Winter 2014 - Kensington and Chelsea TMO
Transcription
Winter 2014 - Kensington and Chelsea TMO
ISSUE k n i L WINTE R 2014 N TON A G N I S OF KEN ISATION S T N E D RESI O RG A N R T O N F E E M N AGAZI NT MANAGE THE M A EA TEN CHELS D 54 WINTER 2014 What’s inside 3 Children’s Forum 4 Ringing endorsement for the TMO Annual Gardens Competition awards 5 6 News from the TMO 8 People and places 10 2013 in pictures 12 Repairs Direct news 13 Residents’ corner 14 From the Council and Your Credit Union 16 Black History Month 17 Noticeboard 18 Performance chart 19 Membership form Front cover picture shows the new residents of Holmefield House. They are (l-r): Margarida Cande; Jorge, Maria and Tamara Perestrelo; and Huda & Mouthana Alsabari. Quickfire with... Board Chair Fay Edwards Looking back over the past year I am very proud of the TMO’s achievements. Repairs Direct was launched to improve the repairs services we receive. This was a very exciting venture and I have received some excellent feedback from you about the service. It’s been up and running for five months, so it’s still early days; but we need to continue to support them and we will hopefully see further improvements. As a result of the Hidden Homes programme three two bedroom flats in Greaves Tower, and three flats in Holmefield House with three bedrooms, have been created. This has meant that a number of people who had been on the Council’s waiting list for a long time, and who needed adaptable homes to suit their special needs, have been given a new home. At the launch of Holmefield House I had the pleasure of meeting some of the families (featured on front cover) and seeing them in their new homes. As you may know, last September we had our general Test of Opinion. I am pleased to report that there was record participation and that 86% voted yes for the TMO to continue looking after our homes. I was overwhelmed to see the support from so many of you. See page 4 for details. 2013 set the bar high for the TMO and the Board. This means that we need to keep striving to achieve bigger and better. I am certain that the TMO will keep moving forward with our continued support. I hope you had a fantastic festive season. I wish everyone a great year ahead! ENT ID ID EA ENT ID • RES 2 ID EA • RES This word cloud is made up of Link articles and gives prominence to words that appear the most! In this issue: We’ve got lots of news and updates to share, but if you’d like to request a specific news item please get in touch! We need photos, stories, and ideas from you! Contact us [email protected] Children’s Forum Mayor attends Board meeting The Children’s Forum welcomed some very special guests to their Board meeting at the Hub in October: the Mayor of Kensington & Chelsea, Councillor Charles Williams, and a former mayor, Councillor James Husband. The children asked many interesting questions, such as whether the Mayor could provide some funding towards the Children’s Forum (well, if you don’t ask you don’t get!). At the end of the meeting the Mayor gave the children a brief history on his mayoral attire and informed them that there are actually two chains – one for visits to Kensington and one for visits to Chelsea. Both chains are over 100 years old. The forum was set up to give young people a voice and an opportunity to engage with their communities. We are now looking into setting up a similar forum in the south of the borough. Fay Edwards (far right) with the Mayor, KCTMO staff and the Children’s Forum Repairs Direct sponsors boxing cup Repairs Direct was one of the sponsors of the 2013 London Mayor’s Cup, an annual boxing match held by The All Stars Boxing Gym last November at Porchester Hall in Bayswater. The match was attended by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and is the highlight of the club’s calendar. Young boxers from all around the Borough took part to compete for the cup, which A report of the meeting by Samy Ikhlef, aged 10, of West Row, New Kensal Town this year was won by Arash Hamardi. The club, which is on the Harrow Road in Kensal Town, is a community institution which teaches young people the skill, discipline and fellowship which is essential in team boxing. It has produced champions on a regional, national and international level and has a growing reputation within the boxing world. The club was founded by Isola Akay MBE and a number of the club’s members are TMO residents. Everine Shand, Sheltered Housing Community Officer at Tavistock Road sheltered scheme in Westbourne Grove, has been a volunteer and committee member at the club for nearly 30 years. She helps organise the Mayor’s Cup. Left: Cup winner Arash Hamardi with Everine Shand, Sheltered Housing Community Officer Right: Boris Johnson, Everine Shand and boxers Children’s Forum If your child would like to get involved with the Children’s Forum activities email [email protected] 3 WINTER 2014 Ringing endorsement for the TMO The TMO received a resounding endorsement last September when 86% residents who voted in the Council’s Test of Opinion poll said that they wanted us to carry on managing their homes on behalf of the Council. There was a record participation in the vote, with 3,420 people taking part. This level of resident participation was a very good reflection on the organisation. Residents were also asked about their overall satisfaction with the service we provide. 75% said they were happy with the service; this contrasts with only 56% in the 2008 survey. It’s our highest ever score. These results reflect all the hard work put in by the TMO, reflecting well on all the improvements we have made since 2008. Thank you very much to all those who took part in the secret ballot, which was carried out online, in polling stations and at the AGM. A summary is available at www.kctmo.org.uk. The Council is required to carry out the Test of Opinion every five years as part of the Modular Management Agreement which we have with them. The poll was managed and supervised on the Council’s behalf by UK Engage. 2,717 non-members voted 83% 703 members voted 95% 3,420 in total voted 86% Percentage Residents’ overall satisfaction Test of Opinion key facts Year Home and neighbourhood questions Participation levels Yes No Are you satisfied with overall quality of your home? 3,420 residents participated 30% turnout 122% higher turnout than 2006 50% non-member tenant turnout (2,200) 24% non-member homeowner turnout (517) 41% overall non-member turnout Are you satisfied with your neighbourhood as a place to live? Is there an event happening in your area? Tell us about it 4 and get published in Link! 020 7605 6346 [email protected] CONGRATULATIONS! to Judith Powell, Jackie Bloomfield and Fatma Sapan on winning a £50 voucher, each in the quarterly new members prize draw. Annual Gardens Competition awards The 33rd Annual Gardens Competition awards took place last October in the Mayor’s Parlour at the Town Hall. There were a high number of entries for the competition, with over 30 gardens vying for the top prizes. There was a wide range of entries, all of which impressed the judges. Some gardeners were entering the competition for the first time, which was very pleasing. The judges were Dominic Davies, Michelle Gage and John Gaffney. They spent July and August visiting all the entries with great interest 1st place, Gardens category Mary Benjamin, Appleford House All the gardeners went to the awards ceremony, taking their friends and families. In addition to the Mayor, they were joined by: Cllr Maighread Condon-Simmonds; TMO Chair Fay Edwards; CE0 Robert Black; all three KCTMO judges; Richard and David Marinas of Chris Edge Treecare; and Stephane Ashworth of Tree Wise Men. It was great to see so many present on the night. This was a fitting testament to the popularity and importance of this much loved competition that is now firmly entrenched in the Borough’s social calendar. 1st place, Balconies/Window Boxes category Jean Littman, Pond House 1st place, Patios category Sue Smith, Holmfield House Gardens Balconies/Window Boxes Patios 1st place Mary Benjamin, Appleford House 1st place Jean Littman, Pond House 1st place Sue Smith, Holmefield House Joint 2nd place Mr & Mrs R Harwood, St Mark’s Road, Olive Ling, St Mark’s Road Regagholi Sokhamvari, 540/542 King’s Road 2nd place Fay Edwards, Manchester Drive Joint 2nd place Kassad & Etimed Goma, Chelsea Manor Court Josephine Malate, Gadsden House 3rd place Forouz Tehrani, Bramley House The Mayor with winners and runners up Our mission To deliver excellent housing services through resident-led management. 5 WINTER 2014 News from the TMO Community centres survey We are reviewing the usage of community rooms and club rooms on all our estates, to make sure they provide as many benefits as possible to residents. All the community centres and club rooms are listed below. We want to hear from you if you currently use one of these, what additional activities you would like to see and what issues we should be aware of. If you don’t use them, this is just as important as we’d like to know why not. Cover story Hidden Homes at Holmefield House Three new family homes have been created at Holmefield House (pictured) from an underused ground floor area on the estate in Kensal New Town. These are the first council homes to be built in the Borough since the 1980s. Work on the new flats started in April 2013 and was completed in November. They were officially opened by the Mayor on 6 December. Part of the surroundings are now being renovated by the Landscape & Environment Section, to encourage all the residents to use them. The properties have been specifically designed for residents with disabilities. They meet the Lifetime Homes Standard, meaning that they are suitable for all residents and can be adapted again in the future if necessary. We worked closely with the Council’s Housing Needs team and the Occupational Therapist team. The Hidden Homes initiative aims to create homes by making better use of underused areas. RBKC and the TMO are working together to identify more spaces for hidden homes and create more much needed affordable housing. Property condition surveys We’re currently undertaking property condition surveys across the Borough. This is part of our long term planning to look at both the external and internal condition of properties and blocks, and to keep our information up to date. It will also assist in the identification of properties for possible future improvement works and better inform our future investment programmes. Residents will be consulted and advised well in advance if any programmed works are proposed to their home. For more information please contact Resident Liaison Officer Lorna Cunningham on 020 8964 6071 or email [email protected] To do this please go online at www.kctmo.org.uk and click the ‘Have your say – consultations’ option and then click ‘take a survey’. To complete it should only take a few minutes. The survey closes on 15 February 2014. Alternatively, if you would prefer to complete a paper survey, we can send you one with a reply paid envelope (so you don’t have to pay for postage). If you would like a paper survey, or have further questions, please contact Nick Rendle, Project Manager, on 020 7605 6467 or email [email protected] Each response will be confidential, but we will use the overall findings as a basis for discussion at public meetings; these will be held over the next few months and we hope to see you there. If you already completed the survey in late 2013, then thank you. Your feedback will help us plan the project in more detail. You don’t need to complete the survey again, but please do contact Nick Rendle if you want to discuss the project in more detail. Community centres and club rooms are on the following estates: • Convent • Silchester West • Edenham Way • Sir Thomas More • Henry Dickens Court • Swinbrook • Kensal House • Talbot House • Kensal New Town • Trellick Tower • Lancaster West • Treverton • Manchester Drive • West Row • Pond House • Wiltshire Close • Portobello Court • World’s End Have you got ideas to share? Tell us about it and get 6 published in Link! [email protected] You can sign up for Direct Debit or pay your rent or service charges online at our website www.kctmo.org.uk New kitchen and bathrooms for World’s End and Cremorne estates As part of our ongoing estate improvement programme, we’re starting to put in new kitchens and bathrooms on the World’s End and Cremorne estates. Following detailed surveys which told us exactly which flats needed an upgrade (200 properties in World’s End and 100 in Cremorne), we held drop-in meetings last August. Residents chose their preferred colour schemes and met members of the programme team. The work is being carried out by Apollo, who now have an office on Blantyre Walk. A monthly newsletter keeps residents up to date with progress and provides other informaton too. One of the first beneficiaries has been the Under 5s facility, which has a new kitchen provided free of charge by Apollo. Apollo started in October and will finish at the end of March. Each week sees Apollo starting work on 25 flats, each of which takes 15 days to finish. New neighbourhood officers for the North We have made some changes to the Housing Management structure in the North. The main change is that each area now has a new neighbourhood officer; rent income officers and estate service assistants remain the same. The change has been made as part of our ongoing policy to provide our teams with new opportunities and variety. Each officer has a great deal of valuable experience and this will be used to good benefit in their new role. Should you have any queries or would like to meet your new neighbourhood officer, please contact the Customer Services Centre on 0800 137 111 or join your next estate inspection (see noticeboards for dates). Setting new standards We are working with the Council on a new strategy that which will define the work we will carry out to ensure that your home meets modern standards. Called the Asset Management Strategy, it will define our approach to the prioritisation and delivery of works to homes including: • health and safety • roofs and windows • kitchens and bathrooms • environmental improvements to blocks and estates. It will also detail our approach to planned maintenance works such as the regular external repair and redecoration of blocks. Residents will play an active role in the development of the strategy and its ongoing monitoring. If you would be interested in being involved, please contact John Borra, Performance and Compliance Manager, on 020 8964 6083 or email [email protected] Feedback loop If you have any feedback on Link, or news you’d like to share, please forward it to [email protected] 7 WINTER 2014 People and places Meet Lisa Wilkinson Resident Engagement Panel Chair Lisa Wilkinson is a very active member of the TMO community. She has been voicing her valuable thoughts, suggestions and ideas to the TMO for many years. Link went to meet her. How did you get involved with What skills do you need to get the Resident Engagement Panel? involved? How long have you been involved with the TMO? I’ve sat on several TMO committees over the years and became involved with re-establishing the panel about three years ago. I’ve been involved for about eight years, starting with my own residents’ association, Clydesdale House off the Portobello Road (our building is famous for its annual Christmas lights display). I recognised that the association was a really important way to resolve issues in the area. The first chair was Mike Doolan, who was instrumental in revitalising it. When he stepped down in 2012 I was voted in as Chair, being re-elected last October. Is there anything you would like to say to residents about getting involved with the TMO? As we are a tenant management organisation, the more tenants are engaged and provide feedback the better services become for us. An important mechanism for resident involvement is the Resident Engagement Panel. Any TMO resident can be involved and we’d love to have anyone who’s interested on board. Being the Chair does involve some work, but it’s not as scary or intimidating as you might think. You don’t need to have particular skills, as the TMO gives support and offers free training. People may also think it will take up a lot of time, but that’s not true. I manage to participate in these groups in addition to my work as a community gardener and my studies. The more people that get involved, the less work there is all round. It’s our community, so I feel it’s important that I engage with it and encourage others to. I would love to see others get involved – with over 30,000 people living in the Council’s properties, we must always have a strong voice. Some of the things we have achieved have included: building a community hut for meetings in; redesigning the front entrance of the building; getting window boxes installed and generally helping tenants who have difficulty with resolving issues around repairs etc. We also make regular site visits with the Neighbourhood Management team. SPID Theatre Company There are lots of opportunities for becoming involved and having a say. Coming to the panel’s meetings is a good way to find out about groups such as the Residents’ Communications Reading Group, the Asset & Regeneration Engagement Panel and Repairs Direct Service Users Panel. SPID is the award winning theatre company based on the Kensal House Estate. It specialises in putting on performances on council estates. Panel members can participate as much or as little as they want; but the more residents are involved the better represented all residents are. Anyone aged 8-25 is welcome at its FREE weekly workshops and community hub activities: Tuesdays 4.45-6.15 pm: Far Far Away – workshops for 8-13 year olds Wednesdays 7.30-8.30 pm: Gong Fu – martial arts classes for 15-25 year olds Thursdays 12.00-2.00 pm: Yoga for 15-25 year olds Saturdays 12.00-5.00 pm: Kensal Voices – workshops for 13-25 year olds If someone is not sure about getting involved, they can come along as an observer for a while and then join the panel and/or other groups when they feel ready. On Twitter? 8 Its style has been called ‘wraparound theatre’ or ‘living film’, and appeals especially to young audiences and to those who would not otherwise go to the theatre. It teams up young residents with professional writers, directors, illustrators, film makers, dancers, singers, actors and many more to create new and exciting shows. @SPIDTheatre SPID Theatre Company Follow us and get the latest updates @kctmo If you would like to find out if there is a resident association in your area, or to get help setting one up contact us 0800 137 111 [email protected] A tribute to the legendary Juanita Carberry Juanita Carberry was a resident who played a walk-on part in one of the 20th century’s greatest scandals and who, for the last 20 years of her life, lived in Brunel House on the Cremorne Estate in Chelsea. An active supporter of the TMO, she died last July aged 88. In 1941 the philandering 22nd Earl of Erroll, a prominent figure in the louche Happy Valley set in Kenya that inspired the Hollywood film White Mischief (1987), was murdered. She maintained that (although she was just a 15-year-old schoolgirl at the time of the killing) the chief suspect in Erroll’s murder, Sir Jock Delves Broughton, had confessed his guilt to her shortly after the murder. Sir Jock’s wife, Diana, was Erroll’s mistress and friend of Juanita’s stepmother. Juanita was the daughter of the 10th Lord Carberry of Castle Freke. She was born on 7 May 1925 in Nairobi, and grew up on her father’s coffee farm during the Happy Valley era. The Happy Valley set was largely a group of infamous self-indulgent British and Anglo-Irish aristocrats and adventurers who settled in the Central Province of Kenya between the 1920s and the 1940s. In 1946 Juanita became one of only a handful of women to join the Merchant Navy. She was a captain’s steward in the cargo ships Langley Scot and Langley Clyde and on various Norwegian cargo vessels. Afterwards she became active in animal welfare in Kenya, finally settling in Mombasa from where she ran photographic safaris in the 1960s. Juanita often told her friends how bored she was with people’s incessant interest in the unpleasant aristocrats of her childhood. Another film told these Juanita in her Cremorne events from Juanita’s point Estate home of view: ‘The Happy Valley’, was produced by the BBC in 1987 (with Holly Aird as Juanita). She co-authored a memoir, Child of Happy Valley (1991). In later life Juanita moved to London and to Brunel House in 1992. Neighbourhood Officer Glen McAllister went her memorial service. Glen said: “There was no funeral because, as unconventional as she was, she donated her body for exhibition by the controversial anatomist and showman Gunther von Hagens. her body was flown to China for the treatment.” SPID In a personal emergency, always call 999 for assistance. You should call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. You should call 101 to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response. 9 WINTER 2014 2013 in pictures 2013 was yet another successful year, with several landmark achievements. Here’s a reminder o March y ar u n a J Tile painting family day Senior Citizens’ Annual Party December Sept emb er New homes at Holmefi New homes at Greaves Tower er emb t p e S Cllr Rock Feilding-Mellen, Cabinet Member for Housing, Property and Regeneration 10 Are you proud of your neighbourhood? Send us your thoughts about what it’s like to live in Kensington and Chelsea! [email protected] Repairs Direct launch: Ian Will Gawlowski, Antonia Lee-Wi Home work Please contact the TMO before starting any works at your home 0800 137 111, 020 3617 7080 of some of the highlights. April Map Out your Future roadshow KCTMO Chair Fay Edwards with Cllr Timothy Coleridge, Cabinet Member for Planning Policy, Transport and the Arts July (l-r) The former Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr. & Mrs Buckmaster, former Deputy Mayoress, Cllr Lady Borwick and KCTMO CEO Robert Black at the first Map Out your Future roadshow in April r Resident association chairs’ social event Septem ber field House Residents’ Conference ls, Selina Saddul, Gabriel ilmot and Peter Doway Subletting If you have information regarding tenancy fraud, you can speak to us in confidence 0800 137 111, 020 3617 7080 11 WINTER 2014 Repairs Direct news Repairs Direct Service User Panel member Eman Yosry I have been a Kensington and Chelsea tenant for 29 years and have worked for a charitable trust in the area for 16 years. I chaired the Silchester Residents’ Association 1998-2009 and now chair the North Kensington Area Review Board. I am widely involved in community affairs. Like many people, I’m excited that KCTMO has set up its own repairs service. I became a member of the Repairs Direct Service User Panel at the very start; it was set up so we the residents can have a greater say in the service Repairs Direct provides. Currently 15 residents from across the Borough are on the panel and I am proud to be one of them. The panel reviews all Repairs Direct performance data, discussing it at each meeting. I am confident that Repairs Direct will continue to deliver an excellent service. Letters to Repairs Direct Just a note to say what an excellent plumber we had from Repairs Direct. He conscientiously inspected pipework through my building with a sophisticated camera and identified the roof leak this morning. He then brought in equipment to repair the roof leak damage in my bathroom. Thank you for the excellent work Repair Direct’s operative performed in renewing the two UPVC door lock on the amenity hut pitch 18. He performed a task I was told that it had to be referred to a specialist company. His action shows what can be accomplished when the will is there to perform at one’s best. Satisfaction figures Since the launch of Repairs Direct in September staff have been carrying out customer satisfaction surveys on completed jobs, contacting as many residents as possible. The average satisfaction rate up to the end of December was 95.7%, which was above target. Full details are here: Performance indicator September OctoberNovember December Looking after your home Customer satisfaction 12 Tell us about activities you are involved in [email protected] 96.86% 95.2% 95.7% 95.2% Do you have feedback about the new company so far? [email protected] Residents’ corner Many congratulations to Soledad Bautista of Trellick Tower, who won a £30 cash prize for completing and returning the resident satisfaction questionnaire; this was about the completion of a lift refurbishment project at the tower. The prize was kindly sponsored by the Contractor Liftec. Your views and feedback are important to us to assist in informing and influencing the service. Comments/feedback received through this process will be noted and wherever possible acted upon. Other lucky questionnaire winners are: Giorgio Chiodi, Tavistock Road, W11 Cyclical decorations Steven Pretty, Verity Close, W11 Window replacement Madeleine Le Rasle, Danvers Street, SW3 Cyclical Decorations and Repairs Our feathered friends need help by John Mendes A happy customer writes... few in Chelsea. A ld’s End Estate or W e that I th ld on to e s and I liv ve a look. I wa ula Evangelides to my flat to ha er d lat un th ro My name is Pa on e m m a ca r te ors I was sent a let group of survey y amazement months ago a m to d an en a fitted kitch may be getting r a re-fit. for s on the list fo wa I at th to be prepared saying rking days and wo 15 at the ely at at th im ke approx with the hope re-fit would ta myself for this, ed ar ep pr I was told the I ay yw d disruption. An . mess, noise an e y dream kitchen m ve ha d ul me to my hous end of it I wo his computer ca together designer with t sa en e ch W kit . a en en surprised wh out of the kitch look. I was extremely in the actual lay my kitchen to uld have a say wo I at r how I wanted th fo s ed ea id y m h and explain ug ro th nt on time, and actually we cians) turned up for 30 minutes rkmen (electri wo of ipped p ou wh d gr an e first d professional nished when th re so polite an we ey Well, I was asto Th g. in rk ck, to start wo pertise. bang on 8 o’clo ecision and ex chen pr th wi b jo eir t up, and the kit through th were being pu es til e th , d ed an , fitter had arriv s, no mistakes it, the kitchen no fuss, no mes me, and Before I knew essional outfit, of pr a tle disruption to t lit ha th W wi d. b, te jo ra nt co lle de ce g ex each in s was be rkforce did an ter themselve y thoroughly af rmative. The wo all re up y tid to extremely info the time − even taking worked so hard e my I can really utilis night. ct on my life, as pa im now an tic is It as nt e. fa ac a re a massive sp chen is having kit we e it th if of as n ea sig ar w in The de e around the t of my time no riately and mov ally spend a lo op tu pr ac I ap . s en sil ch en ut nd my kit re hanging arou e paper. absolute pleasu and reading th e ffe co g in lax re a g yin jo en e ther work. up the superb Apollo - keep to on illi m a Thanks es Paula Evangelid Spare a thought to our feathered friends flocking to bird tables and gardens feeders. Birds are really going to struggle to find food in the winter and they are likely to seek refuge in our gardens. Keep feeding the hungry birds to get them through the cold months to come, as their natural sources of food are scarce at this time of the year. Give them pieces of overripe apples, grated cheese, cooked rice and, of course, bird seeds to feast on. But no bread for the birds. It is vital in the months ahead to provide adequate food and shelter. Planting your gardens with thick shrubs to create a bird-friendly habitat will help. Also, provide fresh water for drinking and bathing so they can wash their plumage to maintain insulation. We can stop an area of water from freezing over by floating a ping-pong ball on the surface. Robins, tits, finches and other birds can survive the severe winter with just a little help from us. The chirpy birds will reward you by eating pests next year and by the antics of their behaviour and colours. The RSPB has a very useful website: www.rspb.org.uk On Twitter? Follow us and get the latest updates @kctmo 13 WINTER 2014 From the council A new type of tenancy All new tenants now have fixed term tenancy for five years, or in some cases two years. At the end of the fixed term, the household’s circumstances are reviewed and if they still need the accommodation, their tenancy can be renewed. Community kitchen gardens The government introduced the Localism Act in 2011. This Act gave local authorities the right to grant flexible fixed term tenancies, allowing the Borough to do this. Several TMO estates now have community kitchen gardens, where residents are growing their own fresh fruit and vegetables (for free!). This new policy will not affect existing secure council tenants, even if they transfer to another council tenancy in the future. If you are interested in creating one for your estate, or know where a new community kitchen garden could be planted, please contact Terry Oliver, Environment Manager, on 020 7341 5684 or email [email protected] In order to use this new type of tenancy, a tenancy policy has to be published and a new tenancy agreement is required for fixed term tenants. If you would like to read the tenancy policy it can be viewed on the Council’s website www.rbkc.gov.uk If you have any questions you would like to ask contact your neighbourhood officer on 0800 137 111. Mutual exchange drop-in sessions • Are you worried about changes to your benefits? • Would you like to understand mutual exchange better? • Do you want a smaller property? World’s End Mutual exchange has become the most suitable housing option that residents should consider if you are affected by: the welfare benefit changes; overcrowding; or would like to move to a smaller property. The Borough now has a new website devoted to its mutual exchange scheme. This scheme gives residents more say in promoting their properties; for instance, you can create an update adverts, add photographs and chat with other people looking to swap homes. You can see the new site at: rbkc.exchangelocata.org.uk The Council is holding regular drop-in sessions, providing help and guidance, on the 10th and 25th of each month (if those dates are a weekday). Details are: Time Location Office Morning (9.30 - 1pm) North Unit A, 292 Kensal Road London W10 5BE Afternoon (2.30 - 4.30pm) South Blantyre Street London SW10 0DS ANSWERING YOUR CALLS 14 Swinbrook Between July and September our customer service centre received 19,955 calls and answered on average within 24 seconds. On average We re-let empty properties in 19.3 days between July and September Greener Living Guide Greener Living Guide OUT NOW ! Your Credit Union lends first £100,000 Your Credit Union (YCU), which is based in Kensington, has now lent its first £100,000 to members of the local community. With 240 active members, YCU is seeing its membership increase by 30 or more people every month; it is lending on average over £40,000 per month. Membership is open to anybody who lives, works, volunteers or studies in Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea; the boroughs of Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham; Queen’s Park and Kensal Rise in Brent; and Queenstown and St Mary Park in Wandsworth. Affordable credit plays an important part of the work of YCU for those unable to access borrowing facilities at reasonable rates or at all. The Council has just published a handy, practical guide to green living. The Greener Living Guide, which has been produced as a one-stop resource for the borough’s residents, is available online at www.rbkc.gov.uk/greenerliving Printed copies are available at all borough libraries, TMO offices or by special request (see below for further details). The guide will provide you with no-cost and low-cost measures to: • Save energy and water, and reduce your bills • Learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy options for your home • Choose environmentally sound materials • Reduce your household waste • Improve your health, as unhealthy activities are often carbon intensive • Improve your garden and enhance biodiversity, plus much, much more. The guide has been developed for the Royal Borough, so all advice is tailored specifically to Kensington and Chelsea residents. If you’d like to request a copy, or for further details on how the Council is combating climate change, email [email protected] If you need to report anti-social behaviour please call our customer service team on 0800 137 111, 020 3617 7080 New members are able to join, apply for a loan and receive the amount within 48 hours. Loans are available from £50 to £7,500 and are repayable between six and 60 months. The credit union holds a drop in session every Friday at the KCTMO offices in Blantyre House, World’s End estate, 12 noon–3pm. Any TMO resident is welcome to drop by to have a chat, join, open a savings account or apply for a loan. The process is quick and simple. For more information, you can call them on 020 7605 6341. You can also join online at www.yourcu.co.uk 15 WINTER 2014 Celebrating with Black History Month with Lord Ouseley TMO CEO Robert Black with Lord Ouesley With Mercy Acquah, Customer Service Adviser With Rudi and Aisha Braithwaite, former TMO Board members, Fay Edwards and Roy Sawh Every year we celebrate October’s Black History Month, recognising the cultural diversity in our organisation and the diverse community we serve. The Black History Month theme for 2013 was ‘I have a dream’, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s legendary Washington DC speech ‘I have a dream’. We organised a special event at our Hub office, at which the 16 Having problems paying your rent? Call to speak with a welfare reform officer 0800 137 111, 020 3617 7080 With Fay Edwards and Roy Sawh, civil rights campaigner Janet Edwards, TMO Resident Engagement Manager, with Roy Sawh guest of honour was Lord Ouseley of Peckham Rye. He is the Chairperson of Kick It Out, the internationally acclaimed campaign to make football free from discrimination and abuse and to be more inclusive of people of all backgrounds. He gave an inspirational speech. Our Chair Fay Edwards and Vice Chair Mary Benjamin also came along to the event and inspired our staff by sharing their thoughts. You can now register for the TMO online service on www.kctmo.org.uk Noticeboard The next roadshow will be held 10am-4pm on Saturday 22 February at the Harrow Club, 187 Freston Road, London W10 6TH. Are you interested in improving tour neighbourhood? Then why not become a Resident Block or Street Champion? Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) wants to create a neighbourhood that looks and feels better and that are greener and safer. To do this we need residents who care about the environment they live in to work closely with us. Your role will be to participlate in estate inspections, report issues such as cleaning, grounds maintenance, communal repairs and enviro-crime (graffiti, abandoned vehicles and bulk refuse). In return we will give you free training and any out of pocket expense for travel. Plan the best route to your new career Getting anywhere is much easier when you have a map; work and training is no different. KCTMO has partnered with local agencies and businesses to help our residents who need career advice and support. Next stop: KCTMO road shows for your personal map into employment and training…see over for more details. If you are interested please contact the Resident Engagement team on 0208 964 6060 or by email getonboard.kctmo.org.uk • Refreshments • Supervised‘Funzone’forchildrenbetween5and11years,limitedplaces TMO Online Service • • You can now access your accounts, make a payment, raise a repair online, anytime. • • • • It’s completely secure Register for access • You can view your accounts 24/7 Pay service charges or major works online View up to the last 24 months service charge and/or major works accounts Check recent payments to your account Raise a repair online Receive special messages related to your account or property Visit our website www.kctmo.org.uk for more information www.kctmo.org.uk Become a member for free! Contact us for your membership pack or download one online 0800 137 111 kctmo.org.uk 17 WINTER 2014 Performance chart Performance indicator *Repairs Emergency repairs completed within 24 hrs Urgent jobs completed within five days Routine jobs completed within 20 days Gas servicing Properties with valid landlord’s gas safety certificate Customer services Calls answered Average call waiting time (seconds) Residents’ complaints responded to within target Empty properties Average time taken to re-let empty properties Rent collection Collection (excluding arrears) brought forward Grounds maintenance Estates passing estate inspection standards KEY: Target met How we did last year 2012/13 Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Target 2013/14 96.0% 90.8% 91.1% 97.5% 94.2% 94.7% - 98.0% 98.0% 97.0% 99.9% 99.8% 99.5% 100% 83337 24 83.6% 19141 26 100.0% 19955 24 96.6% <=40 secs 90.0% 22.65 20.9 19.3 <=24 days 100.3% 99.71% 100.24% 99.57% 96.9% 96.9% 96.4% >=95% Near to target Traffic light N/A Off target * Year to date. We will be reporting on repairs in the next edition. Stay safe this winter with some tips from the NHS Keep warm • • • • • • Make sure you keep warm Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block out draughts Have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible Wear several layers of warm clothes (rather than one chunky layer) Wrap up if you need to go outside on cold days Keep active - stand up and move about at least once an hour Stay safe in icy conditions Snow and ice can make roads very slippery, and it is best to avoid long car journeys. If you really need to go outside: • Wear shoes with good grip • Try to stay on well used pavements or roads that have been gritted • Walk slowly and concentrate on where you are going Is this true in your neighbourhood? We’re working 18 hard to improve our services - tell us about your experience! [email protected] Our performance information is updated monthly on our website. If you’d like to keep track of our progress, visit us online! I would like to become a member MEMBERSHIP PAGE Please print all details in this box in BLOCK CAPITALS Mr Mrs Miss Ms Other Address First name(s) Surname Postcode Tel no Email Please tick if we can contact you by email How did you hear about signing up to become a member? Would you like more information about opportunities to be involved with us? Yes No I confirm that I am over 18 years old and the named tenant, leaseholder or freeholder of a property owned by RBKC and managed by the TMO. Please enter my name on the register of members of the organisation. Signature Date In the event that the company stops trading while I am a member (or within one year of my ceasing to be a member) I will contribute to the assets of the company a sum not exceeding £1 for payment of the liabilities of the organisation. It would be helpful to have some information for our records. This will be protected by the Data Protection Act. We will not share this information with anyone (unless we are required to under law). Date of birth Gender: Male Female (please tick) How would you describe your ethnic group? (please tick one box) White: British Irish Mixed: White & Caribbean Asian or Asian British: Black or Black British: Other White & Black African Indian Pakistani Caribbean Chinese or other ethnic group: Bangladeshi African Chinese White & Asian Other Other Other Other Do you consider that you have a disability? Yes No If yes, please give details Please tell us your first language PLEASE SUPPLY WITH BLEED When you have completed this form please return it to any member of KCTMO staff or post it to: The Company Secretary, Kensington & Chelsea TMO FREEPOST RLYX-BE2B-CLYB, Unit A, 292 Kensal Road, London, W10 5BE TMO USE ONLY Verified eligible by ______________________ Occupancy ___________ Date ____/____/________ Membership no ____________________ Date entered ____/____/________ Occupancy Key: Tenant = T Leaseholder = LH Non-Resident Leaseholder = LT K k N n I i L Did you know you can access our website for free at the Network Hub reception? CONTACT US 0800 137 111, 020 3617 7080 Kensington & Chelsea TMO, Unit A, 292 Kensal Road, London W10 5BE www.kctmo.org.uk • RES EA ENT ID ID ID EA • RES Finished reading me? Recycle me! Residents told us they wanted to see contact details for our services as well as advice of where to use our website for free! We include a translated statement on the Link to ensure it is accessible to all residents in the borough. We arrange translators for those who do not speak English, and sign post to local English classes. 100% RECYCLABLE YOUR LOCAL HOUSING OFFICES Network Hub Unit A, 292 Kensal Road London W10 5BE Open weekdays 9am-5pm World’s End Estate Office Blantyre Street London SW10 0DS Open weekdays 9am-5pm Lancaster West Estate Office, Grenfell Tower London W11 1TQ Open Monday to Thursday 8.30am-4.30pm and Friday 8.30am-1pm ENT ID