Open Door

Bite size bitsBored?Do you want to learn new employability skills? Do you want to improve the housing service you receive? If you have some spare time on your hands, then please get in touch with us. There are many ways in which you can get involved. Contact Emma Meldrum our Independent Tenant Participation Officer on 01786 237 661.

Crisis food bank If you have some spare time, even if it is just one morning or evening per month, perhaps you would like to work with the Start Up organisation by helping out at their crisis food bank? The centre has been set up to help those suffering in this current economic climate and for whom buying food is becoming a luxury. If you are interested please contact Start Up on 07527476360 or mail@startupstirling.org.uk

Stirling Council January 2015

This edition• the rent proposal 2015

• fantastic feedback from Care Inspectors

Welcome to the first edition of Open Door 2015 All at Stirling Council wish you a happy New Year

Registered Social Landlords are required by law to consult with their tenants regarding potential rent increase. Landlords also have to take the opinions of their tenants into consideration when altering rent levels.

You will receive a separate letter shortly after getting this edition of the Open Door (unless you are on our tenants panel as you will have received your survey mid November 2014) This letter will provide you with more information on the proposals. A short questionnaire will also be included. It is REALLY IMPORTANT that you tell us what you think.

There are different ways to complete this form, face to face and over the telephone. If you are interested in these options then please call George McArthur or Maureen Whitelaw on 0845 277 7000. You can also complete the survey on line at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/rent1516.

In February 2015, the Councillors will make the final decision regarding the rent increase, so it is essential that you take part in this consultation. Your responses do matter. So please have your say and complete the survey when it lands through your door by the 31st of January 2015.

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Rent Proposal 2015/2016The Council has agreed to set rents each year based on known cost pressures and to aim to increase them by no more than infl ation over the next fi ve years.

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) faces a cost increase of £328,000 for 2015/2016, due mainly to infl ationary increases in materials, employee costs and fuel.

■ Employee costs – pay infl ation of 1.5% increments; additional pension costs equalling £91,000

■ Repairs – infl ation on materials, employee costs and fuel at a cost of £183,000

■ Increase in property insurance costs equalling £10,000

■ Loss of rent and other costs associated with changes to tenancies at a cost of £44,000.

A rent rise of 1.2% (equal to infl ation) will produce an increase in revenue of £364, 000 which will enable the service to meet increased costs and add £36,000 to our reserve balance.

It has been recognised that Stirling has one of lowest levels of reserves in Scotland and we have been advised to increase the value of it. This reserve will be used for example, to carry out additional contingency repairs in the event of extreme weather. Between 2009 and 2011 two such events resulted in almost £1 million in unplanned repairs.

Rent increaseA 1.2% rent rise will mean that the “average rent” will increase by an average of 73 pence from £62.62 in 2014/2015 to £63.35 in 2015/2016 (see table below).

Figures in BLACK are current chargesFigures in GREEN are proposed new rent charges for 2015/16Figures in ( ) correspond to current stock levels

Flat in Close / Maisonette 1 bed (515) 2 bed (657) 3 bed (134) 4 bed(2) 5 bed(0)2014/15

2015/16

£63.29

£64.08

£64.81

£65.60

£66.32

£67.13

£67.83

£68.65Own Door Flat 1 bed (309) 2 bed (396) 3 bed (193) 4 bed (67) 5 bed (0)2014/15

2015/16

£64.50

£65.30

£66.04

£66.85

£67.60

£68.41

£69.12

£69.96Bungalow/Semi/End 1 bed (310) 2 bed (756) 3 bed (954) 4 bed (167) 5 bed (4)2014/15

2015/16

£67.79

£68.65

£69.47

£70.29

£71.07

£71.92

£72.65

£73.56

£74.29

£75.19Mid Terraced 1 bed (8) 2 bed (455) 3 bed (459) 4 bed (21) 5 bed (1)2014/15

2015/16

£66.30

£67.13

£67.92

£68.73

£69.50

£70.33

£71.07

£71.92

£72.59

£73.52

Detached 1 bed (0) 2 bed (0) 3 bed (2) 4 bed (0) 5 bed (0)2014/15

2015/16

£72.62

£73.49

£74.29

£75.18

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Excellent Care Inspectorate Report for HousingOur Housing Support service has been awarded an excellent from the Care Inspectorate report. The service gained the highest possible grade, 6, in the categories “Quality of Care and Support” and “Quality of Management and Leadership”. The service’s “Quality of Staffi ng” was awarded a grade 5.The Housing Support service was inspected over four days, from 20-24th August 2014. Inspectors spoke to staff and tenants, as well as visiting housing participation events, to make the assessment.

Inspectors found that the service “worked hard to engage with tenants and offered a variety of ways to ensure that tenants can be involved in assessing and improving the quality of the service … at a level which is comfortable to them… Staff demonstrated a strong commitment to service users and used a holistic approach to best meet their needs.” The service provided was found to be of a very high standard, with only one suggestion for improvement.

The Housing Support Service helps people maintain their council houses and live independently in the community. The service works with other agencies and council teams, such as Social Care, to make sure that people get the right housing support. It includes Sheltered Housing, Homeless Services, gypsy travellers and vulnerable tenants. The Housing Service also funds Loretto, to provide an independent housing support service to young people in the Stirling area.

Stirling Council’s Housing Portfolio Holder, Cllr Violet Weir, said “This is a fantastic report. Well done to all the offi cers involved.”

If you want to see the full report it is available on the Council’s website (need to check link) and the Care Inspectorate’s website https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=care+inspectorate+2014+jpg&hl=en-GB&gbv=2&um=1&tbm=isch&tab=wi&oq=&gs_l=xxx )

You can also contact the Quality and Performance Team for a copy at email: housingperformance@stirling.gov.uk or telephone 01786 237692.

This is a fantastic report. Well done to all the offi cers involved.

Cllr Violet Weir, Stirling Council’s

Housing portfolio holder

You can also contact the Quality and Performance Team for a copy at

Excellent

Good

Fair

Contact Points

Housing Rent Arrears 0845 277 7000

Homelessness UnitSpringkerse House 01786 237 900

Repairs ServiceHeating Servicing & Repairs 0800 027 5888

Housing AllocationsAllocations 01786 237 670

Out of HoursContact Centre 0845 277 7000

Independent Housing AdviceShelter 0808 800 4444

Citizens Advice Bureau 01786 470239

Independent Money Advice Team (New) 01786 233 520

Customer First 01786 442000

Prod

uced

by

Stirl

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Coun

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Dec

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Housing Drop in sessionsOur Independent Tenant Participation Offi cer Emma has set up drop in sessions so that you can come and tell her about how the Housing Service can improve.

Monday 11-1pm Springkerse House,5 Springkerse Road, Stirling

Monday 2-4pm Fallin Local Housing Offi ce,Stirling Road, Fallin

Tuesday( every 2nd) starting 6th of January 2015 11-1.45pm Information Station, Corn Exchange Rd

Friday 12-2pm Ochil Centre, Raploch

If you cannot get to these drop in sessions, then please contact Emma Meldrum on 01786 237 661 or email meldrume@stirling.gov.uk

Help us to help you

If you need help or this information supplied in an alternative format please call 0845 277 7000.

Did you receive good service? Do you have a good news story to tell us?We’d love to hear about it, so please call or e-mail today: 01786 237 661 or meldrume@stirling.gov.uk