Hometalk Spring 2013 by Cannock Chase Council

Home talk Spring 2013

The magazine for Cannock Chase Council tenants

Inside: Benefit Changes Special! Centre Pages

Look: Longford Court resident Fred Nellist composed such a beautiful poem about the pleasures of living in the sheltered scheme, so staff decided to give him a framed copy. Scheme Manager Lisa Probert and Head of Housing Ian Tennant are pictured presenting it. You can read Fredâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poem in full on Page SIX.

www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk

a ÂŁ50 gift voucher -see P8

Do we like ‘Quids In ’? We ’ ll see… HOMETALK readers have given a cautious thumbs-up to the moneymanagement magazine Quids-In which was given away with our Christmas issue.

At Christmas, we asked your opinion on Quids-In and whether HOMETALK should continue to take it. Some tenants commented that the money saving and fuel saving tips were useful, the budget cookery ideas were good, and that they would like to try out this magazine again.

There is no issue of QuidsIn available this time, but hopefully the next one will be included with your Summer HOMETALK, when we’ll again be asking tenants whether it’s value for money. ● The winner of the draw for the Quids-In feedback was: Mrs L. Davies of Cannock, who gets a £25 gift voucher.

The Chase Council for Voluntary Service is carrying out an online survey for tenants and residents in ● Cannock North ● Cannock East ● Hednesford North ● Hednesford Green Heath A CVS spokesperson said: “On behalf of organisations who work in this community, we would like to know your views about the area in which you live, to help us understand how we can work with you to ensure the area is as safe, prosperous and enjoyable as possible.” If you live in the areas above and want to take part, log on to: www.surveymonkey.com/s/blake_survey Also, tell friends and family in these areas about it. If you are unsure about the survey area, email traceygould@chase-cvs.org.uk

Walk this way for a Spring tonic Put a Spring in your Step and join your local Estate Walk. Shake off the winter blues and get a breath of fresh air by joining neighbours and friends. The Housing Department organises these informal walks so that tenants and residents can pick out any jobs that need doing in their neighbourhood. But it’s not just housing business - you can treat it as a morning or afternoon out with people you know or might like to get to know. The new programme of Estate Walks is available from The Bungalow Housing Office and is posted on the Council’s website: You can now Tweet us @ cannockchasedc. to join in on the walk and or discuss any estate issues you have. There is also an opportunity to bid for money to ‘make a wish’ to improve your estate. During 2012, more than 15 minor works suggestions were received from tenants and money has been spent wisely to improve council estates within the District. Here’s the list:

Neighbourhood Area 1

Neighbourhood Area 2

Neighbourhood Area 3

If you want to know about the estate walk ‘traffic light’ evaluation scores for last year, please contact a member of staff from the Estate Management Team on 01543 462621. Or you can email them at EMTeam@cannockchasedc.gov.uk.

An Estate Walk under way in Cannock Wood Street, Hazelslade,

Walsall Road Flatted Estate

Installation of euro bins, cigarette dispensers and internal communal notice boards.

December 12 - March 2013

Rumer Hill Estate

Community Notice Board

To be done Spring 2013

Cannock South

Mosswood Street – Erect ‘No Ball Games’ Sign

To be done Spring 2013

Bevan Lee Estate

Bevan Lee Rd Garage Site - Renew fencing to close gap

To be done Spring 2013

Moss Estate Communal Flats

Installation of euro bin provision

November 2012

Kingsway Estate

Cleveland Drive communal grassed area – Installation of Bollards

July 2012

Hednesford 2 Estate

Haig Close – prune, cut back shrub beds and repaint 2 benches on green

September 2012

Hawkesville Estate

Hannaford Way flats – cleaned up drying area

October 2012

Brereton 1 Estate

Myatt Way & Coulthwaite Way Erect ‘No Ball Games Signs’

To be completed Spring 2013

Springfields 1 Estate

Holyoake Place Shops - Install 2 x Poles for Hanging Baskets

To be completed Spring 2013

Hagley

Green Lane garage site- Erect ‘No Ball Games Signs’

To be completed Spring 2013

www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk

We’re always pleased to see you

…but are you pleased to see us?

he Housing Reception area in The Bungalow is the first port of call for Council tenants new and old visiting the Housing Department in person.

Whatever your business, even when you are coming to complain, you should expect a courteous welcome and to be dealt with efficiently. The Housing Department aims to ensure that tenants are comfortable and not under any pressure or feel any anxiety about their visit,

We’ll pay for Bright Ideas!

�� f you think you’ve got a Bright Idea, to benefit the Housing Service, contact the Service Improvement Team. Text message them: 07 814 758558; Phone them on: 01543 464757; E-mail them at:

serviceimprovements@ cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Write to them at: The Civic Centre, The Bungalow Annexe, PO Box 28, Beecroft Road, Cannock WS11 1BG.

after all this is not a dentist’s waiting room! Of course, the Reception at The Bungalow is often busy and the receptionists try hard to deal with your issue on the spot, or refer it to someone who can as soon as possible. Housing officers are anxious to know if they have got it right as regards Reception - or whether some things can be improved. “For whatever reason you attend Reception, we want to it to be a satisfying and worthwhile experience for tenants,” said Nigel Haywood, Tenancy Services Manager, “We need you to tell us whether you are happy or unhappy with your visits to the Housing Reception. Even the little things matter a lot to us: Are there enough information leaflets on display? Is the seating adequate? Are waiting customers seen in turn fairly? Do you normally get a courteous welcome? Is the Reception area clean and tidy?

What can we do to make reception better? If you want to make a comment about Reception, good or bad, please: Fill in a Reception satisfaction form next time you visit - it only takes a minute. or email allocationseoi@cannockchasedc.gov.uk or write to Tenancy Services, Cannock Chase Council, P O Box 28, Beecroft Road, Cannock, WS11 1BG.

Beat the ‘Bedroom Tax’ Cheats

Home Swapper

ouncil tenants who have spare bedrooms and worried about losing a portion of their benefits under the ‘Bedroom Tax’ can consider moving to a smaller property that fits their household - or ‘downsizing’ as it is called.

Home Swapper is the UK’s largest and most successful home swap service and, since Cannock Chase Council is a partner in the scheme, tenants can use it for FREE! Tenants can choose to move anywhere (To find out if you are affected by in the country, but if you wish to remain a the benefit changes see the centre Cannock Chase Council tenant, the map pages for a round-up of the major shows the boundary of the District. changes). It could help you find an exchange with Cannock Chase Council is doing all someone who needs somewhere bigger it can to assist those tenants looking to live. Each week thousands of people to downsize. living in social housing register online and advertise their homes, looking for another Allocations Policy tenant who would like to swap. Two important changes to the Council’s To use the service, log on to: Allocations policy aim to help downsizers. www.HomeSwapper.co.uk From now, Council tenants and register. and housing association Lorraine is here to �� tenants under-occupying help! their homes by one or more The Housing bedrooms will be put into the Department has a priority category, Band 1. designated officer, �� In addition, one Lorraine Thiselton, to bedroom bungalows assist tenants with any �� are being made queries about downsizing available to downsizing due to the impact of the council tenants aged over Benefits changes. 40 - the previous minimum Lorraine can be age was 55. contacted on: ● The Housing Register can 01543 464768. be accessed online, log on to:

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Or use the suggestion forms available in Local Council offices.

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www.uchoosehomes.co.uk

www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk

beware!

The Council is clamping down on cheats who get a Council tenancy by deception - and often make money by subletting it.

A joint effort by staff at the Council’s Estate Management and Investigations Teams started September 2012 to tackle and combat tenancy fraud. Since then FIVE council homes have been recovered because of nonoccupancy. The Council has a duty to house certain vulnerable people and they may be forced to use temporary accommodation outside Cannock Chase District due to the cheats taking up properties & subletting them. If you suspect that tenancy fraud is happening near you, please contact the Investigation Team, in total confidence. Email : investigations@ cannockchasedc.gov.uk Fraud Hotline : 0800 980 7380 Telephone : 01543 462621

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Where can I go for HELP? First step: Get in touch with your Rent Officer. Cannock Chase Council’s Housing rent officers have been briefed about the benefits overhaul and can help with general queries about the switch from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit and also negotiating affordable repayment plans for tenants with arrears. Your Rent Officer can also get priority appointments for Council tenants with the Citizens Advice Bureau. CAB holds a surgery at The Bungalow Housing Office each week, providing debt and budgeting advice. CAB can check if you are receiving the benefit you are entitled to. Cannock Chase Council’s Housing Allocations and Lettings section can provide information on moving to a smaller property for tenants looking to escape the so-called “Bedroom Tax”. The Council’s Housing Benefit section has a range of useful leaflets, including: Discretionary Housing Payments; Changes to Housing Benefit: Under Occupancy. All are available by post on request, or can be picked up at any Cannock Chase Council Office or you can email rents@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

benefits: UNIVERSAL CREDIT.

Many of the individual state benefits paid to people at the moment are being scrapped and replaced with a single Universal Credit. The Government is doing away with: Income-based Income Support, Incomebased Job Seeker allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. Instead, claimants will get a single payment, paid a month in arrears. Each person’s Universal Credit will be worked out taking into account all individual circumstances. Universal Credit is intended to be easier to understand and to encourage people to get work by allowing them to keep more of the extra earned income, making people who work better off. For Council tenants, it will mean even bigger changes. Up to now, Housing Benefit has been paid directly to the Council. But when Universal Credit starts, tenants receiving it will be responsible for paying their own rent!

When does it all happen?

New claims will receive universal credit from October 2013. After that, it will be gradually introduced to everyone else until October 2017 when all claimants will have transferred. The Government wants to make Universal Credit payments directly into bank accounts wherever, possible. You will find it a lot easier to manage Universal Credit if you have a bank account.

What to do if you don ‘t have a bank account.

Council tenants without a bank account should get hold of a leaflet called “Just the Facts on Basic Bank accounts”, which will explain everything you need to know. Contact your Rent Officer by phone or email rents@cannockchasedc.gov.uk and ask for a copy to be sent in the post, or pick one up at Cannock Chase Council Offices. For those who cannot get Bank Accounts, payment cards will be used. The Government would like to administer Universal Credit on-line over the Internet. If you don’t have Internet access, you may find it difficult to get the benefit you are entitled to. You may be able to get access to the internet at your local library.

! e g n a h c l l a ’s it THE BENEFIT CAP.

THE “BEDROOM TAX”.

Under the new benefits system there will be a limit to what any one household can claim. The limit is £26,000 a year, roughly equal to £500 a week for families and £18,200 (£350 a week) for single people with no children. These are the MAXIMUM amounts that can be claimed - NOT what any individual household on benefits will get as Universal Credit. Some households, though will not be capped. They are: families currently getting working tax credit; families where a member is receiving - Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance; war widows and widowers. People who lose their jobs through no fault of their own and have worked for 12 months continuously prior to this will also be exempt for nine months.

These rules start from now (April 2013)!

When does the Cap start? It is being phased in between July and September this year.

Help for Council tenants.

The Government’s changes include new rules for anyone who now gets Housing Benefit or will get an element of Housing Benefit in their Universal Credit. If there is one spare bedroom in your house your benefit will be cut by 14% that is 14p in every pound you receive. If there are two or more spare bedrooms in your home, you will lose 25% that is 25p in the pound.

What counts as a ‘ spare ’ bedroom? An adult couple or single adult without children is allotted one bedroom. Two children under 16 of the same sex are expected to share one bedroom. Two children under 10 of different sexes are expected to share. A carer or team of carers who do not live with you but provide you or your partner with overnight care will be allotted a room. There are some exceptions to the rules, but any bedrooms over and above this calculation are deemed ‘spare’.

What can I do about it? Consider a move to a smaller property. (Turn to PAGE THREE for more information and help about ‘downsizing’.)

Contact your Rent Officer to discuss payment options. The Department of Works and Pensions will be contacting you to let you know what will happen.

DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE (DLA). Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). PIP will be made up of mobility allowance and living allowance depending on individual circumstances. The amount of the award will depend on how well a person can cope with a range of daily tasks, such as preparing food or bathing and grooming and communications.

When will this happen? PIP will be phased in between April 2013 and 2016.

Should I do anything now? If you are under 16 or over 65 when PIP is introduced, you will still get DLA. The Department of Works and Pensions will then write to everyone else currently getting DLA, inviting them to apply for PIP. If you do not then apply for PIP your DLA will stop.

COUNCIL TAX

Council Tax Bene fit is being repl aced by Local Council Ta x Support. The new scheme will be designed and managed by, in ou r case, Cannock Chase Council. The gran t from the Gover nment to every local authority is being reduced by 10%. The new scheme will therefore no t be as generous as the old one. The result will be that some Counci l tenants who did not pay any Council Tax beca use of low incomes will have to pay something , and other tenants may see a rise in the amou nt of Council Tax they pay. The new Counci l Tax scheme star ts now (April 2013)! Contact th e Council Tax de partment on 01543 462621 if you are not sure w hat you need to pay.

What can I do?

Budgeting and ot her financial advi ce is available FREE contact your rent officer on 46 2621 for a priority appoin tment with citizen s advice bureau.

New bathrooms for Council tenants

he Council’s modernisation programme is forging ahead with around 400 tenants’ homes due to get bathroom upgrades this year.

Tenants don’t have to agree to the work being done, but if they do, they’ll have a new toilet, a new wash hand basin and the choice of having a replacement bath or a shower with a shower tray – all in white! Shower installations will include an electric

shower, shower curtain rail and a shower curtain will be gifted to each tenant. (In homes where some sanitary ware is fairly new, only items which are more than 10 years old may be replaced). Also included will be new kitchens for around 140 homes. ● If your home is due to be surveyed you will receive a letter from Lovells, the Council’s Kitchen and Bathroom Contractor regarding information about the survey and how to book an appointment.

Bromford Support and Adullam are helping people get back into paid employment, voluntary work or training with a series of jobclub sessions. Specialist professionals will be providing employment and life skills advice, including budgeting, debt management, voluntary opportunities, safety in the home and confidence building, as well as the techniques used in recruitment. The sessions are held at Cannock Fire Station and will take place on the following dates: Wednesday 22nd May 2013 - 1.30pm – 4pm Part 1 - Personal Statements/Completing Applications Part 2 - Volunteering Opportunities Wednesday 19th June - 1.30pm – 4pm Part 1 – Interview Techniques and Mock Interviews Part 2 – Safety in the Home – Fire Service and Victim Support Wednesday 17th July - 1.30pm – 4pm Part 1 – Employers Prospective –Bromford HR Part 2 – What’s on Locally in Your Community? ● For more information, contact Bromford Support on Tel: 01543 496282 or by email:

Eleanor.Box@bromford.co.uk

Tenant Kerry Denny from West Chadsmoor has a lovely new bathroom

LONGFORD COURT by Fred Nellist Never had it so good, living a life of ease, Here at Longford Court doing as we please. Lovely residents, there are eighteen in all, With Lisa attending, at their beck and call. Lisa visits us each morning, easily found, She’s making sure we’re still around. I can’t say she finds us all looking our best, most certainly me, I can’t speak for the rest. If at times you find yourself feeling a bit low, There’s a fortune to be playing bingo. A light lunch, not beyond anyone’s means, And also a dinner or a baked spud and beans. In the lounge events are often taking place, You are kept fully informed, just in case. Fitness classes invite you to shake your hips, 5.30 on Fridays you can have fish and chips. There is always someone to help you about, If you have got a problem, just give a shout. With many amenities to enhance your stay, It’s a most pleasant area along Bideford Way.

Poets’ Corner The Sheltered Housing service is lucky to have resident poets in two of the Council’s residences.

Beatrice White has been enthralling us with her poems since she moved to Grace Moore Court in June 2007. Now, Longford Court resident Fred Nellist has shown his hidden poetic talent, to the delight of tenants and staff. Fred, born in Jarrow on Tyneside in 1928, was a soldier for 25 years, serving in many parts of the world. Always a keen sportsman, later in life he developed a love of painting and poetry. On the front page Fred is pictured being presented with a framed copy of his latest poem by Ian Tennant, the Council’s Head of Housing.

ork on the refurbishment of the Moss Road Estate has just got under way.

Lift-off for Moss Estate

The Council has ordered a complete structural reinstatement of the 63 ‘Reema’ PRC homes on the estate, whose design was found to be defective. When completed, the houses will have an extended lifespan of at least 30 years and will provide modern, comfortable homes for Council tenants. The contract for the job has been awarded to Keepmoat Ltd who will carry out all the repairs needed to the existing concrete structures. On top of that, each home will get external insulation and rendering; new, double glazed pvcu windows; replacement soffits, fascias and gutters; new front and rear entrance doors and frames, plus replacement of roof tiles, battens and felt. In June / July, the contractors will be starting work on the 44 Cornish Houses in the Rowley Close area of Pye Green, where similar defective PRC properties are being made good. All the refurbishments are due to be completed by the end March 2014.

Some of the Reema homes set for refurbishment

Everyone a winner Gas Servicing Draw: October Mr M Bickmore Hednesford Mrs V Shedden Rawnsley November Mr R Dunckley Hednesford Mr J Layland Chadsmoor December Mrs J Bowker Chadsmoor Mrs L Hutchings West Chadsmoor Wordsearch Winner Mrs S Doughaili Cannock Kids Spot the Difference: Corree Osbourne Rugeley Pull Cord Alarm Winner Mrs G Greaves Norton Canes Repairs Questionnaire November Mrs R Hodgkiss Hednesford December Mrs R M Foster Rugeley January Mr B Edge Cannock Estate Walk Winner Mr P Boulton Rumer Hill.

Future is bright for Springfields Residents on Rugeley’s Springfields Estate have noticed big improvements to their quality of life in the last couple of years. It’s thanks to a concerted effort from Cannock Chase Council and Staffordshire Police, to clean up the area - and we don’t just mean litter! The Springfields Community Initiatives are a response to the worries and concerns that residents many of them Council tenants - were having about their estate. For example, in 2010 only 25% of residents said in a survey they felt safe in the area and more than half said the overall appearance of the estate left a lot to be desired. The action plan from the Council and the Police included diversionary activities for local children and young people, with a makeover of Holyoake Place and the creation of a community space. There was also The Big Sweep - a community clean up project for the area as a whole. The result: a survey asking the same questions at the end of last year showed 67% of residents felt safer and

75% felt that the work had improved the appearance of their local area. Other survey results; in 2010, 37% of residents felt they were kept informed about what was happening, so a ‘Springfields Matters’ Facebook page was created and a notice-board put up in Holyoake Place. In 2012, 70% of residents felt more informed.

community garden In 2010, 12% of residents felt that they were able to influence decisions. By encouraging community involvement that figure rose to 53% in 2012. Community participation events have seen the makeover of Holyoake Place, a Halloween Fest, Spring Fest, Dig and Dance and the creation of a community garden. Overall, the project has been so successful, it was shortlisted for a Southern Staffordshire Regeneration Award! The initiative isn’t stopping here and resting on its laurels. A meeting with residents was due this month (April) to discuss future community projects, linking in with the Springfields Residents’ Association.

Youngsters from the Springfields ‘dig in’ to help create the community garden for the estate.

Your free cut-outand-keep Rent Calendar

Could you be A Good Neighbour? Do you have a few hours spare to spend with a neighbour who needs some company or a bit of help around the house?

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Are you someone who needs a bit of help now and again? Or are you both? We all have different skills and abilities, so while someone is helping you, you might be able to help them in return. Staffordshire Good Neighbour Schemes wants to make the introductions and connect people in their communities so that we can all help one another to make Staffordshire a better place to live. For further information on providing help as a volunteer or receiving help as a member please email: staffscircle@carersinformation.org.uk

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A £50 gift voucher

exclusively I L I D O F F A D R for tenants! E R E T U L I P E S

Find these items in the

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WORDSEARCH grid: CORNFLOWER SNOWDROP IRIS NARCISSUS CROCUS HYACINTH PANSY PRIMROSE DAHLIA DAFFODIL LILAC LILY PETUNIA Tiebreaker: GET THESE FROM AMSTERDAM:

_ _ _ _ _ Send entries to: Hometalk Wordsearch The Civic Centre Beecroft Road Cannock

(or hand it in at your local

S N I A R N L W C U O P F S U Y O P A S R O A T U L L I L S M R E N F C L I I I I P M N S H O A L C R F R A A Y O R L R

CContact entre

Emergency Repairs…

All areas outside office hours: Tel: 01543 456816

Repairs Reporting…

All repairs: Tel: 01543 462621 or Online: www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk - ‘Report it’

Housing Enquiries…

P O R D W O N S C A

General enquiries: Tel: 01543 462621

C H T N I C A Y H N

Nuisance Hotline…

Your name .................................................

NUISANCE HOTLINE 01543 462621 now operator answered 24/7

Your address ............................................ ................................ Post Code ............... Tel. ............................ I am aged over 16

Council Office). NB Closing date is: Friday, 31st May. First correct entry drawn (Employees of the Council and their families not eligible to enter) out wins the prize. Housing Services may wish to contact you concerning housing matters. If you do not wish to be contacted, tick this box

Tenants who suspect their electricity meter box may have a fault or is damaged in any way, are urged to report it to the Council as soon as possible - phone 01543 456861.

Benefits Enquiries… Housing and Council Tax Benefits enquiries: 01543 464292

Rent Paymen ts…

Pay by Phone: 0845 2340080 Online: www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk - ‘Pay it’

Council Online…

Cannock Chase Council website: www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Your Cut Out & Keep Rent Calendar

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Opening Hours…

The Council’s Housing Office at the Bungalow in Beecroft Road, Cannock, is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The Local Council Office in Anson Street, Rugeley is open the same times EXCEPT Wednesdays, when it is 9am to 1pm. The One-stop Shop at the Library in Market Street, Hednesford is now open for general inquiries 9am - 5pm (closed 1pm - 2pm). Appointments can also be made.

Writing to us… Cannock Chase Council, Civic Centre, P O Box 28, Beecroft Road, Cannock Staffs. WS11 1BG.

Published by: CANNOCK CHASE COUNCIL HOUSING DIVISION Editorial Consultants: MID STAFFS NEWS AGENCY 01785 823489