Geoff
02-04-2004, 15:57
From 1 April a new organisation, Sheffield Homes, will manage Sheffield's council houses. Sheffield Homes will also be responsible for delivering the multimillion pound investment programme to bring all these homes up to the government's Decent Homes Standard. Sheffield Homes is a non-profit making company, owned and set up by the Council. The Council will continue to own Council houses.
There are two reasons why Sheffield Homes has been set up: firstly to provide an organisation dedicated to providing high quality homes and services and secondly to access extra money from the government for major improvement works to Council houses. So far Sheffield has successfully bid for £145million over the next six years for just two of the ten housing areas. Another bid has been submitted for three more areas and an announcement of further funding is expected in the next few weeks.
Sheffield Homes Board of Directors has fifteen members, seven of whom are tenants, elected by their fellow tenants. There are five independent board members and three Council representatives. As well as the Board of Directors there will be local boards in those areas where tenants vote in favour of an Arms Length Management Organisation (see notes to editors). These local boards will also have tenant members and will have responsibility for local tenant participation, local investment, service planning, and performance monitoring.
Tony Crook, Chair of Sheffield Homes said: "I am delighted to have been asked by the City Council to become the first Chair of Sheffield Homes. The board has been acting as a shadow board in the run up to 1 April and the staff have been working hard to prepare for the transfer of responsibilities. We have a big challenge but also a big opportunity. April 1 will be a momentous day for us all as it will represent the start of a new beginning for Sheffield's council housing."
Councillor Chris Weldon, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: "We look forward to working closely with Sheffield Homes to provide the best possible service to tenants in Sheffield. Tenants can look forward to more investment than ever before in their homes and neighbourhoods. Our partnership working will help to create successful, sustainable neighbourhoods. "
Sheffield Homes will be responsible for a wide range of services including all those provided at local area housing offices. It will order repairs and manage the repairs service, keep estates clean and tidy, collect rent and manage arrears, let vacant properties, and enforce tenancy conditions. The new organisation will continue with the service improvements begun by the Council, for example, dealing with enquiries more quickly and offering more choice to tenants when they apply for properties or pay their rent. To be able to start spending the extra government money Sheffield Homes will be inspected in November to see if the housing service should keep the 'good' 2* rating given in 2002.
What won't change on 1 April are tenants' rights, housing staff, the management of benefits, or day-to-day repairs. Rent levels will be set as they are now, to an agreed government formula and tenants will still have the right to buy their home. Kier Sheffield will continue to carry out day-to-day repairs. The same staff will still be working in the same Area Housing Offices, with the exception of Chapeltown which has a brand new office.
There are two reasons why Sheffield Homes has been set up: firstly to provide an organisation dedicated to providing high quality homes and services and secondly to access extra money from the government for major improvement works to Council houses. So far Sheffield has successfully bid for £145million over the next six years for just two of the ten housing areas. Another bid has been submitted for three more areas and an announcement of further funding is expected in the next few weeks.
Sheffield Homes Board of Directors has fifteen members, seven of whom are tenants, elected by their fellow tenants. There are five independent board members and three Council representatives. As well as the Board of Directors there will be local boards in those areas where tenants vote in favour of an Arms Length Management Organisation (see notes to editors). These local boards will also have tenant members and will have responsibility for local tenant participation, local investment, service planning, and performance monitoring.
Tony Crook, Chair of Sheffield Homes said: "I am delighted to have been asked by the City Council to become the first Chair of Sheffield Homes. The board has been acting as a shadow board in the run up to 1 April and the staff have been working hard to prepare for the transfer of responsibilities. We have a big challenge but also a big opportunity. April 1 will be a momentous day for us all as it will represent the start of a new beginning for Sheffield's council housing."
Councillor Chris Weldon, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: "We look forward to working closely with Sheffield Homes to provide the best possible service to tenants in Sheffield. Tenants can look forward to more investment than ever before in their homes and neighbourhoods. Our partnership working will help to create successful, sustainable neighbourhoods. "
Sheffield Homes will be responsible for a wide range of services including all those provided at local area housing offices. It will order repairs and manage the repairs service, keep estates clean and tidy, collect rent and manage arrears, let vacant properties, and enforce tenancy conditions. The new organisation will continue with the service improvements begun by the Council, for example, dealing with enquiries more quickly and offering more choice to tenants when they apply for properties or pay their rent. To be able to start spending the extra government money Sheffield Homes will be inspected in November to see if the housing service should keep the 'good' 2* rating given in 2002.
What won't change on 1 April are tenants' rights, housing staff, the management of benefits, or day-to-day repairs. Rent levels will be set as they are now, to an agreed government formula and tenants will still have the right to buy their home. Kier Sheffield will continue to carry out day-to-day repairs. The same staff will still be working in the same Area Housing Offices, with the exception of Chapeltown which has a brand new office.