New Board will have direct influence over Housing Investment and

Issue No: 10
Autumn 2009
Welcome to the autumn edition of “Tenants’ Talk”. In this edition you will find news on...
Spring Garden
Competition
New Youth Club
in Wellington
Smokefree
homes and cars
Summer Activity Community
Success
Clean Up Day
Christmas
Fireworks
page 3
page 4
page 5
page 8
page 11
New Board will have direct
influence over Housing
Investment and Services
On the 11th August 2009 Taunton Deane Borough
Council agreed to the creation of a Tenant Services
Management Board of ten tenant representatives and
two Councillors from April 2010.The Board will have a
responsibility for ensuring the best possible standards of
service delivery to tenants, and will have a key role in
judging how good Taunton Deane’s Housing Service is
against the new standards and framework being
developed by the new housing regulator, the Tenant
Services Authority.
Following the invitation in the Spring 08 edition of
Tenants’ Talk from Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey, the
Housing Portfolio Holder, to “Get Involved, Get
Empowered”. A group of tenants have examined the
opportunities available, for tenants to have more say in
the way in which their homes are managed. (Members of
the Tenants’ Forum took part, alongside tenants new to
formal tenant involvement.) Following a series of
meetings, a report was produced that gave the clear
message that they wanted tenant involvement in Taunton
Deane to develop, with definite steps needed to be taken
to devolve real influence.
Continued on page 2...
page 10
News
Flash!
What tenants would see developing is a change in how
services are delivered that tenants have shaped through
their own decision making processes.The report
provided an opportunity for the Council to make a
significant difference by taking tenant involvement to a
level not seen before in Taunton Deane.
The Board will start in April 2010.The details of how the
Board operates will be finalised with tenants over the
next 6 months, but already there have been some areas
suggested for the Board to focus on, including:
• Involvement in setting the budget and determining
spending priorities
• Reviewing and revising housing policies
• Involvement in agreeing and reviewing contracts
• Monitoring service quality
Further information on the creation on the Board, such
as how tenants can become Board members, will be
available soon. If you would like to find out more or
would like to be actively involved in helping to create the
new Board please contact:
Estate Assistants, Tel: 01823 356319
Email: estate.assistants@tauntondeane.gov.uk.
Continued from page 1...
News
Flash!
New Board will have
direct influence over Housing
Investment and Services
Tenant Empowerment means tenants working
together to improve the levels of service they
receive. This gives tenants a much greater say in what
services are delivered to them.
Making
improvements
to your home
Just a reminder that you may carry out
improvements to your home, but must get
permission from the Property Manager
first.
Examples of improvements include:
The new board will mean some decisions previously
taken by housing officers will be taken by the new board,
made up of 10 tenants and 2 Councillors. This will give
tenants a much greater voice in the day to day running of
the council housing stock.
• Installation of a shower
From dispute resolution to appointing housing officers,
suggesting new improvement works, to maybe new build.
There are many ways the new board will represent
tenants at a higher level of the decision making process
for the council housing stock.
• Removal of walls
Tenants will become more responsible for the housing
stock as a whole, and I hope tenants will gain more
respect for their homes and the neighbourhoods around
them knowing that those who represent them and their
homes are tenants themselves.
• Building of ponds
It is a good way forward for all tenants, with the
knowledge that local council housing policies are being
discussed and put forward by their own and ultimately
democratises the housing service for those that pay for it.
We will not reasonably hold permission.
I started to get involved in local group meetings and also
attending Tenants’ Forum meeting hoping to make a
difference or be part of a decision making process that
would help towards improving the lives of those who live
in our council housing, from basic home improvements to
addressing anti social behaviour. I do not have all the
answers to some problems, but collectively those that live
with the problems associated with social housing have a
better understanding than those who do not. So tenants
should and must be given a say over their own housing
because in the end, they pay for it in more ways than one.
We do not allow the opening up of old
open fires or installation of log burners.
Dustyn Etherington
Tenant Forum Member
2
• Installation of a new kitchen
• Change of doors (internal and external)
• Change or removal of a gas fire
• Erection of conservatories
• Alterations to lighting and power circuits
• Additions or changes to fencing
• Installation of a satellite dish (please
obtain permission from your Estates
Officer)
Please note: You will be responsible for
maintaining the improvements you make.
If you would like to make a suggestion
or write an article for the next
newsletter, please send details to:
Estate Assistants,
Taunton Deane Borough Council,
The Deane House, Belvedere Road,
Taunton, TA1 1HE
Tel: 01823 356319
Email:
estate.assistants@tauntondeane.gov.uk
Web: www.tauntondeane.gov.uk
Spring Garden Competition
In the last few issues of the Tenants’ Talk and the Deane Housing News, we have asked you to enter our Spring
Garden Competition. We asked you to send your photos in to the Estate Assistants and be in with a chance of
winning a mystery prize! We have had lots of impressive entries, and are proud to announce the winners.
1st
2nd
First Place
Second Place
Mrs R.V. Stringer of Darby Way,
Bishops Lydeard
Mr C. H. Walters of
Parker Close, Wellington
Below are some of the other fabulous entries:
Mr & Mrs Henderson
of Inner Circle,
Taunton
Mrs Stocker of
Galmington Road,
Taunton
Mr & Mrs Powers of
Coronation Close,
Ruishton
3
New Youth Club opened in Wellington
On August 17th 2009, after a lot of hard work I have finally got the Drop
in Centre open. I would like to say a big thank you to the Tenant Forum
and Somerset Police for the grants they gave which enabled us to get
the project started.
On 17th August I opened the doors to the Centre to our young ladies
and young men. We had 7 youngsters come and have a look to see what
we were about, followed by another 25 on the second night. The Centre
is open 2 nights a week from 6:30pm - 9.30pm. I have found that at the
moment Monday nights are quite quiet and so I would love to see more
kids come along. Thursday nights are already becoming popular.
We provide different types of entertainment and have computers, a dart
board and a pool table, we even have a tuck shop. We are also hoping to
take the youngsters on trips out, such as paintballing, skittles and dart and
pool matches with other youth teams. However, to allow these activities
to take place we need to apply for grants and hold fundraising events.
I have already had really good feedback from the young people such as ‘it
is cool’ and ‘it’s the best place in town, better than the Youth Centre’.
We are running a competition at the moment to give the Drop in
Centre a proper name, which we want the kids to decide as it is their
place to come and chill out. We also want them to come up with things
they want to see happen at the Centre. One of the big things they want
to see is to have a girls night only and a boys night only, along with a mix
night. To put on a third night, we will need to carry out fundraising events.
It has been a long road to get to this point and so far it has proven to be
worthwhile, we are having great fun. I have a great group of volunteers,
including myself there are 9 of us; however, we do need more! I would
love for them to be able to show the kids a skill such as hairdressing,
woodwork, drawing and anything else they may be interested in. I have
found the Centre very rewarding as the young people that do come are
in a safe place and out of harms way.
Finally I would like to call out to all the young ladies and young men,
please come along and see what we are about, it’s a great place to chill
out with your friends. We are at the SS Club on North Street in
Wellington just across the road from the fire station.
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Sue
Youth Leader
4
SMOKEFREE
HOMES AND CARS
DID YOU KNOW THAT...
• Children raised in smoky homes are up to 72 times more likely to suffer serious
breathing illnesses than children from smokefree homes?
• Around 50 children are admitted to hospital every day in the UK because of
tobacco smoke in the home?
• Children are less likely to develop asthma in a smokefree home?
• Far more cot deaths occur in the homes of
smokers?
The Smokefree Somerset Alliance has recently
launched a Smokefree Homes and Cars project
to assist parents to make their homes
smokefree and to always smoke outside.
Giving up smoking altogether is never easy but
the next best thing parents can do is to make
sure that they never smoke in confined spaces
where concentrated smoke can cause so much
damage to young hearts and lungs.
For more information about the smokefree
homes and cars campaign, contact Tracey
Hellyar on
tel: 0303 033 9998
email: smokefreehomes@somerset.nhs.uk
web: www.somerset.nhs.uk/smokefreehomes
As parents you can choose whether you smoke
or not, but children do not have that choice.
Protect your loved ones, always smoke outside.
SOMERSET
Holway Local Action Team
Monthly Meetings:
We also hold monthly meetings, which are always on
the first Thursday of the month. The meetings always
start at 7:30pm and are at the YMCA on Lisieux way.
Holway Coffee Morning Dates:
Come along to one of our coffee mornings and meet
new people. The next three coffee mornings will be:
Tuesday 17th November
Tuesday 15th December
These meetings are open to the public, please feel
free to come along and join in.
The meetings take place 10am-11am at Parmin Way.
5
Have you heard about
Restorative Justice?
It sounds complicated but it could make a real
difference to the place where you live - and you
could get involved by coming along to a
roadshow visiting your area in September.
Restorative justice is not a soft option as many
offenders find it extremely difficult to face up to
the impact of their crimes.
Restorative Justice is a scheme that allows the
community to get involved in dealing with
antisocial behaviour - things like scrawling
graffiti, shoplifting or causing damage to
property.
• Getting offenders to remove graffiti and
repair property they’ve damaged
Examples include:
• Bringing shoplifters face to face with store
managers to hear how shop theft affects
others
• Getting offenders to write letters of apology
Schemes are already working successfully
elsewhere in Somerset and Restorative Justice
is now being rolled out in the unparished area
of Taunton - parts of the town not covered by a
parish council such as Priorswood, Blackbrook,
Holway and Halcon.
Volunteers are needed to train to facilitate
conferences and no previous experience is
necessary as full training will be given.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer
or wanting to know more can contact:
Jan Hart on 01823 663978 or email
j.hart@tauntondeane.gov.uk
The scheme is simple and is seen as a way of
putting the victim’s needs at the centre of the
criminal justice system and making culprits
face up to the consequences of their behaviour.
It is about offenders making amends directly to
the people or organisation they have harmed.
Benefits include:
• Giving victims a greater voice in the criminal
justice system
• Building community confidence that
offenders are making amends for their
wrong doing
6
Sheltered Housing
800 Sheltered Housing tenants have been consulted
recently to seek their views on how we can provide
services under a Banding system. Tenants were asked to
consider what their current support needs were and what
support they feel would meet these needs.
We also asked tenants to feedback on the level of
satisfaction of the service. 95% of tenants reported a high
level of satisfaction they are receiving from the Sheltered
Housing Team. Further discussions will be held to consider
whether Taunton Deane Borough Council will implement
the banding system.
If you require any further details in relation to the
proposed banding system or would like to attend the
Sheltered Housing Forum, please contact a member of the
Sheltered Housing Team on 01823 331635.
Please clean up after
your dog!
Tenants at Bishops Lydeard, Darby Way/Greenway, have done
a marvelous effort with their gardening, tidying and rubbish
removal and thanks to all the hard work they have all put in.
The village is looking wonderful.
However, I would like to remind all the dog owners to please
be very aware of picking up after your dog, Greenway in
particular has a problem with this near the Village Hall.
We are hoping to get dog waste disposal bins put up soon, but
in the meantime please make sure you are all cleaning up after
your pets. Apart from looking dreadful, it causes health
hazards for young and old alike.
Dear Tenants,
know
Just a reminder to dog owner to let you
to
that you can get a very heavy fine of up
s.
£,1000 for not picking up your dog mes
e Estate.
Especially around Newton Road and Lan
from your
Also, think of the diseases you can get
’t leave it
dog mess, so please pick it up and don
for other people.
Norman Denny
e Estate
Tenants’ Forum Rep & Chairman of Lan
Howard Road
Play Area
Update
It’s been 7 months now since the new
Play Area opened on Howard Road in
Wellington.
To begin with there were a few mishaps
as the youngsters got to grips with the
new play equipment, but now they have
mastered it they have been having great
fun.
The play area is well used by all
youngsters in the area every day and a
good age range come to play. When the
youngsters are at school it’s lovely to see
mums come with the younger children to
let them have a play.
All in all it seems to have gone down
very well with the locals as they all seem
to enjoy the play area, knowing they are
safe as there is lots of people watching
over them when they play.
It is a joy to see them playing and
socializing with one and another. Long
may the young enjoy the play area now
and in the future.
Susanjean Anderson
Wellington Tenants an
Residents Association
Super Summer Fun
As part of the
ongoing Pride in
Priorswood project,
young people in
North Taunton got
stuck in to a wide
range of activities
during the Summer.
The Priorswood
Resource Centre Manager, Lesley Thomas,
organised Clay Model Painting, Jewellery Making
and a Nintendo Wii Tournament. The young
people proudly carried off their pottery pots
and tiles they had decorated which had then
been fired, they designed and made some lovely
bracelets and necklaces and showed us older
ones how to use Wii games!
Helping Lesley during the Summer were her
magnificent team of Resource Centre volunteers,
Parent and Family Support Advisors,
Neighbourhood Police Team, Knightstone
Housing Association, Rev Tiff of St Andrews
Church, Fuse Performance and Taunton Deane.
Outside on Lyngford Park they could take part
in team games or paint a mural which will be
displayed in a prominent position in Priorswood
to celebrate the Summer’s activities. One of the
highlights was the Old School Sports Day –
there was an egg and spoon race, three-legged
race, sack race and the team event was won by
Rev Tiff ’s Apples Team.
To round off the activities we had a barbecue,
face painting and circus skills
for everyone to enjoy. Sadly
the heavens opened and we
had to pack away early, but
everyone agreed it had been
a really fun packed Summer
and they were looking
forward to next year!
For further information please contact:
Lesley Thomas, Priorswood Resource
Centre Manager, Tel: 01823 353643
Jayne Hares, Communities Officer,
Tel: 01823 356591
Email: j.hares@tauntondeane.gov.uk
8
Strut your stuff with STREETJAM
Throughout the Summer, local
young people in Halcon and
Priorswood, spent many happy
hours learning a mix of skills from stilt walking, street dance,
unicycling, to making flags and
bunting with STREETJAM. Fuse
Performance have been working
with Hamilton Youth Club and
the Halcon Youth Club and lots
of youngsters have taken part in the events held
over the last few months.
was designed and sprayed, huge
amounts of energy were used in
twirling, jumping and tumbling while
the DJ boys made lots of good noise.
This culminated in a great STREETJAM party at All
Saints Church in Halcon. Fuse Performance were
joined by Sam Gaden the renowned Graffiti Artist,
Elementz and Escape and Annie Jeffs. A fantastic
array of flags were made, a STREETJAM ‘graffiti wall’
Caroline Corfe, Community Arts Officer, 01823
356521 - c.corfe@tauntondeane.gov.uk
It has been a really good Summer with loads of
people joining in, making friends and learning new
things.
Watch this space for what we will be up to next!
Jayne Hares, Communities Officer 01823 356591 j.hares@tauntondeane.gov.uk
Fuse Performance 01458 259638 www.fuseperformance.co.uk
9
Communities pull together
and have a good clear out
Taunton Deane Housing organised a series of community
clean up days during the Summer. Together with
community minded residents, the Police and the Deane
DLO, everyone worked hard getting their communities
cleared up and homes and gardens sorted out.
We started off on Estate Officer Michelle Garcia’s patch
in Norton Fitzwarren on a lovely sunny day at the
beginning of August. Residents in Blackdown Road and
Hilly Park had a good old clear out and filled a large skip
by the end of the day. A couple of residents worked up a
real sweat helping their neighbours.
On an exceptionally hot day we were on Michaela
Mullen’s patch up in Laxton Road on the Lane Estate.
Unfortunately the lorry delivering the skip had been held
up so by the time it arrived we had a pavement full.
Mattresses, broken cupboards, twisted metal - you name
it - we had it! It took a lot of effort to clear it and
PCSO’s Sean Roper and Jamie Munro,
Estate Officers, the DLO and a couple
of local residents did a magnificent job
getting everything into the skip.
We then had two successful days on
Kelly Welch’s patch in Wellington. PC
Lynn Woods and PCSO Scott
Windsor had organised local young
people to do a litter pick around the area.
They worked really hard and filled up lots of bags. As a
reward for their efforts they went on a paintball day out
and enjoyed a lovely barbecue too. We joined forces
with Sanctuary Housing on the second day, who also
provided a skip for their residents in Jurston Lane. Even
though we got drenched in the rain, we successfully filled
another industrial sized skip and the area was much
improved.
Then it was off to
Lucy Hawkins’
patch in Halcon,
outside the Link
Centre. As usual we
had some wonderful
young people
helping out. The
older ones
helped our DLO
boys and PCSO’s
Sean Roper and
Jamie Munro shift
loads of rubbish, sort
out items which are not
allowed in the skip and then
pack it to ensure a much got squashed in as possible.
The younger ones did a litter pick around All Saints
Church and adjoining streets. We had a skip
changeover at lunchtime and still managed to fill
the second one. We are really grateful to the
young people for their help and as a reward will
be organising for them to go on a paintball
event as part of the Dreamscheme Project.
Special thanks also go to Jim Hill, Roy Lang,
Richard Chidzey, Dave Newton and Andy
Harwood from the Deane DLO; Giles, Steve and the
drivers from Viridor and Olwyn Jones.
Jayne Hares, Communities Officer.
Tel: 01823 356591
Email: j.hares@tauntondeane.gov.uk
Garages for Rent
We currently have vacant garages to rent in Darby Way, Taunton.
Council Tenant - £4.71 per week Private Owner/Tenant - £6.16 per week
If you are interested and require further information please contact:
Rachael Pocock. Tel: 01823 356334
10
Cars make way for Santa at Light
and Fireworks Extravaganza
On Sunday 15th November the whole family
will be able to enjoy a day of activities,
entertainment and shopping in a car-free
Taunton town centre, in association with event
sponsor Orchard. Festivities begin at 9:30am
and will last until about 5:00pm.
Children will be able to learn about, and
experience a range of arts and crafts in “makeand-do” tents, try their hand at juggling and
plate spinning in the circus-skills workshop, go
for a ride on a donkey, or have fun on a bouncy
castle.
Parking is free on Sundays across the town’s
car parks and roads will be closed to traffic for
the duration of the event. The streets will be
filled with a variety of local food and craft stalls,
including merchants from the Continental
Market, Taunton Vale Farmers’ Market, The
Blackdown Hills Market and Wellington Food
Town.
The finale, organised by the Taunton Town
Centre Company, begins at 4pm with a
spectacular parade led by Father Christmas.
along with a number of exciting helpers. If you
want to take part in the parade led by Father
Christmas and the cast members of the
Brewhouse Christmas Show: ‘When Santa Fell
to Earth’, meet at the Brewhouse Theatre at
3:45pm. Children must be accompanied by an
adult.
Stages set up throughout the town will ensure
the centre is vibrant with music and performing
arts all day.
The theme of this year’s celebrations is “Light”,
and organisers, Taunton Town Centre Company,
want the whole community to get involved;
making lanterns out of recycled jam jars or
food tins so that everyone can sing Christmas
carols by candlelight. Those who are unable to
make a lantern in advance will be able to come
along to a workshop on the day.
The switching on of the Christmas lights will be
preceded by a dazzling fire show by the worldrenowned Cirque Bijou and followed by a
glittering fireworks display.
For more information, please contact:
Faith Gritten
Taunton Town Centre Company
Tel: 01823 324050
Email: f.gritten@tauntondeane.gov.uk
If you require further information
please contact:
Estate Assistants,
Taunton Deane Borough Council,
The Deane House, Belvedere Road,
Taunton, TA1 1HE
Tel: 01823 356319
Email: estate.assistants@tauntondeane.gov.uk
www.tauntondeane.gov.uk
01823 356319
estate.assistants@tauntondeane.gov.uk
01823 356319
estate.assistants@tauntondeane.gov.uk
01823 356319
estate.assistants@tauntondeane.gov.uk
If you would like this document translated
into other languages or in Braille, large print,
audio tape, or CD please telephone us on
01823 356319 or email us at:
estate.assistants@tauntondeane.gov.uk
01823 356319
estate.assistants@tauntondeane.gov.uk
01823 356319
estate.assistants@tauntondeane.gov.uk
11
North
South
East
West
Ken Marshall
Tel: 01823 284949
Tenants’ Forum Chairperson
Malcolm Andrews
Tel: 01823 321813
Tenants’ Forum Vice Chairperson
Gwen Saunders
Tel: 01823 432562
Representative - North Deane Tenants
and Residents Association
Rachel Hughes
Tel: 01823 338021
Representative - Norton Fitzwarren
Tenants and Residents Association
John Dennis
Tel: 01823 351530
Representative - Norton Fitzwarren
Tenants and Residents Association
Joan Dudderidge
Tel: 01823 271179
Irene Safah
Taunton Priorswood, Wellsprings, Lyngford,
Pyrland, Wedlands, Grange and Sunnybank,
Lydeard St Lawrence, West Bagborough,
Oake, Norton Fitzwarren, Staplegrove,
Cheddon Fitzpaine, Kingston St Mary,
Bishops Lydeard.
Beryl Edwards
Tel: 01823 279929
Sheltered Housing
Forum Chairperson
Judith Hegarty
Tel: 01823 338514
Taunton,
Galmington, Holway,
Upper Holway,
Moorfields,
Wilton,
Trinity,
Pitminster,
Otterford,
Churchstanton,
Corfe,
Staple Fitzpaine,
Curland,
Hatch Beauchamp,
West Hatch,
Stoke St Mary,
Trull,
Comeytrowe,
Bishops Hull,
Bradford on Tone.
Norman
Denny
Tel: 01823 327158
Tenants’ Forum
Treasurer
Representative Lane Estate Tenants
and Residents
Association
Dustyn
Etherington
Tel: 07966 272350
Taunton,
Lambrook,
Halcon,
Lane,
West Monkton,
Creech St Michael,
Ruishton,
Thornfalcon,
North Curry,
Stoke St Gregory,
Burrowbridge.
Dennis Galpin
Tel: 01823 665879
Email: dennis@homegalpin
.eclipse.co.uk
Representative - Wellington
Tenants and Residents
Association
Peggyjean Steele
Tel: 01823 669167
Representative - Wellington
Tenants and Residents
Association.
Wellington Sheltered
Housing
Susan Anderson
Tel: 01823 662450
Representative - Wellington
Tenants and Residents
Association
Wendy Powell
Tel: 01823 664677
Maureen Sloman
Tel: 01823 665398
Wiveliscombe, Fitzhead,
Chipstable, Bathealton,
Ashbrittle, Stawley,
Milverton, Langford Budville,
Nynehead,
Wellington Without,
Sampford Arundel,
West Buckland.
Useful services and telephone numbers Emergencies
Council Contacts
Gas - Transco .............................................................................................................. 0800 111 999
Electricity - Southern Electric ......................0845 770 8090
Western Power Distribution .............................. 0800 365 900
Bristol Water ........................................................................................................ 0845 702 3797
Wessex Water ................................................................................................ 0845 600 4600
Avon & Somerset Police....................................................0845 456 7000
Environmental Health (noise) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01823
Environmental Health (dogs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01823
Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01823
Repairs out of hours REAL EMERGENCY . . .01823
Rent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01823
Right to Buy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01823
Deane Helpline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01823
Estates Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01823
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01823
Somerset County Council
Adults and older people .............................................. 0845 345 9133
Children/Young People/Learning .... 0845 345 9122
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356550
356333
351411
356319
358408
257185
356331
356332
South West One Limited Design & Print 10519/sgir/10/2009
Taunton Deane Tenants’ Forum Contact Details