WINTER EDITION
ISSUE NO.1
YOUR FIRST EDITION! MEET THE MANAGERS
Get to know the Assistant Director and your estate manager
QUICK FIX?
How to easily prevent some common repairs
HOUSING REVIEW from...
LIAM GILLESPIE
Welcome to the first edition of @home, the new magazine for City of London tenants and leaseholders.
Head of Housing Management
We are constantly trying to improve the way we communicate with residents, and we decided to review how useful the old quarterly estate newsletters were. We sought feedback from residents and staff, and it was clear that we needed to change our approach.
This is a time of change for the City of London and the Housing Service is no different. Residents will have seen many major works projects going on around them to improve individual homes and the estates. Last year, we spent £6.67 million on major works projects, with many more still to happen in the year to come, including window replacements and important fire safety improvements such as new fire doors and sprinkler systems in tower blocks.
The result is this twice-yearly magazine, which will have a Summer and a Winter edition. We are moving away from the hyper-local approach to bring you one publication for all our estates, though there will still be articles about what is going on around our estates and local communities.
Other projects are going on quietly in the background to improve the services we provide to residents and make them more accessible. For instance, we are improving the ways in which residents can contact us, for example by making parking applications online or automated payments for
parking. This may take some time to complete but work is already underway. We are also introducing new standards for cleaning and grounds maintenance on your estates, which will be used to carry out regular inspections to check how we are performing. The results of these inspections will be published to residents and we will report on our performance regularly. We have an article on pages 10-11 updating you on the work done on the Estate Services project to date. I hope you enjoy the first edition of this magazine. If you have any comments on it, or have any suggestions for you’d like to see in future editions, please contact home@cityoflondon.gov.uk
CONTENTS An interview with Paul Murtagh
3
Word on the Estates
4
Meet the Managers
5
Resident Interview
6
Focus on our communities - events for older people
7
“Steve Says” - Advice on some of your most common repairs issues
8-9
Estate Services
10-11
Anti-Litter Campaign
12
Upcoming Events
13
Resident Recipes & Games Page
14-15
Meet the new Assistant Director for Housing & Barbican Find out what work our Projects Team have planned for your estate in 19/20 Do you know your estate managers? Find out a bit more about who they are We sit down with long term Isleden House resident Dolly Wren We look back at the events that took place for our older residents in 2019 How to keep your property in top condition in winter
Find out about this new project, set to improve cleaning and gardening on our estates What’s been happening on York Way & Holloway Estates to banish pesky litter Events taking place on our estates over the next six months, plus funding opportunities Celisa Gomes’ delicious coconut and lime cake
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An interview with...
PAUL MURTAGH Assistant Director of Barbican Estate & Property Services
At 17, Ella Ashton is our youngest apprentice. She joined the City in November 2018, the month Paul moved into his new position of Assistant Director of Housing & Barbican. Ella is often overheard saying she’s after the top job, so we had her sit down with Paul to interview him about his new role and his time with the City. I’m 17 and at the beginning of my career, can you tell me about your career and how you got to Assistant Director for Housing & Barbican? My career started way back in 1980, I left school with A levels and intended to spend 3-4 months fishing. My mum wouldn’t have this, saw a job being advertised in Liverpool and put in an application for me. I came back from fishing one day and she told me I had an interview. This is exactly how it happened. I got a job in the maintenance team and spent eight years working in Liverpool. This was during the time of the riots, it was a frightening and humbling experience In 1989 I moved to Stevenage Council, to a new team dealing with maintenance and refurbishment. During that time, I completed an honours degree in Building Surveying, becoming a Chartered Surveyor. For some odd reason, my next move was to a private company. Ironically, I worked in private housing carrying out maintenance improvement works for social housing, so I was still involved in social housing. It didn’t really fit, I believed I was better suited for public sector. So, I was back to social housing at North Hertfordshire Homes as Assistant Director, then Director. After 12 years I was ready for a change when I saw a job advertised at the City of London. Since 1989 when I first moved down south, I had hardly been to London at all. I was slightly nervous, but the job looked interesting. I was appointed Assistant Director of Barbican and Property Services at the City of London and have been here since January 2016. Next year, it’ll be 40 years that I’ve worked in social housing, so somehow or another, I’ve never done anything other than social housing. What is your favourite part of the job? My favourite part of the job is working with the City Corporation and being surround by such diverse people, especially the residents. Not one day in the City is the same. Just when you think you have seen and heard everything, something else happens, I enjoy the challenges. My role is split between managing the private Barbican Estate (dealing with actors, politicians etc) and the social side of our housing stock with 13 estates spread across London. Although my heart still lies within social housing, it’s more of a variety and mixture now. What are your biggest challenges in your new role? My biggest challenges can be the residents - they are very challenging and quite rightly so in many ways, because they pay for the services we deliver. Also, the politics in terms of dealing with the Members and being able to manage their expectations. I suppose another frustration is that there are many policies, processes and procedures that need to be understood, followed and adhered to. In my previous Directorships I had more freedom and fewer
protocols to follow. The other challenge is the location of the City itself; this can be problematic when procuring services. Because of our location, we pay a premium and I find it hard that, sometimes, we pay more for the services that I’m used to in my previous roles. Compared to previous roles that you’ve had within housing, what do you think is different for City residents? As mentioned previously, expectations are high and totally different in relation to timescales and delivery of projects, but that isn’t a bad thing. We face many challenges to get things done, whilst striving for value for money for our residents where costs are concerned. There has been a lack of investment by the City over the last 10/12 years, which we are now putting right and we have a busy programme of works to ensure that all estates are being left in a good condition. Being young and still living in the family home, my future housing options are a concern. What do you think the future of housing will be for the younger generation? This is a real problem and I think that everybody recognises there’s a serious shortage of properties for younger people. More and more young people like yourself are tending to stay at home for longer. I left home at the age of 18 with a family. That’s more difficult to do nowadays. The government’s target to build over 3000 more houses in the next 4-5 years is never going to catch up with demand and for younger people, it’s a real issue. I think we need to have more commitment towards this. We’ve been trying for the last three years and have been failing. I think the target number needs to be increased significantly, simply because there is more demand. And for young people, like yourself, saving money to buy a home is a real challenge. Unfortunately, I think this issue will only get tougher. I see you working in your office and rushing to meetings, but this is only your working side, how do you relax? I love golf - love my golf!! However, I don’t play half as much as I used to, I just don’t have the time. As much as the game is frustrating, getting out on the golf course and just trying to take my mind off things is a good way to relax. Sport, for me, has always been a good way to let off steam, even from a very young age and always at a pretty high level. Looking back, with your many years of wisdom, what advice would you now give the 17-year-old Paul Murtagh? I must be honest, at 17 I didn’t really have a clue about what I wanted to do. At the time I was still at school doing my A levels. I really didn’t give too much thought about what I wanted to do. My advice would be don’t be afraid to do the unorthodox!
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WORD ON THE ESTATES Our Projects Team’s programme of works for 2019/20
AVONDALE
rman Close • New fire doors at Ha communal of • Electrical testing services rvey with a • Internal lighting su view to replacement
COMPLETE:
hting around • Replaced street lig the estate ct - 97% • Decent Homes Proje tio Customer Satisfac n ment at • Significant refurbish Harman Close
GOLDEN LANE
ade • Cullum Welch balustr replacement • Window replacement n sig procurement of de team w • Procurement of a ne em st sy district heating for Crescent House and Cullum Welch the • Electrical testing of communal services
COL & Gresham Almshouses Refurbishment work to most properties, including new kitchens and bathrooms, window replacements, roof and structure repairs
HOLLOWAY New windows to be tendered and installed
YORK W AY ESTATE
Work to st the new art on District Heating system
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DRON HOUSE • New door entry system to be renewed • New roof installed • New windows to be tendered and installed
MIDDLESEX STREET • Six lifts to be fully upgraded
• A new communal heating system • Replacement of the electrical system for common areas • New lighting in the car parks • New lighting in the common areas • New balcony doors and windows in Petticoat Tower • New stairwell panels in Petticoat Tower
SOUTHWARK New windows to be tendered and installed
r Majo s Work es t Upda
AM
SYDENH HILL
ows to New wind and red be tende installed
WILLIAM BLAKE
oor entry • New d stalled system in ted of comple o r w e N • recently ws to be • Windo and tendered installed
MEET THE MANAGERS MARIE RENE I am the Estate Manager at Avondale Square Estate, having joined the City of London earlier this year. I enjoy the variety here, it’s a busy office and no two days are the same. I love the interaction with residents and hopefully I’m having a positive impact on the estate. Probably the biggest challenge is change management. Some staff and residents have firm views of how things have always been done, so it can be challenging for us to work through the change process in a collaborative manner.
MICHELLE WARMAN I am the Estate Manager for Golden Lane Estate and have worked for the City of London for over six years. In that time I have managed three other estates. I was granted Freedom of the City in June 2018, an achievement I am proud of because I was nominated by my team and supported by Members. I enjoy the variety my job brings, each day there are new priorities and those can change by the minute. One of the biggest challenges is unauthorised filming and photography on the estate, as the estate is Grade II listed and this appears to be an attraction, it is difficult to manage access for such use.
JACQUELINE WHITMORE
I manage a team of three staff, who run the sheltered housing estates in the City’s housing provision and the City of London & Gresham Almshouses. There is an endless variety of issues to deal with in working with our older community. There are never two days the same, some with rewards and some with challenges mainly in relation to getting the appropriate support for the residents who are failing in physical and mental health. As a team we have our share of fun with residents organising events, especially something special at Christmas when some are alone. I have been known to cook Christmas dinner for them, as well as fish pie on Good Friday, they all enjoy a home cooked meal!
LAURENCE JONES
I am the Estate Manager for the Middlesex Street Estate, Spitalfields, Dron House and Windsor House. I have over 13 years housing management experience with the City of London. Estate management is extremely varied, and no two days are the same. The diverse nature of the work allows me to be creative in finding solutions to issues which are thrown up. As society and the community have changed, so too has housing management. It has now become a challenging but rewarding environment in which to work. I love that the focus of my work has moved away from just being the guardian of property and that it now takes in the expectations and the needs of the community.
PHILIP FORD
I am the Estate Manager for our Southbank and Sydenham Hill Estates. One of the (many) things I love about my job is signing up new tenants to their first settled home. Having worked across different tenures in the past, as well as homelessness and temporary accommodation, being able to be part of that really important step in someone’s life can really make your week! One of the biggest challenges for the estates I manage is probably that they are geographically spread, as opposed to a large traditional estate. This can prove challenging, ensuring that time between the team and myself is split fairly so our residents receive the best service possible.
ABIOLA ASHIRU
I’ve been with the City of London for nearly a year. Initially I was based at the Avondale Square Estate in Southwark, but since March I’ve been managing York Way and Holloway Estates. Without a doubt the element of my job I enjoy the most is seeing the smile on tenants’ faces when I hand keys over to their new home. I know they will have been on the waiting list for several years and getting the key to their new home signifies a new start for many people. The biggest challenge I face is keeping all residents happy, I do try my best. I’m fortunate I have a great team working with me to support our tenants and keep our estates looking nice.
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We sat down with Dolly Wren MBE , one of our longest serving residents at Iselden House
AN INTERVIEW WITH A RESIDENT “Isleden House was built in 1948 by the Trustees of the London Parochial Charities. In 1953 the Trustees conveyed the property to the City of London. The estate is centered around a quiet, private courtyard and gardens. It comprises 12 bungalows and 60 flats, 32 of these properties are managed as Sheltered accommodation.”
You have been a resident at Isleden House since September 1948! I’m curious to know what Isleden House was like back then? It was very different. For starters, we only paid £1.75 per week, can you imagine? There was a matron in full uniform, and a nurse. Meals were prepared and everything was pretty much done for you if you were in the sheltered scheme. When we moved to Isleden House, it wasn’t yet part of the City of London Corporation, we were living a couple of roads away in Islington. My mother-inlaw had tuberculosis, so we managed to get housed at Isleden House relatively quickly, but we still spent years on the waiting list before Isleden House was offered. Our new flat here had everything built in; a fridge, ironingboard, even a clock – it was wonderful. Can you tell me what the application process was like? Oh, it was pretty strict, they wanted to inspect your current home, I mean they wouldn’t house you if you had poor hygiene and if they thought you couldn’t keep the place clean. You were interviewed and had your finances checked, to make sure you could afford it. If you passed muster, they would still come and inspect your Isleden property regularly, checking for dust and dirt and that you’re not banging nails in the walls. What is your favourite thing about living here, and what are your fondest memories? I feel very safe here. I’ve never been in fear of anything. The rare occasion there has been any bother, it’s been dealt with very quickly. My fondest memory has got to be the Jubilee Party – that was special.
We pulled out all the stops and had a wonderful community party. Also, getting my MBE for services to my community has been very special... oh, and a helicopter landed outside the gardens, some of my family thought the Queen had sent it to pick me up, what with getting an MBE! Are there any community events held on your estate and do you get involved? We don’t have as many events as we used to, as not that many residents are getting involved. I do run the regular bingo club in the hall - I call the numbers; we do have a lot of fun. We have trips too; we went to Hayling Island recently which was lovely. I also cook for some of my neighbours who need a bit of assistance. I enjoy doing it; it’s what you do when people need help. You live in sheltered housing; how do you find it and what kind of support do you receive? I love living here. The girls in the office do a wonderful job, it does seem though that these days it is all desk based computer work and less about the face to face – I miss that. Sheltered residents have to call the Repairs Desk to report issues. We have to press all kinds of numbers to get through to the right place, then we get information spoken too fast and we are often kept waiting. We need an easier way. Just because we are pensioners, doesn’t mean we haven’t got anything better to do with our time! We hear a lot about social isolation in London, have you experienced this at Isleden House? Is there a good sense of community? Thankfully I haven’t experienced social isolation. But I always put myself forward
to get involved and I have family and friends that visit. I do see some residents who don’t participate, I don’t know if they get visitors, I do worry they may be lonely. If you could ask the Assistant Director for one change on your estate, what would it be? Bring back the original Christmas hampers. I’m not asking for a Turkey! On the way in, we noticed some outdoor gym equipment has been installed Have you used it at all? What are your thoughts on it? I used it a lot at first, but since my shoulder operation I haven’t been able to. Some residents use the equipment, but perhaps not as much as when it was first installed. I still think it is good to have; my neighbour is having his hip replaced soon, and using the equipment will be excellent physiotherapy - and right on his doorstep. Is there anything more, in terms of housing services, support and community that you would like us to be doing? There is a lot of waste. We’ve had scaffolding up for seven weeks for roof works, but they don’t even need the scaffolding! It would be nice to have a handyman who could do the little jobs we can no longer do for ourselves. I wouldn’t move from here, not even if I won the lottery. All elderly people should be in a place like this. And finally, do you have some words of wisdom you would like to share with everyone? Talk to people. Come out from your door. Walk around your estate and build your community.
We’d like to feature interviews with a variety of residents, to get your perspective on life in your community. If you would like to be interviewed for a future issue, please contact us by emailing home@cityoflondon.gov.uk
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FOCUS ON OUR COMMUNITIES Events for older people - 2019 in review
Isleden House
Harman Close (on Avondale Square Estate)
City of London & Gresham Almshouses
The City has three sheltered housing schemes across three boroughs providing 131 homes for older residents.
In February we enjoyed a joint Valentines fish and chip lunch at Isleden House with guests from Harman Close and the Almshouses
During the summer we appreciated warm days in the garden watching our neighbours grow vegetables and fruits for us to enjoy
We had a day trip to Brighton, relished the fresh sea air, had a paddle in the sea and a seafood lunch
We held regular stay and play sessions with a local children’s group, pretending to be young again, enjoying a story and a pretend cuppa
In October we held a Halloween quiz night where we enjoyed darts, a pint or three, and a buffet of Spooktacular food
In December, each estate will have a festive lunch or party, important to residents who enjoy spending a special day together
If you are over 66 years old and interested in moving into sheltered accommodation we have two schemes: Isleden House in Islington and Harman Close in Southwark. All properties are self-contained so you would maintain your privacy but there is a scheme manager on site during office hours to offer support if needed. If you are a City of London tenant currently living in a two bedroom property or larger you may also be eligible for a shift payment for downsizing. If you are interested in the City of London Almshouses in Lambeth, similar age criteria apply but in addition your annual income must be lower than ÂŁ17,000. You can see some information about our housing for older people on: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/housing/older-people-housing
For more information on our sheltered housing schemes, please contact the Housing Needs Team on hadvice@cityoflondon.gov.uk
or
0207 332 1237 / 1654 / 3452
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“STEVE SAYS” Top tips from Steve Spooner, Property Services Team Manager, to help prevent problems in your home. You might even save some money on your energy bills!
1
Be careful what you put down the kitchen sink - avoid putting fat down the sink wherever possible. If the fat can be solidified (e.g. butter) let it cool and dispose of it in the bin. If you need to dispose of liquid fat, run the hot tap for approximately three minutes before disposing.
2
If you find water not coming out of your taps, don’t walk away leaving them open. Always turn them off in case the water comes back on when you’re out of the property. This will help prevent the risk of flooding.
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Use hair guards on hand basins and sinks. This will prevent hair and foodstuffs from blocking sinks. They can be bought for £2-£3 from most hardware shops.
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If you haven’t already done so, switch to LED energy saving bulbs. These bulbs last longer than traditional filament bulb and also require less energy – resulting in reduced energy bills.
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Once a week, boil a full kettle of water and pour down the sink, followed by approximately a third of a bottle of standard bleach. Finish by pouring another kettle of hot water in the sink. The process can be repeated for bathroom sink and bath. The hot water softens the ‘crust’, the bleach attacks & loosens it, and the final rinse washes the debris away. There are some more environmentally friendly alternatives to using bleach in your home, these include vinegar, lemons and tea tree oil. More information here: https://bit.ly/2Nt6Yh3 Out of hours hotline should be used for emergencies only What is an emergency repair? An emergency repair is any fault which threatens harm to persons or property. Only genuine emergencies will be dealt with out of hours. If an emergency call-out is not a genuine emergency, the costs incurred can be charged to you. If the contractor can not gain access to a property the resident can be charged for no-access. When an emergency repair is reported we aim to have a contractor at your property within 24 hours (with some repairs being made safe within 4 hours).
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0800 035 0003 24 hours a day, 7 days a week All faults can be reported between 8am - 5pm Out of hours emergency repairs can be reported between 5pm - 8am For gas repair, please press option two and you will be passed onto TSG Building Services
In our next issue, we will feature advice on fire safety at home. In the meantime, you can request a home fire safety visit from the London Fire Brigade. The visit takes a maximum of 90 minutes- and aims to make you safer, any day, any time. www.london-fire.gov.uk/ safety/the-home/
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The idea that it’s cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. The Energy Saving Trust says having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money. Getting the right temperature in your home is key to having the right level of warmth for the minimum use of fuel, whether that be oil, gas or electricity. What’s right for you will depend on your lifestyle and your family. It will be different for a single pensioner who spends most winter evenings in one room versus a family with children who may need the heating on in more rooms. As a rule of thumb, it makes sense to have less heat in corridors and hallways, and to have bedrooms at a lower temperature than living rooms. Try edging the thermostat in each room down a little at a time until you find the room temperature you want.
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In cold snaps it’s tempting to turn the thermostat up. However, it’s not the overall temperature of the system that’s the problem. It’s that it takes longer for the house to warm up because it’s starting at a lower temperature. So the best thing to do is adjust the programmer to put the heating on a bit earlier.
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If there has been a recent freeze or snow, check the boiler flue outlet for blockages. Also the plastic condenser pipe outside could be frozen.
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If you’re going away for more than a few days over the festive season or during the cold months, make sure the heating is set to come on automatically twice a day, with the thermostat set to approximately 14 degrees centigrade. This will help prevent frozen and burst pipes whilst you are away.
Useful links: Citizens Advice - Help paying your energy bills: https://bit.ly/2qx64He Toynbee Hall - City Advice: https://bit.ly/2WTJ7Kk
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ESTATE SERVICES So, what are ‘Estate Services’? Well it’s simple really. Estate Services is the collective term for the services tasked with the maintenance of our estates with particular focus on the cleanliness and appearance of communal parts. As you can imagine this is important to our staff and our residents, so we want to make sure we maximising the work done to ensure our estates are the best they can possibly be inside and out.
Pilot figures
40
Inspections carried out between June & September 2019
The review found the standard of City estates to be good in general, with areas mostly clean and tidy, with little anti-social behaviour. However, current practices were found to be dated and inconsistent. Estates were not inspected as thoroughly and often as anticipated. Therefore, standards were not being recorded and evidenced. Resources were not always being used effectively. Inspections were carried out using paper, an inefficient method for record keeping in the digital age. The conclusion was that something needed to be done to resolve these issues and improve the standards
Background
In 2018, the City of London Housing Division commissioned HouseMark to carry out a review of its housing Estate Services. HouseMark is one of the UK housing sector’s largest membership organisations, providing solutions and opportunities to drive performance improvements. The review focused on cleaning and grounds maintenance carried out on estates and identified current standards. These were then benchmarked against those of other social housing providers. The review also looked at practices used to help maintain high standards. By looking closely at these comparisons, we hoped to highlight any areas in need of improvement.
81% Pilot figures
10
Average Estate inspection score
Pilot figures
52 mins
What we’ve done
Average inspection time
First, we needed to establish an appropriate set of standards for our estates to work towards. The standards needed to clear, easy to use and provide greater consistency across all areas. With the help of HouseMark and with information gathered from other social housing providers, we produced a new set of standards, specifically designed for our estates. The standards use clear visual aids and descriptions, accompanied by a grading system. These assist estate staff to understand the expectation for each area and provides the inspector with the tools to carry out a fair assessment. A new digital auditing system was introduced making it easier to fulfil the
In April 2019, Greg Nott was recruited to manage the new Estate Services project. In the 12 years he has been with the City he has worked his way up through the ranks, taking on a variety of roles and responsibilities. Starting out as a porter cleaner, Greg moved up to Estate Officer working on a number of the City’s estates, before becoming the first Estate Officer to be promoted into Housing Management. This varied background has provided Greg with invaluable experience in the delivery of housing services on our estates and has made him particularly well suited to the task of delivering results in the Estate Services Project. Here he gives some background to the scope of Estate Services and reports on some findings from the pilot phase. Avondale Square Estate
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reports that can be followed up on effectively, and creating workflows for greater efficiency.
Communal repairs identified
Our aims
As we move forward with the new processes, we hope to provide further transparency for residents by publishing up to date information on how the estates are performing and using the data collected to make further improvements where necessary. We will also be able to closely monitor any health and safety concerns that have been identified and look for patterns that could help us to prevent reoccurring issues in the future.
Pilot figures
requirements of our new standards. Staff are now able to carry out mobile inspections without a scrap of paper. The system uses our new set of standards to grade the elements throughout the estate and gives the inspector the ability to evidence their findings as they go along, taking images, notes and creating actions. These can then be filtered through to the estate staff to resolve the issue, potentially before the inspection has concluded. A report is created once the inspection is finished, and this is saved to a central location for analysis. Any actions raised can be monitored to ensure they are carried out to completion. These automated procedures Excellent Good help the whole process become more effective and efficient for everyone involved. A pilot of the new regime has been ongoing for a few months, with a selection of officers Below Standard Unacceptable carrying out inspections across a variety of estates. We have been using this time to carefully work with the system and ensure that the inspectors are not only comfortable Feedback from staff and Members has with using it, but also making sure the system been positive and it is expected that we will is working the way anticipated, producing continue to show improvements in standards across our estates as we roll the system out Hazards to cover all the City’s social housing estates.
Grades A- 49% B- 44% C- 6%
Pilot figures
25
identified and actioned
D- 1%
If you have any enquiries or general comments regarding the Estate Services, please feel free to contact the team by email: EstateServices@cityoflondon.gov.uk
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ANTI-LITTER POSTER COMPETITION HOW LONG DOES LITTER TAKE TO DECOMPOSE?
6MONTHS 2YEARS 10-20 YEARS
50YEARS 80-100 YEARS
450YEARS
Andrew Rasbery, (Porter /Gardener on York Way Estate), doing his daily rounds on the estate, noticed a problem with cigarette ends and general litter. Andrew felt that this had a negative impact on the general appearance of the estate for residents and visitors. Using his own initiative, Andrew set up an antilitter poster competition, open to 4-12-year olds living on York Way and Holloway estates. Andrew’s intention was to make younger residents aware of the litter and to remind and motivate parents and other adults to dispose of their litter in a responsible way. Getting young people to take an interest in the appearance of the estate was hoped to have a positive impact, showing that they are listened to and that their actions matter. The idea was well received by residents young and old. The winning entry was submitted by Zianne, who is pictured with her winning poster and the two runners up. The poster is now on display in several locations on the York Way and Holloway Estates. Andrew hopes that seeing the winning poster on display will make all residents and visitors to the estate more mindful of disposing of litter appropriately. Andrew’s amazing work has not gone unrecognised, with him winning a City of London staff ‘Rising Star’ award. Congratulations to him.
NEVER
Inspired by Andrew and the government’s Keep It, Bin It campaign, we’re going to roll out the competition across all our estates. The Keep it, Bin it campaign calls for an end to rubbish excuses for littering and encourages people to responsibly dispose of their litter. The campaign has a clear call to action: if there’s not a bin, keep your rubbish and then bin it when there is one. This is one of the largest government-led anti-littering campaigns to date, run in conjunction with the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. Littering is often an unconscious act. The best campaigns make people stop and think. So, can you design a winning poster that can be displayed on your estate? The competition is open to any resident under 12. The winning entries will be displayed on local estates.
Submit your entries to us! Either take a photo and email it to us at home@cityoflondon.gov.uk or drop it in to your Estate Office
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in Winter DEC Aldgate Aldgate Square
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FROM 4PM
Aldgate Lantern Parade and Winter Fair is back for the third year with a community celebration of performance, art, food and drink.
Running your own event? Get it featured in our next edition! We would love to publicise events happening at all our estates. To have it included, contact us at home@cityoflondon.gov.uk
We have also recently started distrubuting a monthly e-newsletter detailing upcoming events in and around the City. If you would like to be featured or sign up to receive this, please contact the Community Engagement Team at community.engagement@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Interested in running your own event? We can help! We can offer Estate Community Event Support (ECES) to any residents or local communnity groups who are interested in running events. Financial support is avaliable in the form of small grants, and we can also help with planning and delivery. We would like to come to your event in order to engage with residents and promote local services. To be eligible to apply for grant funding, your community event will need to meet one of the following criteria: • Develop stronger neighbourhoods and communities • Promote community health and wellbeing • Improve social isolation For more information, please contact community.engagement@cityoflondon.gov.uk or call 020 7332 3224 Application forms for small grants will be available in your local estate office or you can request one via the email above. The Community Engagement team are rolling out a new toolkit that will guide you through running your own event from start to finish. It includes everything you need to know about putting on an event from risk assessments to food safety. The toolkit also includes helpful resources and templates to enhance the planning of your event. Contact us at community.engagement@cityoflondon.gov.uk to find out more.
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GAMES PAGE Untitled
Would you like to learn more about how to keep your child safe online? The Digital Parenting magazine covers a range of topics; from cyber bullying and parental controls to gaming and peer pressure. Keeping Safe Online www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/digital-parenting
Down 1. Home heat source 3. Westminister’s bell 4. A one-level house 5. Soon to be a new tube line 7. “Let it... Let it... Let it...” 9. London Underground
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1.H Home heatHsource E N Y O L Z M A N D O W L 3. bell N W E R D Q H X U E WWestminister's X L O O 4. A A one-level V R Mhouse R F Z A S C R S A Y S 5. Soon to be a new tube line R S A E K O W A Y E K O L M C 7. "Let it... Let it... Let it..." K H I S L E D E N I X H N V M 9. London Underground O M G O L D E N L Z D O H S X
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FIND: DRON Find theWORDS followingTO words in the puzzle. Words are hidden and . ALMSHOUSES GOLDEN AVONDALE
ALMSHOUSES CITY AVONDALE COMMUNITY CITY COMMUNITY DRON
HOLLOWAY
GOLDEN HOME HOLLOWAY ISLEDEN HOME ISLEDEN MIDDLESEX
MIDDLESEX SOUTHWARK SYDENHAM SOUTHWARK WINDSOR SYDENHAM YORK WINDSOR YORK
Resident Recipes
COCONUT & LIME CAKE Ingredients Cake:
175g (6oz) unsalted butter, softened 175g (6oz) self-raising flour 3 large eggs, beaten 300g (10oz condensed milk 55g (2oz) dessicated coconut finely grated zest and juice of one lime 1tsp baking powder pinch of salt
Icing:
90g (3oz) condensed milk grated zest and juice of half a lime
Method 1. Preheat the oven to 170°C, or 150°C for fan ovens, Gas Mark 3. 2. Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment. 3. Place all the cake ingredients together in a large mixing bowl or food processor, beat until pale and smooth. Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and cover the top with a strip of baking parchment to ensure the cake does not get too brown whilst cooking. 4. Bake for 55-65 minutes until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake. 5. Whilst the cake is cooling, make your icing. Combine the lime juice and condensed milk and mix thoroughly. When the cake is fully cooled, pipe the glaze on top, you will need to pipe as it will be too thick to drizzle! 6. Finally sprinkle the lime zest on top to garnish!
A recipe from... Celisa Gomes
I work on Golden Lane Estate as a Customer Service Officer. I started baking a few years back and I enjoy it so much that I now bake for my colleagues 2 or 3 times a week! I hope you try out my recipe! If you would like to see your favourite recipe featured in a future edition, please email home@cityoflondon.gov.uk
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Holloway Estate 020 7607 3207
Isleden House
Windsor House
020 7226 2892
020 7247 4839
Dron House 020 7247 4839
KEY CONTACTS York Way 020 7607 3119
Golden Lane
REPAIRS SERVICE DESK
Middlesex Street 020 7247 4839
0800 035 0003
Horace Jones
020 7253 2556
020 7620 3702
William Blake
Southwark
Sydenham Hill
Avondale Square
020 7620 3702
020 7620 3702
020 8693 0632
020 7237 3753
Barbican Estate Office
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
020 7029 3958 3 Lauderdale Place, Barbican Estate, EC2Y 8EN
Repairs
Homelessness 020 7332 1804
Universal Credit
0800 035 0003
0800 328 9344
020 7332 3937 (and ask for the Rents team)
020 7392 2919
Home Ownership
City of London Council Tax
020 7332 1647 / 3208
020 7332 1884
020 7332 1237 / 3452
0800 316 9800
020 7332 3937 (and ask for the Benefits team)
0870 608 1524
Rents
Housing Needs Benefits
City Advice
Thames Water Gas - National Grid
