garden
Best Balcony, Container or Hanging Basket
Most Improved Garden
Best Private Garden
Recognition Award
Best Overall Garden

Judging takes place initially at local level and the first prize winners qualify for the finals. Prize winners in the boroughwide finals will receive their awards at a ceremony in autumn.

The closing date for entries to the competition is Friday 20^th May. Application forms are available at all housing offices or from tenants and residents groups in the borough. The Tenant Participation Team can also send an entry form by post. They can be contacted on Freephone 0800 389 7652 or 0800 032 1451.

Home Touch

George Robinson, a member of the Leigh Homes Board, recently tried out the new internet kiosk at Leigh Property Shop. The kiosks have been installed at Wigan and Leigh Housing’s Property Shops in the town centres at Leigh and Wigan to help customers to search for a Council home anywhere in the borough.

The internet kiosks have state of the art touch screen displays that allow customers to find out about Wigan’s housing scheme, search for a home and find out more information about the vacant property and the estate where it is located.

They can search for a property by area, by type and by number of bedrooms. When they find one that they are interested in the system can tell them the rent for the property, type of heating, parking facilities, garden arrangements and any decoration allowance that will be given to assist the new tenant to decorate their new home. And, at a touch of the screen they can find out about local shopping, transport facilities, local schools and much more.

Property Shop Manager, Mike Waters, showed George how the system worked and George said "I’m no expert on computers but I found it quite easy to find my way around the system. I soon got the hang of it and think that customers will find it helpful to be able to browse and find out more about an empty home before deciding whether they want to be considered for it. It’s all about choice – we want our customers to be able to choose where they want to live and this is a great tool for helping them to do that".

Marketing Week Programme

We will be holding the second Wigan and Leigh Housing marketing week between 1st and 8th June and the programme is now coming together for various events around the borough to entertain people of all ages. Events will include:

Wednesday 1st June - Marketing week is launched at Wiend Children’s Centre in Wigan by mascots from Leigh Centurions, Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic. There will be an art exhibition provided by primary school children, entertainer, free carousel for kids, children’s play team, free balloons etc.

Thursday 2nd June – A display of dancing from around the world with a chance to join in and have a free lesson for the dances of your choice. This will be held in the evening at the Mick Martyn Suite at Hilton Park in Leigh.

Saturday 4th June – A crown green bowling charity event in the afternoon at the Beer Engine, Poolstock in aid of Wigan & Leigh Hospice. Teams of two made up of a tenant and a member of staff.

Wednesday 8th June – The final event will be an afternoon tea dance at the Monaco Ballroom in Hindley. There will be a 1940’s theme as the event will take place close to the Queen’s birthday and the anniversary of D-Day. Entrance will be 50p and includes tea, coffee and biscuits.

Posters advertising all the events that will take place during marketing week will be displayed in housing offices and a variety of community locations around the borough. We will also be placing adverts in the Leigh Reporter and Wigan Reporter on 26th May giving the full programme of events. If you would like to find out about any of the events please contact Business Management Services on 01942 486538 who will be able to provide more information.