Building a bigger, better, brighter Corby...email: landlord.services@corby.gov.uk website: www.corby.gov.uk

FOR ALL TENANTS AND RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDERS

HOUSING NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2016

The Regeneration of Canada SquareSee page 14 for more details

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the summer edition of talkback.

Since your last newsletter we have been busy with managing the business and looking for ways of improving services for you.

Our DLO have been busy using new technology to improve the repairs and maintenance service you receive. This has been paying dividends as the number of jobs per man has increased and the number of jobs not completed in target has decreased. We have also introduced a Mobile Stock Solution which means in many cases materials are delivered to the workmen on site and less time is spend by the tradesmen waiting at builders merchants for stock they require.

Towards the end of this year we will be introducing a Self Service Portal for tenants. You will be able to view your rent account balance and recent payments made, log and look at your repairs history, report something to us and add photos of the problem. You will also be able to tell us about changes and send us enquiries and messages all at the touch of a button from the comfort of your own home, on your laptop, tablet, or from your smart phone

Don’t worry if you prefer the traditional methods of contact – they will still be available too. We will be telling you more about this exciting project nearer the implementation date.

CONTENTS

Cath Maglone, Landlord Services Manager

Cllr Bob Eyles, Lead Member for Housing

Be Ready For Universal Credit 03

Get More Advice And Information 05

Saving With The Northamptonshire Credit Union 06

Did You Know? 07

Welfare Benefit Sanctions 08

Financial Inclusion & Support Service 10

Community Safety Partnership News 11

How Well Are We Doing? 12

The Regeneration Of Canada Square 14

Claim Your State Pension Online 15

Lucky Prize Draw Winners 15

Switch To Direct Debit 16

Home Contents Insurance Scheme 16

Wolseley Product Recall 17

Time To Test Your Smoke Alarm 18

Fire Risk Assessment 19

Stairwell Caretaking Rota 20

The Corby tenantsvoice 22

Your Next Community Walkabouts 23

Difficulty Reading This Newsletter? 24

Myth Busting 24

2/3

Job Seekers Allowance

Housing Benefit

Income Support

Child Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit

Employment Support Allowance

UNIVERSAL CREDIT

BE READY FOR UNIVERSAL CREDIT

Universal Credit is the new welfare benefit for people of working age and it will replace:• Housing Benefit• Income Support• Jobseekers Allowance • Employment & Support Allowance• Child Tax Credit• Working Tax Credit

It means that instead of getting different types of benefit at different times, all of the benefits that you are entitled to will be included in a single monthly Universal credit payment that will be paid into a bank of your choice. THIS MEANS THAT IT WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY YOUR RENT.

Start saving a small amount on a regular basis nowNew claimants will have a 7 day waiting period, then a 1 month assessment period and then there will be a 7 day payment period, making it a minimum of 6 weeks before you receive the first payment of Universal Credit. So having some money set aside to pay your rent and other household bills is really important.

Payment will be paid to only one person in the household so if you live with your partner and you are both eligible you will get one monthly joint payment.

Get online nowAll claims for Universal Credit are made online – there is no paper process. You can go to your local library to use a computer if you do not have one at home.

Get a bank account nowOn 1st January 2016 major banks, for the first time, launched fee-free basic bank accounts in the United Kingdom. The accounts are available to anyone who does not already have a bank account, is not eligible for a standard current account, or who cannot use their existing account due to financial difficulty.

For the first time basic accounts will be truly fee-free, helping people to manage their money without fear of running up an overdraft, with no bank charges being levied if a direct debit or standing order fails. The accounts do not offer an overdraft facility and will not let you go overdrawn even by accident. So why not set up a direct debit to pay your rent.

Those banks and building societies that have signed up to the agreement and the name of the accounts fee free accounts are detailed below

Basic bank account customers will now also be offered services on the same terms as other personal current accounts that the banks provides, including access to all the standard over-the-counter services at bank branches and at the Post Office, and access to the entire ATM network.

Basic Account

Foundation Account

Readycash Account

Basic Current Account

Basic Bank Account

Foundation Account

Readycash Account

Basic Current Account

Basic Current Account

England & Wales

Basic Account

Cash Account

Cashminder

Foundation Account

Basic Account Flexbasic

4/5

Citizens Advice BureauYou can speak to your local Citizens Advice Bureau by calling 03444 889 629 or visit their website at www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Debt Advice FoundationThis Foundation is a registered national debt advice and education charity and can be found at www.debtadvicefoundation.org. It offers free, confidential support and impartial advice to anyone worried about loans, credit and debt.

National Debtline The National Debtline helps people across the UK to tackle their debts and manage their money wisely. Last year they helped over 430,000 people and can be found at www.nationaldebtline.org

Money Advice Service Set up by the Government this service provides free and impartial advice at www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

Northamptonshire Credit UnionFind advice about banking on the Northamptonshire Credit Union’s website at www.northamptonshirecu.co.uk

Turn2UsTurn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services and can be found online at www.turn2us.org.uk

Gov.ukThe www.gov.uk website is the best place to find government services and information about welfare benefits.

And you can always speak to your Housing Officer who will be happy to help.

If you prefer you can open a Northamptonshire Credit Union budgeting account where you can divide your money into ‘pots’ – for example one pot for rent and one for other household bills and you decide how much money goes into which ‘pot’.

GET MORE ADVICE AND INFORMATION

Saving with credit union is easy and convenient. Every member is automatically given a savings account, which they can use to save for whatever they want!

Save from as little as £1 a week (or £5 a month) up to an amount of your choice. There are a range of ways you can make deposits:

• Standing order, direct from any bank or building society account you have

• PayPoint card, at any local shop or post office offering the facility

• Payroll deduction, if your employer is signed up as a partner of the credit union

• Deposits can be made at Corby Borough Council in The Cube when our service point is now open between 10am - 12pm on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. Please note the new opening hours from Monday 4th July 2016.

• Benefit deduction, if you have one or more of any state benefits you receive paid to your credit union account.

Getting access to your money is also straightforward.

• Faster payment, direct to your bank account. Just call the Credit Union on any working day before 4.30pm and you will receive your funds by the close of business that day. Please note you will need to agree to our Terms & Conditions for doing withdrawals over the phone.

Members are of course encouraged to continue saving as it will allow access to larger loans if needed.

Your savings with the credit union are 100% safe and secure and guaranteed under the terms of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

To start saving with us simply complete an application form which can be obtained from The Cube service point. Once we have received your completed application form, and verified your ID and address, you can start making deposits!

SAVING WITH THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CREDIT UNION

6/7

Support will be limited to two children through Tax Credits so any children born after April 2017 will not be eligible for further support. An equivalent change will be made to the housing benefit element of Universal Credit. This will also apply in Universal Credit to families making a new claim after April 2017. Exemptions will be made for multiple births

Jobseekers will have to attend the Job Centre

weekly for the first three months

The payment of the housing benefit element of Universal Credit and pension credit payment will be stopped for those who leave the country for more than one month

The backdating of the housing benefit element of

Universal Credit has been reduced from 26 weeks to

4 weeks as from April 2016

The housing benefit family premium has been withdrawn for new claims as from April 2016

The housing benefit element in the social housing sector has been capped at the Local Housing Allowance rate which in the borough of Corby are currently:

DID YOU KNOW?

4 bedrooms self contained

3 bedrooms self contained

2 bedrooms self contained

1 bedroom self contained

1 bedroom shared

per week

per week

per week

per week

per week

The benefit cap is £20,000 per year outside of London

for families, less for single people and couples

£164.79

£123.58

£105.94

£82.40

£52.24

WELFARE BENEFIT SANCTIONS

Don’t Let This Happen To YouBenefit sanctions are a reduction in your benefit or the removal of benefit. They can affect Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support.

If you are given a sanction it could leave you without enough money to buy food or pay your household bills.

How To Avoid Sanctions• If you are claiming JSA you have to sign a claimant commitment

with your Work Coach at the Jobcentre. It should include all of the activities that you are expected to do

• Sign on in time – aim to arrive early

• If you miss an appointment telephone your Work Coach at once to explain why you missed the appointment and make a fresh appointment as soon as possible so that your claim is not closed.

• If you have to look for full-time work, the Jobcentre will tell you that your job search is your full-time job until you find work. You should aim to do 35 hours of job seeking a week

• Keep detailed records of everything you do to look for work, no matter how small

• Attend all training courses on time

• Never refuse to apply for a job your Work Coach tells you about

• Do not leave a job without a good reason

8/9

How To Survive SanctionsIf you are given a sanction you should:

• Ask for a written decision with full reasons for the sanction

• Challenge the sanction within the time limit – one month from the date on the letter you received

• Keep signing on and looking for work as usual (or your claim will end)

• Ask the jobcentre for a Hardship Payment using the JSA/ESA form

• Contact the Housing Benefit Office and let them know about the sanction, preferably in writing

• If you have to borrow money do not borrow from high-interest payday lenders or loan sharks. Opening a credit union account could be an option. Call the Northamptonshire Credit Union on 01604 250018 or email admin@northamptoncu.co.uk

Challenging SanctionsThis may seem daunting but it will not make your situation any worse and it could result in you getting your benefit back. More than half of sanctions are changed so it is worth the time and trouble.

FINANCIAL INCLUSION & SUPPORT SERVICES FOR YOU

You are not alone – our Financial Inclusion & Support Service can help you.

Our two Financial Inclusion & Support Officers have brought many of our tenants much needed peace of mind and helped them to turn around their financial situation.

We take a holistic approach to supporting our tenants and the service given is tailored specifically to your needs. We provide one-to-one support both at The Corby Cube and in your home to help you to solve your problems. We can help you to access specialist debt management solutions through trusted advice agencies and support you through each step of this process. We also provide assistance with all aspects of Welfare Benefit claims, household budgeting skills and negotiating with creditors on your behalf.

If you feel that you would benefit from a Financial Inclusion referral please contact your Housing Officer.

Are you financially excluded?

If you can answer “yes” to

two or more of the following

questions then you might be:

1 Do you borrow from doorstep

lenders?

2 Do you have a poor credit history?

3 Do you have either no bank account

or a bank account that does not

have a direct debit facility?

4 Do you have pre-payment meters

for your gas and electricity?

5 Do you struggle to pay all of

your bills?

6 Are you struggling to manage

debts?

10/11

We’ve been working hard in your community

Throughout the year we are talking to residents at our ‘Take Action’ events to find out the issues that matter to you.

During 2015-16 residents of Corby had the highest confidence in the Police and Council working together in Northamptonshire.

The activity delivered with our partners and the community includes litter picks, walks to school, Operation Staysafe, National Play Day and Clean for the Queen.

For further information, safety advice and our calendar of events visit the Corby Borough Council website:

www.corby.gov.uk

WHAT DO THE RESIDENTS THINK?

COMMUNITY SAFETY & NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT

APRIL 2015

Top 3 responses to describe their neighbourhood: Quiet, Good & Okay

• 65% of residents said that they did think that the Council & Police work together to tackle anti-social behaviour.

• 53% of all residents said that they feel safe walking in their neighbourhood alone after dark.

• 60% of residents said they did not fear being a victim of crime.

OCTOBER 2015 Top 3 responses to describe their neighbourhood: Quiet, Good & Alright• 71% of residents said that

if they see fly-tipping they report it.• 36.4% of residents worry

about fire safety• 61.4% don’t fear being a victim of crime

JANUARY 2016

Focus on litter & fly-tipping

• 76.4% of residents are

bothered by rubbish or litter.

• 80% of residents agreed that

Corby Borough Council do a

good job of keeping Corby

litter free.

• 64.4% agree that litter harms

the pride in where they live.

• 44.4% agree that litter has a

negative impact on visiting

family or friends.

JULY 2015 Top 3 responses to describe their neighbourhood: Quiet, Good & Friendly

• 74% of residents said that they did think that the Council & Police work together to tackle anti-social behaviour.• 68% of all residents said that they feel safe walking in their neighbourhood alone after dark.

• 71% of residents said they did not fear being a victim of crime.

What We Are Measuring

Our Target Was

Year End Performance Was Comments

Arrears outstanding on house rents

To have less than £300,000 at 31st March 2015 £294,000

Rent arrears levels decreased by £36,000 from last March as we continue to strive to ensure that debt levels remain low. We also know that tenants are feeling the pinch and ensure that all help and assistance is given to alleviate high arrears levels, with referrals being made to our Financial Inclusion Support Officers.

The % of rent collected compared to what we would

collect if all rent was paid on time by all tenants

To collect at least 98.2%

98.1%

We just missed our target by 0.1% in challenging economic and welfare reform environments.

Arrears outstanding on garage rents

To have less than £2,100 at 31st March 2015 £1,648

For the fourth year in a row we have managed to keep our arrears levels on garage accounts below target.

The% of tenants who owed us more than 7 weeks

gross rent

To have less than 2.75% of tenants owing 7 weeks or

more rent 3.07%

Previously we have managed to keep below target. However this year has been a struggle to steer tenants away from a cycle of escalating debts. This is important to us as we know that the bigger the debt the more difficult it is to get out of debt.

How many tenants we evict as a result of rent arrears

To evict less than 16 households

a year26 households were evicted

in 2014/15

We do not want to evict any tenant for rent arrears and when we do have to we want to keep numbers as low as possible. We prefer tenants to pay and stay. By the time a tenant is evicted they will have had numerous opportunities to help themselves and second chances from the courts. The District Judges are becoming less tolerant of persistent non payers.

% of tenants we have to serve a notice seeking possession (NSP) on during the year to

ensure the obligation to pay rent is taken seriously

To serve less than 7% of tenants per month with a NSP

16.56% of tenants were served with a NSP in March 2015

We serve notice of our intention to seek possession when tenants fail to pay or respond to letters and attempts to contact them and the debt continue to rise. Most tenants will contact us when they receive a notice and we can then start the process of helping them to manage their finances, or agree an affordable repayment plan.

As with court action we do not take the decision to serve notice lightly and like to keep numbers as low as possible.

Below is a selection of Performance Indicators as at the end of March 2016 that show us and you where we have made progress and where we need to concentrate more effort in order to improve the services you receive.

INCOME COLLECTION AND ARREARS RECOVERY

PerformanceHow Well Are We Doing ?PerformanceHow Well Are We Doing?

This is significantly below target

This is slightly below or above target

This meets the target we set

STATUS GUIDE

12/13

STOP PRESS NEWS COMING SOON DO IT ONLINE SELF SERVICE PORTAL – YOU & YOUR TENANCYThe Self Service Portal will allow registered Tenants & Leaseholders to view and update their account information and make requests online.

It is free to join and after your details have been verified you will have access to information such as your Rent Account Balance, Repair History, Service Charge Account. Watch this space for further updates...

REPAIRS AND EMPTY HOMES What We Are

MeasuringOur Target

Was Year End Performance Was Comments

Average repair and re-let time for an empty property

To re-let in less than 26 days

21.7 days

This year we broke through the 26 day barrier by some way and as a result we have now reduced our target to re-let properties to 24 days to challenge our current performance. We need to ensure that we can re-let our properties quickly for because a) we have numerous housing applicants waiting for a permanent home and b) we need the rent income to be able to deliver services to all of our tenants which include carrying out every day repairs and improvements.

% of repairs where the job is not completed in

target timeLess then 5%

22.5%

Since last year we have reduced the number of repairs where the job has not been completed in target time from 32.6% to 22.5%. We believe that we will also do better in 2015/6 as more efficient working practices will enable our tradesmen to complete more jobs per day in target time.

% of emergency repairs jobs completed in

target time 100%

87%

We aim to complete all emergency repairs within target. In 2014/15 we managed to achieve an 87% completion rate for emergency repairs. It was 93.5% last year, but due to an increase in workloads our performance dropped at the beginning of the year. There has been steady improvement throughout the year due to the introduction of electronic systems and this is expected to help improve our year end figure for March 2016.

Not to have properties empty for long or in

large numbers

To have 40 or less

45

Our year end figure at the end of March 2015 was higher than we wanted to see. We remain focussed on getting empty properties repaired and re-let quickly to keep the number of properties that we have empty low.

The number of empty garages

To have less than 1,150 empty

at year end 1,273 garages

were empty at 31st March 2015

Despite not increasing garage rents for the last six years and relaxing the rules on what garages can be used for, we continue to have a high number of empty garages - although there has been a reduction of 112 since the end of March 2014.

36 NEW HOMES IN ALBERTA CLOSE AND BARNARD CLOSE ON THE FORMER CANADA SQUARE SITE IN CORBY

A regeneration project undertaken by Corby Borough Council in partnership with the Homes & Communities Agency, Lodge Park Partnership Homes Ltd and the ASRA Housing Group has seen a total of 43 outdated flats, an unused public house and commercial space replaced with 36 brand new, affordable homes and a regenerated community area that residents can be proud of.

The official handover to mark the partnership between took place on 10th December last year and all of the new homes have been let. Of the 36 new homes, 18 are brand new Council homes, consisting of a mix of 2 bedroom family houses and 2 bedroom flats designed for older residents and 18 are ASRA Group housing association homes for affordable rent which will also be managed by Corby Borough Council.

From this

to this

We are pleased to be able to work with the ASRA Group in order to provide new affordable homes for the people of Corby and we look forward to seeing this kind of partnership working continuing to grow in the future.

Cllr Tom Beattie, Leader of Corby Borough Council

and to

this

14/15

CLAIM YOUR STATE PENSION ONLINEApproaching State Pension age? Stay in control by claiming your State Pension Online via GOV.UK. All UK residents can claim their pension online; it only takes 20 minutes to complete and is available 24/7. It’s a secure and easy to use service with online help provided along the way.

Not only that, online claims can be completed in multiple sittings. If you haven’t got everything you need to hand, simply save your online claim and return to it within 30 days. You can also save and print a copy for your own records.

From December 2015 you can also use the service to make a new State Pension claim.

Don’t miss out; claim your State Pension online today. To find out more visit: www.gov.uk/claim-state-pension-online

Congratulations to the three lucky tenants who live in Chesil Walk, Westfields Road and Wollongong House. Each won a £50 High Street voucher which was hand delivered to them.

THREE LUCKY PRIZE DRAW WINNERS!At the end of each year to spread some Christmas and New Year cheer we hold a prize draw for tenants who have a clear rent account as a reward for paying their rent on time. This time round all of the tenants who had a clear rent account on Monday 4th January 2016 were automatically entered into the prize draw.

Closing date 30 November 2016. There are 2 x £10,000 prizes to be won. Promotion open to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), the Channel Islands and Isle of Man residents (17+) only, exclusions apply. For terms and conditions see www.directdebit.co.uk/freedom.

HOW ABOUT WINNING £10,000?

Visit www.directdebit.co.uk/freedom to find out more.

Sit back, relax. Paying by Direct Debit makes your life a little bit easier.

FREEDOMGUARANTEEDWHEN YOUSWITCH TOPAYING BY DIRECT DEBIT

WIN£10,000

WINSwitch to paying by Direct Debit for the chance to win £10,000

FG A2 poster FINAL1:Layout 1 26/01/2016 12:08 Page 1

To switch to paying by Direct Debit go to www.corby.gov.uk or call us on 01536 464000. Once you have switched, just go to www.directdebit.co.uk/freedom to be entered into the Prize Draw to win £10,000.

Corby Borough Council has negotiated a home contents insurance scheme specifically

designed for our tenants giving peace of mind against life’s little accidents.

Cover is provided from just £0.52 per week.

For more information contact the Housing Finance Section on 01536 463183/89 or email housing.finance@corby.gov.uk.

You can also talk to your Housing Officer.

16/17

Wolseley Product RecallCenter Brand Fan Heater – Product Code 105161We have been made aware of a technical fault in a small number of Wolseley Center brand FH-06A 2kW fan heaters (product code 105161) that may cause safety issues.

The model is used by many contractors and PH Jones and Liberty Gas occasionally used it to provide temporary heating for tenants when carrying out repairs to heating systems on behalf of Corby Borough Council.

Pictured are photographs of the portable electric fan heater which has two heat settings with cool/warm/hot function together with an adjustable thermostat.

As a precautionary measure the manufacturer is recalling this product, and on that basis we would ask that if you have do have this product in your home that you stop using it immediately, remove it from the mains supply and contact Corby Borough Council as soon as possible on 01536 740056 or 01536 464237 to arrange for the fan heater to be collected.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE

If a fire breaks out in your home. Get out, stay out and call 999www.gov.uk/firekills

TIME TO TEST You are at least four times more likely to die in a fire in your home if you have no working smoke alarmWhy not test your smoke alarms on the first of every month? Then you know that they are working and you can tick it off your ‘to do’ list – before it’s too late.

These simple steps can reduce the risk of fire and keep everyone safer:

Over 200 people in England die each year in fires in their homes. These are often caused by smoking materials, cooking accidents, candles and faulty electrical appliances – especially heaters – and wiring.

Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home

Test them on the 1st of every month and never take out the batteries

Plan your escape route and make sure everyone knows it

Put cigarettes out – right out – and never smoke in bed.

Take extra care in the kitchen and never leave cooking unattended

Make a bedtime check last thing at night to reduce fire risks – eg unplug heaters

Never try to tackle a fire yourself

18/19

Tenants can be proactive with a view of reducing the likelihood of a fire starting by removing non-fire rated carpet off cuts, (net) curtains, and combustible fluids must not be stored in common areas.

Obstacles such as old furniture, bikes, plant pots, hanging baskets etc. should also be removed from common parts of the building, as well as any items that could hinder a tenants’ escape in the case of a fire.

There should be suitable and adequate illumination of escape routes to be able to see the way out in an emergency. With the possible exception of small two-storey purpose built blocks of flats with good borrowed light from street lighting, blocks of flats should be provided with emergency lighting.

Fire exit signs may need to be displayed to assist in the use of an escape route with which tenants are unfamiliar with. In a single stairway building there is rarely a need for such signs. It is not usually considered necessary to signpost the route that tenants normally use to gain access to their flats.

It is also rare for the need to provide fire-fighting equipment to tenants of blocks of flats. It is nevertheless usually provided in boiler rooms and other such rooms, for use by contractors, tradesmen etc. as it should not be expected that tenants need to tackle a fire.

There is a requirement to carry out fire risk assessments to all common areas to blocks of flats.From the initial assessment, the information should be reviewed periodically. This should be done at least every 12 months, or whenever there are significant changes to the building e.g. layout change, extensions etc.

STAIRWELL CARETAKING ROTAThe stairwell cleaning service involves brushing/mopping floors, light litter picks of stairwells, (paper, sweet wrappers) stair railings cleaned, light litter picking of communal gardens, minor graffiti removal/painting, minor repairs whilst on site (doors/windows) and reporting repairs. The cleaning rota is a fortnightly one and shows the days the various blocks are cleaned. For your guidance Week 1 is the week beginning 4th July 2016 and Week 2 will be week beginning 14th July 2016.

WEEK ONE MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Lincoln Way 44–46

Northbrook

32–34

Culross Walk

4–6 Kensington Walk 41–45 Lapland Walk

20–22

52–56 54–56 8–14 24–25

Surfleet Close 19–35 82–84 17–21

Holyrood Walk

63–69Finland Way

2–5

Gainsborough Road

130–140

Highbrook

15–21 20–26 75–77 12–13

142–152 36–38 33–39 46–50

Ripley Walk

14–16

Wedmore Court

18–28 41–47 44–52 36–38 30–34

29–37 67–73 45–51

Epsom Walk

47–51 35–37

34–44 68–70 56–62 76–78 47–49

Farmstead Road

65–81 96–98 69–71 83–87 55–59

189–201

Southbrook

11–17 70–72Lingfield Walk

47–49 67–69

33–39 77–79 72–76 79–83

59–65 78–86Reigate Walk

31–33 Blenheim Walk 11–13

91–95 46–48

Dorking Walk

53–57

56–58

64–70

107–109

20/21

WEEK TWOMONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Mantlefield Road 65–81

Greenhill Rise 89–99 Argyll HousePytchley Court

14–17 Arran Way 146–154

Scarborough Walk

27–31 Angus House 18–22

Kirkwall

9–19

Thorseby Court 1–17

33–43Cecil Drive

66–76 23–25 21–31

45–61 78–88

Orkney Walk

27–33 33–45

Odeon Buildings 4a–6a Cromarty

House TBC Counts Farm Road

69–79 36–44 45–55

81–91 46–58Browning Walk

20–32

Rockingham Road

46a–46c Hamilton House TBC Burghley

Drive73–83 60–70 36–48

52a–52c 85–95 72–84 52–64

58a–64b 86–96

66a–72b 98–110

74a–80aShire Road

1–17

43–59

STOP PRESS NEWS FOR LEASEHOLDERSThe updated Leaseholders Handbook is now available on the Council’s website at www.corby.gov.uk to be downloaded.

We hope that it will continue to serve you as a useful reference tool to help answer queries you may have about your lease. Please remember that it is not an authoritative interpretation of the law and it does not override or affect the terms of your lease.

If you require a hard copy please telephone 01536 464605 or e-mail landlord.services@corby.gov.uk with your name and address and one will be posted out to you.

Hands Up!The Corby tenantsvoice, a group of 6 Council tenants who want to make a difference, are looking for like minded tenants to help find ways to improve the services that all tenants receive from the Council as a landlord and and can spare a couple of hours on a weekly basis.

If you would like to express an interest in finding out what the Corby tenantsvoice is and what it means to be a member of it, just ring 07585 985 510 between the hours of 10.00am and 6.00pm on week days or e-mail tenantsvoicecbc@hotmail.com

You will then be invited to a very informal ’Listening Lunch’ when you can ask more questions when existing members can answer them over a cup of tea and some lunch.

22/23

WALKABOUT DATE, TIME & MEETING POINT WALKABOUT DATE, TIME & MEETING POINT

Beanfield Area 2 Wed 3rd Aug 1.30pm / Wed 2nd Nov 1.30pmBeanfield Community Centre Lodge Park New Wed 20th July 1.30pm / Wed 19th Oct 1.30pm

Arran Community Centre, Mull Drive

Beanfield Area 1 Wed 13th July 10am / Wed 12th Oct 10amBeanfield Community Centre Lodge Park Old Mon 18th July 10.30am / Mon 17th Oct 10.30am

Willow Brook shops

Tower Hill West Wed 28th Sept 2pm / Wed 14th Dec 2pmTower Hill Rd near parking bay Knights Close Old Village Tue 6th Sept Top of Stanion Lane 2pm

Tue 6th Dec Jamb car park 2pm

Tower Hill East Wed 7th Sept 2pm / Wed 7th Dec 2pmHarrogate Ct car park rear of shops

Danesholme Tue 2nd Aug 2pm / Tue 1st Nov 2pmBoden Close shops Poets Old/New Mon 11th July 9.30am / Mon 10th Oct 9.30am

Water Tower, Willow Brook Road

Exeter Wed 24th Aug 2pm / Wed 23rd Nov 2pmAutumn Centre, Counts Farm Road Shire Lodge Mon 5th Sept 10am / Mon 5th Dec 10am

Shire Road flats opposite Tay Close

Hazel Leys North Wed 14th Sept 2pm / Wed 14th Dec 2pmGainsborough Road shops Town Centre Tue 19th July 1.30pm / Tue 25th Oct 1.30pm

Elizabeth St flats opp Saxon Crown

Hazel Leys South Wed 7th Sept 2pm / Wed 7th Dec 2pmGainsborough Road shops

Welland Vale & The Chestnuts

Tue 16th Aug 2pm / Tue 15th Nov 2pmVelbert House, Ennerdale Road

KingswoodTue 12th July 10am / Tue 18th Oct 10amLay-by on Spalding Road at the bottom of Sturton Walk

Cottingham Wed 21st Sept 2pm / Wed 14th Dec 2pmRipley Road with Cottingham Road junction

Kingswood Tue 5th July 10am / Tue 4th Oct 10amNew build on Canada Square East Carlton Wed 14th Sept 3pm / Wed 14th Dec 3pm

East Carlton Park Café

Lloyds East Thu 7th July 10am / Thu 6th Oct 10amStephenson Way Community Centre Gretton Wed 7th Sept 1pm / Wed 7th Dec 1pm

Outside Kirby Road barbers shop

Lloyds West Area 1 Thu 7th July 6pm / Thu 6th Oct 1.30pmStudfall Shops newsagents Stanion Wed 6th July 10am / Wed 5th Oct10am

Stanion Village Hall, Old Brigstock Road

Lloyds West Area 2 Thu 14th July 6pm / Thu 13th Oct 1.30pmWater Tower on Tanfields Grove Weldon Tue 5th July 10am / Tue 11th Oct 10am

Weldon Village Hall, Bridge Street

Your Next Community Walkabouts

email: landlord.services@corby.gov.uk website: www.corby.gov.ukFOR ALL TENANTS AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDERS

CONTACT THE TENANT INVOLVEMENT TEAM: CONTACT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT TEAM: Derek Young: 01536 464605 • derek.young@corby.gov.uk Lizzie Hudson: 01536 464603 • elizabeth.hudson@corby.gov.uk • landlord.services@corby.gov.uk • neighbourhood.management@corby.gov.uk

Landlord Services/Neighbourhood Management, Corby Borough Council, Deene House, New Post Office Square, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 1GD

The idea that foreign nationals are taking up social housing tenancies in large numbers has been a pervasive message and the tabloid press often calls for stronger curbs.

But are immigrants ‘Jumping the queue’ when they move into social housing? The evidence tells us that the answer is NO. In April 2016 the lettings data of Corby Borough Council showed that of its 4,686 tenancies 4,415 (94.2%) were allocated to British White nationals with 271 (5.8%) allocated to other entitled housing applicants.

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Contact Derek Young on 464605 by e-mail at derek.young@corby.gov.uk.

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