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Hello from your Local Influence Network (LIN) Chair
Hello, my name is Richard, I live in Newark and have been a tenant since 2003. I represent the Newark area as one of the Tenant Representative Chairs.
Like the other Tenant Chairs, I meet regularly with tenants at our Community Link Groups (see below for more details), where the District Council Housing Team and our Councillors are available to discuss issues that affect us as tenants. I am here to support and represent my fellow tenants on matters such as repairs, anti-social behaviour, and other important issues people talk to me about.
Welcome to the third issue of Tenant Times which I hope you find interesting and useful, please let the Tenant Engagement Team know if there is something you would like to see in future editions at getinvolved@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk or call 01636 650000.
I hope to see you at our future Tenant Engagement events.
Thank you,
Richard
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Keeping your home warm
As we head into the cooler months, we know how important it is for everyone to make sure their home is warm and comfortable. We thought it might be useful to share some of our top tips!
- Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block draughts,
- Keep your main living room at around 18 - 21 degrees and the rest of your house at least 16 degrees,
- Turn on your heating to check your radiators and boiler are working as they should,
- Check your thermostat – have you set it to suit your needs – sometimes it can be more efficient to set your heating to come on before you get up and to switch off when you go to bed.
There is lots of information, support and advice on keeping your warm home on our website: making your home warmer.
It is also important that if you have an issue or a repair in your home that you contact us as soon as possible to report it. You can talk to us by calling 01636 650 000 and pressing the option for housing or use our online form: Report a repair.
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Half term cookery sessions!
Do you have little ones who are interesting in learning how to cook? Why not join our half term Chop and Chat sessions!
Learn how to cook some delicious recipes and share dinner together. All ingredients and equipment are provided.
Taking place on:
- Monday 21 October – Rookwood Community Centre, Blidworth. 12pm - 1pm for ages 2-7 and 1.30pm - 3pm for ages 8 and over.
- Tuesday 22 October – Ambleside Community Centre, Ollerton, 10am - 11.30am for ages 8 and over.
- Wednesday 23 October – Beaumont Walk Community Centre, Newark, 10am - 11.30am for ages 8 and over and 12.30pm - 1.30pm for ages 2-7.
- Thursday 24 October – Cleveland Square Community Centre, Newark, 3.30pm - 5 for ages 8 and over.
Places are limited so book now to avoid missing out! Email wellbeing@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk to book your space. Please let us know of any food allergies at the time of booking.
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Universal Credit Migration
The DWP has been contacting people who are claiming working-age benefits to move them across to Universal Credit. This is often referred to as ‘Universal Credit migration’.
While we have no involvement in the migration process as this is managed by the DWP, moving to Universal Credit will have an impact on how you pay your rent.
Moving to Universal Credit will stop the direct payment of Housing Benefit to your rent account so arrangements will need to be made to pay your rent from your Universal Credit. Please contact us on 01636 650 000 to discuss further.
If you are concerned about paying your rent across to us we might be able to request that Universal Credit pays us directly. Again, please contact us on 01636 650 000 to discuss.
For further information on benefits and other help and advice available please visit https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/heretohelp/
If the migration to Universal Credit does not apply to you or you have already made arrangements to deal with this change, please disregard the above.
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Tenant engagement survey results
Thank you to all that took part in the Tenant engagement survey this summer, we had a total of 614 responses and had 4 winners for our £50 competition!
From the survey, you told us what is important to you:
- Having a home that is safe and warm
- Repairs and maintenance
- Being able to raise local issues
- Knowing your rights
- Building safety
- Decarbonisation
- Local events in the community
- Having influence
- Building new homes
We will use them to prioritise work to improve services – we will keep you updated here!
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Community Link Groups
Our Community Link Groups are a friendly, informal way to raise issues that are important to you and are specific to your area! They take place at locations across the district and are run by the local Tenancy Officer and a tenant representative.
You can find out when your next local Community Link Group is here: Community Link Group dates.
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Know your rights as tenants
Do you know what your rights are as a tenant? Check out Four Million Homes which provides you with free knowledge, guidance and training on your rights and how to stand up for them, on a wide range of issues such as repairs and maintenance, anti-social behaviour, dealing with poor service by your landlord and much more. Visit the Four Million Homes website.
There is also information about tenants’ rights and what our responsibilities are to you on our website: Your home, your tenancy.
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Community Chest - open to applications at the end of September
Have you heard about the Community Chest scheme? Community Chest grants are announced twice a year and are specifically there to help communities like yours.
The scheme gives grants of up to £1,000 and has funded projects as varied as providing tenants with gardening tools to allow them to grow their own vegetables and providing a lockable cupboard so a community group’s equipment and supplies can be left securely.
Keep an eye out on our website and social media for more information or ask your Tenancy Officer for more details!
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Hygiene banks
Everyone should be able to feel clean and access hygiene products and the Hygiene Bank charity helps get donated hygiene products to groups and people who need them.
If you know someone in Newark and Sherwood who needs access to products or you’d like to help, please get in touch by emailing newarkandsherwood@thehygienebank.com.
For more information on Hygiene Banks please visit Nottinghamshire Hygiene Banks.
To donate unwanted unused hygiene products please visit your local Boots store and pop them in the Hygiene Bank donation point. Donation points are located in Ollerton and both stories in Newark and Mansfield.
Or, if you wish to, you can donate via Common Good here: Donate to the Hygiene Bank.
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Get involved
We are currently looking for tenants interested in taking on the following roles to help us make sure your views are involved in the decisions we take for your areas:
Grounds Maintenance Champion – walk around your neighbourhood making sure we have cut the grass, trimmed hedges, and removed fly tipping as we say we do.
NSDC Sounding Board Member – we want to hear your opinions before we make changes to services. You can have your say - online, in person, or by post, committing as much time as you want.
Communal Cleaning Inspector – do monthly checks of communal areas or community centres near you and submit a score on how our cleaning contractors have done.
Void Property Inspector – inspecting properties available to let and ensure they meet the lettable standard.
Estate Walkabouts - a great way to meet others and help us keep our communities clean, tidy and problem free through identifying areas for improvement.
If you would like any more information on getting involved, get in touch with the Tenant Engagement team at getinvolved@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk
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Tenant Annual Report – keep your eyes out!
Our Tenant Annual Report provides an overview of the housing services we deliver at Newark and Sherwood District Council and gives you an honest assessment of both what we do well and what we need to improve on.
We are currently working on this year’s report and will send you a copy when it is complete, via this newsletter.
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Complaints performance
We received 67 complaints between April and June and had a 63% satisfaction rate with complaint handling. We did see a 72% increase on complaints from the same time last year. There has been an increase across all social housing landlords – this could be the due to the recent Government campaigns to encourage tenants to complain where things aren’t right, the work we do to encourage the same. Most of these were upheld as our service failed to meet expectations.
A quarter of our complaints related to time taken to complete repairs - which is the service most customers receive and the most important service to tenants. We are looking at the repairs service in more detail to establish the reasons for this.
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Who is my Tenancy Officer?
Our team of Tenancy Officers are there to help you with help and guidance. To find your local tenancy officer visit www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/mytenancyofficer
Meet one of our Officers: Emma!
"I am a tenancy Officer for Hawtonville area, I have worked for the council just shy of 6 years. I started in Customer Service and then moved over to the Tenancy team and I love it.
I work part time since having a baby, but I can be contacted from Tuesday 12pm – Friday, either by email emma.pashley@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk or via my landline 01636 655630.
My all-time favourite film is ‘PS I love you’ closely followed by the TV series ‘Suits’. My friends and colleagues would tell you I love food and they’re not wrong, my favourite would be a Chinese."
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Do you run a group or club?
Do you run a local group or club that needs advertising to other tenants and residents? Let the Tenant Engagement team know, and they’ll be able to help spread the word!
Email details to getinvolved@newark-sherwoodc.gov.uk or let your Tenancy Officer know.
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Autumn recipe - Butternut Squash Pilaf
As we head into Autumn it’s great to use some seasonal and cheap ingredients to make this delicious meal.
Ingredients:
- 1tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion - sliced
- 1tbsp mild curry paste (korma is always a hit)
- 350g diced butternut squash
- 225g basmati rice
- 1tsp ginger powder
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 100g fruit and nut mix
- 600ml vegetable stock
Method:
Place a large pan over a medium heat. Add the oil and onion and cook until softened. Tip in the curry paste, butternut squash and rice. Fry everything until it is sizzling and coated in spices. Add the garlic and ginger, fry for 30 seconds more and then scatter in the fruit and nut mix. Stir in the stock and put a lid on the pan. Keep covered but stir regularly for 20mins.
Once the rice is tender and the stock has been absorbed, serve.
If you’ve been down to one of the new raised beds in the district with herbs you can help yourself to some fresh parsley and sprinkle it on top to make this dish even tastier! These are situation at Lansbury Road and Bilsthorpe Community Centre. Watch out for new ones in the district soon too!
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What would you like to see in the next edition?
Are there any topics we haven’t covered in Tenant Times yet? Let us know! You can drop the Tenant Engagement team an email at getinvolved@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk with your suggestion and we’ll look to include it in future editions!
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Useful Contacts
We have a list of contacts on our website you may find useful including information on how to get in touch with:
- Emergency services
- Domestic violence helplines
- District Council services
- Citizens Advice
- Other Councils
- National helplines
Who is my District Councillor?
Do you need to get in touch with your district councillor but aren’t sure how to contact them? Information about each councillor, which ward they represent and how you can get in touch with them is available on our website.
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