Bid from your armchairTenanTparTicipaTion updaTe

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conTenTs

Published by Housing and Property Services, Warwick District Council (WDC), Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Royal Leamington Spa CV32 5QE. Tel: 01926 410 410.

Designed by The Printroom, WDC – 01926 456 108. Managing Editor (WDC) Fiona Walsh 01926 456 447. Editor Nicki Hughes 01926 456 119.

The virgin fibre used in the paper for this product has been derived from sustainably managed forests. This product is fully recyclable.

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an updaTeJameel Malik, Head of Housing and Property Services.

If you have any housing issues, questions or concerns, then we do want to hear from you! Please come along to our Managers meetings which are held at local venues across the district. All you need to do is turn up between 10am – 11am for the opportunity to put your questions or comments to myself and the Housing & Property Services Management team.

The meetings to be held in the New Year are as follows;

z 4 January – Pickard Street z 1 February – Beauchamp Court z 1 March – Brunswick Healthy Living Centre

This issue is all about getting you more involved. You will hear from our new Tenant Panel, who have started to meet once a month and once they have all the information they need, will be representing your views and challenging new proposals that are put forward.

We also hear from a Tenant Inspector from Nuneaton, who talks about his interesting role and we hope he will inspire you to get involved and have your say. We are committed to listening to you, our tenants, and including your views when looking at future plans – all you need to do is take up the opportunity and get involved if you can.

You will meet Gladys, one of our community champions, who works tirelessly on your behalf to sort out your housing issues and we celebrate the success of our older achievers, three of whom are over 90, who have just completed their computer training on the Get Digital Scheme.

We get to know our neighbours who have celebrated Diwali and then for those of you enjoying a Christmas dinner, some recipes to use up your leftovers! And because this time of year is quite costly, don’t be vulnerable to scams and have a look at our advice about looking after your finances.

Enjoy the festive season and best wishes for the New Year!

2 an updaTe

3 Be parT of hisTory imporTanT news empTy homes

4 TenanT parTicipaTion updaTe

6 BecominG a TenanT inspecTor conGraTulaTions

7 waTch ouT There are scams aBouT

8 chrisTmas openinG Times all aBouT Gladys

9 GeT To know your neiGhBours

10 a day in The life of ocean cleaninG

11 Gas safeTy payinG By direcT deBiT

12 Garden share scheme

13 noT sure who To ask

14 avoid BursT pipes firsTsTop warwickshire

15 diGiTal swiTchover whaT is asBesTos?

16 avoid cosTly call-ouTs

17 don’T leT deBT Give you a chrisTmas hanGover

18 new recyclinG for flaTs whaT is a pir? leaseholders news

19 whaT a faB idea!

20 Bid from your armchair

21 and Then There were five

22 love your lefTovers

23 fesTive wordsearch compeTiTion winners

HOME NEWS

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The next census will run on Sunday 27 March 2011. It will involve about 25 million households in England and Wales being delivered questionnaires to complete at the same time. The census is carried out every ten years, with everyone being asked the same questions on the same day to give a snapshot of the population at one point in time.

The census questionnaire covers everything to do with our lifestyle, households, relationships, marital status, culture and ethnic background, as well as any health issues, employment and qualifications.

This information provides important statistics about who lives in the UK, what services they use and what they are likely to use in the future. It helps councils to plan their spending on housing, transport, and education. It will also help future generations to understand how we live our lives today and to help them trace family members and friends.

Around 35,000 census field staff will be recruited across England and Wales and of course there will be a number of new jobs created locally. Jobs will include census questionnaire collectors, compliance staff, coverage survey teams and the recruitment campaign will continue right through to mid 2011.

Census staff will be employed by the Office for National Statistics in conjunction with Capita who is responsible for running recruitment, training and payroll.

If you are interested in working for the 2011 census, you can apply online, or register your interest in particular roles at www.censusjobs.co.uk . More information on the census can be found at www.ons.gov.uk/census

imporTanT

newson the 22nd november 2010, the Government announced plans for the most radical reform of social housing in a generation. proposals aim to make the system fairer, giving councils the option to offer flexible tenancies and greater local discretion to decide allocations.

This will mean we can offer more flexible tenancies as opposed to offering social housing for life to people who only have a short term housing crisis.

Councils and Housing Associations will now have the flexibility to offer new social housing tenants fixed tenancies – offering minimum contracts of 2 years.

The consultation by the Government ends on the 17th January 2010 and we will be discussing this with Tenants at our next Tenant’s Panel meeting.These proposals will not affect tenants currently living in council housing and will apply to new tenancies. We will keep you up to date with any further news.

The full consultation document can be found on the community and local government web-site.

If you wish to make a comment on the consultation you can email, housingreform@communities.gsi.gov.uk or write to:

Frances Walker Department for Communities and Local Government Eland House, Zone 1/G9, Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DU

empTy homesUnoccupied homes that sit empty are a wasted resource and do nothing to improve the availability of affordable homes to buy or rent. Our new Empty Homes Officer is aiming to bring back into use long term empty private homes that have been empty for over 6 months.

If you would like to report an empty home, just contact Aaran Marriner-Clark on 01926 456 733 or email aaran.marriner-clark@warwickdc.gov.uk You can remain anonymous if you wish.

Be parT of hisTory!

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HOME NEWS

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TENANT PARTICIPATIONHOUSING AND PROPERTY SERVICES

free

if you feel like learning something new and meeting some new people, then you might be interested in going

on a course. There are a number of courses available for any of our tenants on housing related issues – they are frEE, your travel is paid for and you will even get help paying for childcare.

We asked Emma Baylis (right) our new tenant panel member to tell us about a course she recently attended;

The course was “Anti-Social Behaviour”. It was held in Leicester, so Margaret Allen organised my train times and tickets and even planned my route! I got a taxi from the station to the venue and back again, which was all promptly refunded, along with the full cost of my childcare fees. I was interested in the course because I live in an area where there is a high level of anti-social behaviour. I wanted to learn more about what the council is doing to tackle the issue and what more could be done. There was a real mixed bunch of people on the course. They varied from other tenant panel members,

DIARY DATES keeping us up to date with what’s on and the dates and times of meetings for you;

Residents meetings are to be held at st paul’s and kennedy square at the Landsdowne Community Office, 7–8pm;12 January 20119 february 2011

Brunswick resident and Tenant association are to be held at Brunswick Healthy Living Centre, 7–8pm;13 January 201110 march 2011

fetherston court have just started a resident Group and had their first meeting on Tuesday 7th december at 10am in the community room.

volunteers, as well as council staff from different districts and housing officers. Everyone was friendly and made me feel involved. We were each given a notepad and pen, with a small folder with a plan for the day, crime statistics,

photocopies of newspaper articles, some information

from the Home Office website on reporting anti-social behaviour, a summary of legal remedies and support ideas for parents.

We referred to this information throughout

the day. It was all very easy to understand and we were

given a copy of the course notes to help us too. It was quite informal, not like being back at school! We sat in a big circle, and introduced ourselves. We did a “rate your area” survey and had to work together for different exercises. We also had a few discussions, and could put forward our opinions. I was made to feel like a welcome part of the discussion and everyone was free to ask questions at any point. It was a brilliant course, with a great tutor who made it very interesting. I am looking forward to going on another!

If you are interested in attending a course, please contact Margaret Allen, contact details to the left.

if you would like to talk to Tenant participation officer, margaret about getting involved, or setting up a residents Group, please contact her on: tel – 01926 456 451 mobile – 07810 654 669email – margaret.allen@warwickdc.gov.uk web – www.warwickdc.gov.uk/tp

www.warwickdc.gov.uk

TENANT PARTICIPATIONHOUSING AND PROPERTY SERVICES

5 www.warwickdc.gov.uk

The Tenant Panel has been meeting at the Town Hall for a few months now and recently visited Riverside House to meet all the staff in Housing & Property Services. We caught up with them during their visit to find out why they decided to join and what they have been up to.

The Panel is made up of about 30 tenants from right across the district. The Chairman Rob Harris is from Leamington, Vice-Chair, Tim Eden is from Kenilworth and Secretary Emma Baylis is from Lillington.

“I see this as a great opportunity to get involved and have a voice in the Council.” Says Rob Harris

“I’m really enjoying finding out how the different council service areas work together and hope I can help to improve things.”

So far Rob has enjoyed some training to help him in his new role as Chairman and has been sent a great deal of information from housing, so that he has a greater understanding of all the services provided.

Tim Eden, Vice-chair, has been a tenant in Warwick district for about fifty years and decided that he now had some time to commit to helping out. “I would like to bring my years of experience to the meetings and hope that I can do a good job representing the Kenilworth tenants.”

Emma Baylis, secretary is keen to address issues that tenants have and help to improve things for them. “Everyone has different issues and this is a unique opportunity for us to help break down any barriers between tenants and housing staff and work towards understanding their needs better.”

There was a great enthusiasm for the job in hand and all the committee members were

we told you last time about a new Tenant Panel which is made up of housing tenants and senior housing staff. The idea is for the panel to challenge the way the council, as landlord operates and make recommendations for

change based on their own experience as tenants. Any changes that are made will have been agreed and approved by the Tenant Panel on behalf of all tenants, so that in the long term the tenant landlord relationship will be improved.

optimistic that they will have a voice and their opinions will be heard. So far they have been gathering information to bring them up to speed with current issues and projects and the next stage will see them having the opportunity for questioning and challenging the information they receive.

If you would like to see the minutes of the meetings, or find out more about the panel then please contact Margaret Allen, Tenant Participation Officer – contact details on page 4.

TenanT panel

Bhavan Jahita

talks to Tim Eden

Rob Harris

Tim Eden, Emma Baylis talk to Mark Perkins, Energy Manager

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conGraTulaTions!....To the following tenants of yeomanry close and chandos court, who have completed their computer training on the Get digital project – no doubt they are happily surfing the net as we speak!we don’t currently have Tenant

Inspectors at Warwick District Council, but it is something we

would like to introduce to increase tenant involvement in Housing and Property Services. In order to tell you a bit more about the role, we interviewed Andrew Moore, member of the residents committee from Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council and here’s what we found out;

how long have you been a Tenant inspector?Just since August this year. I was asked if I would like to be co-opted onto the committee until the next election in 2011. Hopefully by then I will be fully active and making a difference to the tenants I represent.

what commitment do you have to make?It’s very much a “do what you can” basis, with each of us doing our part to reach our goals. There are monthly evening meetings, estate walkabouts and training courses to broaden our knowledge. It’s important that we also do our homework though, so we are often researching things on the internet or talking to our neighbours and tenants about other council services. You get out of it as much as you put in!

why did you decide to get involved?I wanted to make a difference and to be part of the decision making that affects us as tenants. It also gives me the opportunity to meet people.

have you been involved in any projects yet?I am quite new to the role, so my time has been spent gathering information and taking part in training. I’m doing a community leaders course, I’ve also done some ASB training which has been really useful.

if one of our tenants asked you if they should get involved – what would you say to them?If they have some time to spare, I would say get involved! It is your chance to have your say and make a difference. Meetings can always be arranged to suit and tasks can be completed in your own time. I’m really glad I decided to get involved! Contact Margaret Allen for more information – page 4

chandos court z Dorothy Roles (72) z Mary Cleeland (74) z Lyn Marriott (74) z Vera Tarver (74) z Eileen Heath (77) z Ethel Prior (77)

z Kitty Walsh (79) z Joyce Bradshaw (81) z Les Cleaver (82) z Harriet Bryson (87) z Frank Webb (87) z Hilda Butler (93) z Ivy Beacroft (96)

yeomanry close z Peter Appleby (65) z June Clements (82) z Maureen Connelly (64)

z Edith Godfrey (88) z Elsie Golding (77)

z Teresa Hall (62) z Gladys Hogg (94) z Rebecca Maxwell Weir (55)

z Carole Palmer (63) z Joan Pugh (80)

we’ve put their ages just to remind you you’re never too old to learn!!

Becoming a TenanT inspecTor

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There are scams aBouT!

Quite often scams are operated by people who turn up at your door uninvited. They

can be extremely persuasive, and once you let them into your home they will be expecting a sale and won’t give up easily!

If you don’t want to answer the door to sales people, then you can request a free “We don’t buy on the doorstep” sticker by phoning 01926 410 410.

We have reports from Trading Standards of a few scams you need to be aware of;

illegal electricity Top upsHouseholders who use electricity prepayment meters are being sold half price electricity top-up keys on their door step. What they don’t realise is they will end up having to pay twice for their electricity.

Criminals are cloning the electricity meter top-up keys and selling them door-to-door for half their normal cost. They are being bought in the belief that they will save money, however energy companies detect when they have not received payment for electricity used. As the energy credit is illegal, you would end up paying twice, first to the criminal and then again to the energy supplier. Only buy your electricity credit through the official channels, such as the Post Office, Payzone, or PayPoint shops.

old Town parking TicketsMotorists have received parking tickets whilst parked on the main road in Old Town. The parking tickets indicated a fine of £60, reduced to £40 if paid within 7 days and rising to £160 if not paid within 14 days. Warwick District Council and the Police are the only bodies that can legally issue parking tickets.

These tickets do not have a Warwick District Council logo and are not issued by them. If you do receive one, please contact Trading Standards on 0845 404 0506.

computer fix-it scamComputer users have received phone calls from someone claiming to represent Microsoft telling them their computer is “full” or has a serious virus problem. Users are asked to log onto their computers and download software, or allow remote access, so the “problem” can be fixed.

It is possible that these callers want to gain access to your computer, which means it could become infected with a virus, or your personal and financial information could be stolen and used fraudulently. Or you may have software downloaded onto

your pc or unnecessary work done that you will be asked to pay for. Microsoft will never make an unexpected call to fix your computer!

If you do think there is a problem contact a local repair service and go on recommendation. Never allow anyone you don’t know to take control of your computer and never download any software to your computer until you know where it comes from and that it is safe.

For more information on scams and rip-offs visit Trading Standards at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards or call 0845 404 0506

you might be looking for ways to save money this christmas, but make sure you don’t fall victim to a scam – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

HOME NEWS

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Then you’ll know Gladys from Lillington! Helping to run the Chain in Crown Way with other volunteers for the past 11 years, Gladys is also Chair of the local Youth Club, Booking Officer for the community centre and the Lollipop Lady for Lillington School! But more than that she puts herself at the heart of the community, working tirelessly to help others and to improve the local environment and all but her lollipop work is voluntary.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Gladys helps tenants with their housing issues or questions, taking them on as her own, dealing with the appropriate council staff and following them up until she is happy they are sorted out. “I don’t like to be told no – that just makes me want to look for other ways to get something sorted!” And she does know how to get things done – contacting local councillors, the fire service, even the police if she needs to!

“There are some people who don’t want to make phone

calls or go on-line, they just want to come and talk to someone and they often feel much happier after a coffee and a chat. People enjoy having somewhere to come to off-load their concerns, knowing they can come

back time and time again.” And that is what Gladys does best, offers comfort and support in a relaxed setting.

“It’s all about keeping the community spirit alive. And that’s what keeps me doing the work I do, knowing that every day will be different and every day I will do my best to help someone else.” She credits Pete Cutts with “throwing her in at the deep end” back in the early days but has relied on his continued support and contacts to point her in the right direction if she needs help. Whether you have a housing concern you want to talk about, or need to find out what time the bus runs into town – pop in and have a word with Gladys, you’ll find a friendly helpful face – just don’t let her hear the word No!

The Chain will be closed over Christmas from 23rd December, re-opening on Monday 10 January 2011.

Gladys

xmas openinG Housing & Property Services and the whole of Warwick District Council will be closed over Christmas on Friday 24 December, re-opening on Wednesday 29th December. We will also be closed on Monday 3 January 2011. Please ring 01926 412 828 for emergency assistance only over Christmas.

warwickshire directWarwick – Shire HallXmas Eve: 8am-4pmWed 29th: 10am-4pmThurs 30th: 8am-5.30pmNew years eve: 8am-4pmMon 3rd Jan - closed

kenilworthXmas Eve: 9am-4pmThurs 30th: 9am-7pmNew Years eve: 9am-4pmre-open Tuesday 4th Jan: 9am-7pm

lillington and whitnashXmas eve: 9.30am-4pmThurs 30th: 9.30am-7pmNew years eve: 9.30am-4pmre-open Tuesday 4th Jan: 9.30am-7pm

do you know someone who seems to be in the middle of everything? who hears all the news and gossip? who knows what’s going on?

“it’s all about keeping the community spirit alive.”

HOME NEWS

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we met with one of our tenants, Mr Ladwa who found time in his busy

preparations for Diwali to tell us how he will be celebrating and what it means to him and his family.

Diwali is known as the “Festival of Light” and the celebrations are in honour of Lord Rama’s victory over Ravan. Hindus worship Ganesh (God) and Goddess Lakshmi at this time, who brings prosperity. It is a time of forgiveness for past mistakes and the opportunity to start afresh with the New Year. It applies to businesses too who close their books at Diwali, starting a new financial year the next day.

Diwali is a vibrant, optimistic celebration, houses are decorated with beautiful lights and there are

fireworks and festivities well into the night and if you live in India, all through the night! Each year Diwali can fall on a different date during October and November and this year it fell on November 5th. Mr Ladwa had painted the inside of his house in preparation for the lights to go up and to ensure it looked clean and fresh for the family gatherings. Mrs Ladwa had a number of beautiful new saris delivered from India for each of the

many functions they had been invited to.

New Year follows Diwali and like the Christian celebration of Christmas, this is very much a family time, with friends and family visiting each other, exchanging gifts

and enjoying good food and festivities. Mr Ladwa is

the eldest son in his family, and so his brothers and their

GeT To know your neiGhBourscontinuing our series which brings you closer to your neighbours and helps you to understand the different festivals and celebrations they enjoy, we look at the hindu celebration of diwali and how it compares to christmas celebrations.

families visit him and his wife first. In a similar vein to the Christian New Year, The Hindu New Year is very much about forgiveness, putting the past behind you and starting afresh – hands are shaken, new clothes are worn and a new dawn begins.

Although it does not have the same religious significance for them, the Ladwas do enjoy the Christmas celebrations in December with more parties and more gifts being exchanged. For them the dark, cold winter months are spent in celebration and in the company of their closest friends and family, which they thoroughly enjoy! If you have no family close by and no religious attachment to this time of year – you could do worse than try and offer the hand of friendship to your neighbours, take this opportunity to celebrate your differences and make a fresh start in the New Year.

HOME NEWS

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“it’s a big area to keep clean – but the tenants are very good at not

leaving their rubbish and personal belongings in any of the corridors, so

i can get round quite easily.

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I decided to be brave and enquire as to the worst item she had come across in her job....”maggots!” she replied “thousands of them”. It seems someone had left their rubbish in a corridor for a while and it had produced an infestation of maggots, which had crawled all over the floors, even dropping down to a number of floors below and finding their way under door mats and into flats themselves....yuk! The tenants will be relieved to hear that it wasn’t at Radcliffe Gardens, but another site!

Apart from that Nikki has an energy and enthusiasm for her work, taking pride in the end result and she doesn’t even live there!

If you have any queries for Ocean Cleaning, please call 0121 707 6014.

we followed Nikki from Ocean Cleaning as she went about her

daily routine at radcliffe Gardens in Leamington...

“It’s a ten storey block of flats, so I have a rota system to keep track of which floors I’ve cleaned – I do floors ten down to five first, followed by floor one up to four.”

And you’ll be surprised by how much there is to keep clean – sweeping and mopping each of the ten storey’s floors, wiping walls and doors clean, sweeping and polishing internal floors, disinfecting door knobs and handrails, cleaning windows and window sills, mopping and polishing the lift and entrance area. She cleans all the stair-wells, fighting an ongoing battle with spiders’ webs and pigeons’ droppings! And then there are the ad-hoc spillages from tenants shopping, rubbish bags and the less pleasant....bodily fluids.

“It’s a big area to keep clean – but the tenants are very good at not leaving their rubbish and personal belongings in any of the corridors, so I can get round quite easily. Every day is different and I never know what will be waiting for me when I come into work!”

if you live in any of our flats across the district, you may not notice the team from ocean cleaning. They are the silent force who work tirelessly and often without thanks, to keep the communal areas in your homes clean.

a day in The life of...

ocean cleaninG

HOME NEWS

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GassafeTy direct debit is the easy way

to pay your rent – once it is set up you will never have to remember about paying the rent again! it saves you making a special journey and means that you don’t have to worry about paying your rent on time. payment by direct debit is secure and there is an immediate money back guarantee if an error is made.

Warwick District Council currently takes Direct Debits for rent on the 14th of each month. However the Council recognises that this date might not suit everyone. For example, if you receive your wages at the end of the month, it might not be easy to budget for a Direct Debit payment to be taken in the middle of the following month.

The good news is that from early 2011(date to be confirmed), the Council can offer an additional date

for payment on the 2nd of each month. If you want to use this extra payment date then just call 01926 456 409 for an application form.

In the past it has not been possible for tenants with rent arrears to pay their rent by Direct Debit. However, this is no longer automatically the case and it may be possible for you to pay your current rent PLUS an additional amount to reduce the arrears by direct debit. The fact that a regular amount will be taken every month might help you to budget by spreading the payments over a reasonable period of time. It also means the Council will take no further action in respect of arrears if Direct Debit payments are maintained.

If this sounds like a good idea contact your Income Recovery Officer on 01926 456 239/456 438/456 457 for an informal chat.

warwick district council has a legal obligation to check and service your boilers and gas appliances every year. But do you know why it is so important?

congratulations to kinetics who have just received a certificate from the “better gas safe than sorry campaign” to acknowledge their commitment to improving gas safety awareness.

This advert shows how difficult it is to tell whether you are suffering after a few nights of partying over the Christmas period, or carbon monoxide poisoning.

In fact the consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning can be devastating to families and Gas Safe are running a campaign at the moment which shows the experiences of people who have suffered death in their family, because they have not had their appliances serviced correctly.

All we ask is that we get into your property once a year to carry out the maintenance required. Just book an appointment with Kinetics and turn your boiler off an hour or so before they arrive. The next round of servicing will start in January 2011.

It won’t cost you anything, but it could cost you a whole lot more if you don’t.

It keeps your boiler in good working order, so that you have heating and water during the winter months when you need it. It is less likely to break down on Christmas Eve!

If your boiler is not checked and runs inefficiently, it could be costing you money in higher energy bills.

Any faults or problems can be identified and fixed to keep you and your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Leaseholders should also recognise their responsibility to have an annual service of all their Gas Appliances.

pay By direcT deBiT

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Garden share schemew

e have some more news on the garden share scheme which we told

you about in the last issue of Home News. Year 10 students from Aylesford School in Warwick will be using this initiative as part of their CoPE course, which is centred on the key skills of working with others and improving learning and problem solving. They are currently looking for tenants living on or near the forbes Estate in Warwick to help with their gardens.

If you are struggling to manage your garden at the moment, perhaps it is starting to feel a bit

too big as you’ve got older, maybe you’re suffering with ill health or a disability which is preventing you from getting out in the garden as much as you’d like? If you are concerned that all your hard work will go to waste, then why get some help from a friendly bunch of local school children?

It doesn’t have to be a permanent arrangement and you will be able to advise the children on the sorts of projects you would like them to work on in your garden to keep it looking its best.

Please contact Margaret Allen our Tenant Participation Officer on 01926 456 451 for more information about the scheme.

HOME NEWS

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do you need help and advice, but don’t know where to go?you might find the family information service is just what you need. They offer free and impartial information and sign posting service, providing help and guidance on just about everything to do with family life today.

Whether you need some help and advice with finding childcare, understanding your rights as a working parent or dealing with bullying at school, you can talk through your queries with them on the phone, or they occasionally attend community venues and job centres for one-to-one surgeries, or group talks.

The Family Information Service can also signpost you to other organisations that might help you with educational or financial issues for example and they can send you information on a whole host of

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We strongly recommend that you insure your home contents. You might believe that your landlords will insure your personal belongings against theft, fire, vandalism or burst pipes.This is not the case.

Don’t lose it all! HoMe Contents insURanCe

Call the team on: 01926 456 408 to find out more or ask for a quote.

We offer home contents insurance which has been specially created for our tenants and includes;

• Affordable price • Weekly payments with your rent• Personal and quick claims service• No excess to pay if you make a claim

subjects, such as dealing with divorce, life with a teenager, flexible working, adoption leave and lots more.

noT sure who To ask?are you part of a family, a lone parent, or carer?

For more information visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fis email fis@warwickshire.gov.uk or call the Helpline on 0845 090 8044

HOME NEWS

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avoid BursT pipes This winTerA sudden drop in the temperature can freeze water pipes in the home causing thousands of pounds worth of damage and distress. You can avoid all of this by taking a few simple steps, before the weather changes!

Wrap up pipes, water tanks and cisterns with insulation (old towels or blankets can be used) especially those which are exposed, or in unheated areas like the loft.

Repair dripping taps as they can cause the pipes to freeze.

Keep the house warm by blocking any draughts.

If you’re going away for any length of time over a cold period, then keep the heating on low or get a plumber to drain the whole system of water to prevent frost damage while you’re away.

Make sure you know where the stopcock is – it’s usually under the sink.

But if you do have the misfortune to have a frozen pipe, then opt for damage limitation by doing the following;

1. Turn off the water at the stopcock.

2. Block any escaping water with a towel.

3. Turn off the boiler to avoid any electrical problems.

4. Call a plumber.

z what are the alternatives to moving to a residential care home?

z is there help for me to live at home so i don’t have to move?

z can i get help to repair my home even if i own the property?

These are some of the common questions FirstStop Warwickshire are asked, because in later life, your circumstances may change due to ill health or the loss of a partner and this may mean that living in your home becomes a bit of a struggle. You might not be aware of what options are available to you.

FirstStop Warwickshire is a national advice line for older people and somewhere you can discuss your questions and concerns – whether it’s about getting some help to stay in your home, or deciding whether to downsize, they will work with you to

solve your queries and point you in the right direction if there are other organisations you need to speak to and help you liaise with them.

This new service, providing specialist housing options advice to older people and their families and carers, is a joint initiative by Warwickshire County Council and five local district and borough councils, including Warwick District Council.

Contact the Housing Options Support Workers on0800 377 7070 or email firststop@warwickshire.gov.uk

firsTsTop warwickshire

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whaT is asBesTos?It is the common name for a group of naturally occurring fibrous materials which have been used in a range of building and equipment materials. Large amounts of it were used for construction purposes in new and refurbished buildings until 1999 when all use of asbestos was prohibited.

Asbestos was mostly used in domestic properties between 1930 and 1980. Places where asbestos might be present in buildings include:

z Pipe and boiler lagging z Loose applied loft insulation & Insulating boards

z Fire protection boards z Profiled sheet roofing z Wall cladding and lining z soffit and facia boards z Ceiling tiles z Textured decorative finishes z Vinyl floor tiles z Resin stair treads and toilet cisterns

is iT safe?

Many people worry about the health risks associated with asbestos, however it is safe as long as it is in a good state of repair and not damaged or disturbed.

TenanT improvemenTs & diy

Before carrying out any home improvements or DIY you should contact Housing & Property Services so we can check our asbestos register and advise you if asbestos is present in your home, so that you can proceed with the work in a safe manner.

enQuiries

More information and advice about asbestos will feature in future issues of the Home News. If you have any questions, please contact Housing & Property Services on 01926 456 036.

swiTchover

will i need a new Tv?

no. Most TVs can be converted with the use of a new set top box. These are usually attached to your TV with a scart lead. Trading Standards say “Don’t be conned into buying a brand new TV. A set top box costing around £20-£30 should enable most televisions to receive digital signals.”

will my dvd and video recorder still work?

yes. You will be able to record and play back. However, it is unlikely you will be able to record one channel while watching another and to do this you will need a digital TV recorder. Buy one with a digital tick.

will i need a new aerial?

Most rooftop aerials will continue to work after the digital switchover, so you may not need to upgrade or replace your aerial. If you do need a new rooftop aerial it can cost between £60-£180. Do not buy from traders on your doorstep, always shop around and always use a Registered Digital Installer. Only they are allowed to use the digital tick.

Contact the Switchover Help Scheme for more information and to

check if you are eligible for help on 0800 4085 900 or email

info@helpscheme.co.uk, or send a text message

to 80002.

The central Television region will switch-over to the digital signal from 30 march 2011. everyone will have to convert or upgrade their Tv equipment to receive digital signals to watch Tv. we answer some of your questions here.

HOME NEWS

www.warwickdc.gov.uk

16www.warwickdc.gov.uk

1. your boiler is not workingzCheck there is gas and

electricity available for the appliance. z If the boiler has a pressure

gauge, is the reading at least one bar? If it doesn’t it needs topping up and if you’re unsure about how to do this call Kinetics.

z If there is a timer clock, is it set to ON?

z If fitted, is the room thermostat set to maximum?

z Has the boiler lock-out tripped

in? If so re-set by pushing the re-set button on the boiler.

z If you have checked all of the above and the boiler is still not working, then you should make that call.

2. hot water is ok, but all radiators are not working

z Check the timer is set to ON for heating.

z Check the room thermostat is set to maximum.

z Check that all radiator valves are open and if thermostatic radiator

avoid cosTly call-ouTs

when things go wrong, it’s easy to pick up the phone and organise a call out, but there are a few simple steps you can take yourself before you do that...

valves are fitted, set them to maximum.

3. hot water is ok, but one or two radiators are not working

z Check that the radiator valve is open.

z Check that curtains or furniture are not restricting the air flow.

z If the radiators are hot at the bottom and cold at the top, then there may be air in the radiators that needs to be vented – and you can do this yourself, see below.

4. To vent your radiators

z Turn off the boiler. z Check the pressure reading on the gauge is between 1 and 2 (top up if necessary and if you need help doing this, call Kinetics).

z Go to the affected radiator and slowly undo the vent, the venting/bleeding of the radiator is done through the square peg (or similar) near the top of the radiator. You use a key called a “radiator bleed key” (right).

z Turn your key, anti-clockwise until air is heard coming out.

z Water coming out may be HOT, so use a cloth to ensure water discharge does not scald you or stain walls or floors.

z Close the vent until it stops, but don’t over tighten.

z Check the pressure gauge and top up if necessary.

z Turn the boiler back on.

HOME NEWS

17

We want you and your family to enjoy Christmas and avoid getting into difficulty with money. The last thing we want is for rent arrears, built up in the run up to Christmas, to result in an eviction. If you should run into difficulties you must contact us as soon as you can to ensure that a small debt does not become a large Christmas hangover.

here are some guidelines to help you avoid slipping into debt1. Do not spend more than you can

afford even if it is tempting!

2. Budget for your rent and other essential bills first when calculating how much you have to spend on gifts, food and drink.

3. Join a savings scheme such as the Credit Union so that you can put money away safely for your Christmas budget next year.

4. Check you are claiming the correct benefits and Tax Credits. Visit the website www.directgov.uk or contact the Citizens Advice Bureau on 0844 855 2322.

if you are struggling remember these rules1. Don’t ignore the problem – open

your mail, the problems won’t just disappear.

2. Don’t borrow more money

to pay off your debts without thinking carefully and avoid loan sharks. This could lead to further problems down the line.

3. Contact the people you owe money to and explain that you cannot afford to pay.

4. Always keep copies of any letters or court forms that you send or receive.

5. Always attend any Court Hearing and fill in any court papers you receive.

DOn’T lET deBT gIvE YOu A

chrisTmas hanGover

6. Get some from FREE advice from National Debtline or the Citizens Advice Bureau.

If you find that you are unable to pay your rent , you must contact the Income recovery Team immediately. Please telephone 01926 456 438. We may be able to refer to the Money Advice Worker at the Citizens Advice for free and confidential money management advice.

The christmas period can put pressure on you to spend more than you can afford and the temptation to avoid paying the rent, essential bills or to borrow money is very difficult to resist.

HOME NEWS

www.warwickdc.gov.uk

HOME NEWS

LeasehoLders

newsour committee;chair Gerald Haseldinesecretary Lorraine WebbTreasurer Bernie Cuffemembers Mark Leeson, Heather Graughran, Phil McGaffinWe have developed our email system, so that you can send us emails, but do not use this instead

18

A periodic inspection report (PIR) is a formal method of recording the findings of an inspection. The inspection will:

z reveal if any of your electrical circuits or equipment is overloaded.

z find any potential electrical shock risks and fire hazards in your electrical installation.

z identify any defective DIY electrical work.

z highlight any lack of earthing or bonding.

The report will establish the overall condition of all the electrics and state whether they are satisfactory for continued use, and whether any work might need to be done.

when is a periodic inspection needed?

It is recommended it is carried out at least every 10 years. Warwick

District Council also carries out an inspection when the property has a change of tenant and if there are any major refurbishments like a new kitchen or bathroom.

who should undertake a periodic inspection?

Periodic inspections should always be carried out by a competent electrician. We use experienced and qualified electricians to carry out these PIR inspections.

what happens if any problems are identified during your periodic inspection?

If the electrician identifies any improvements to the installation, they will carry out the work whilst in your property or return at a more convenient time if a lot of work is required.

newrecycling for flatsIf you live in a flat it can be difficult to recycle – it’s not easy to carry the red boxes and bags up and down stairs and also storage space for them can be restricted. Our recycling team still want you to be able to recycle and are setting up communal recycling centres for larger housing complexes or flats.

Consisting of at least 5 wheeled bins you can recycle the following;1. paper – newspapers,

magazines, junk mail and catalogues.

2. Glass bottles and jars – all colours.

3. cans (food/drink), aerosols and foil – biscuit tins, soup tins, deodorant cans.

4. card and cardboard – cereal boxes, toilet rolls and any packaging.

5. plastic bottles – drinks, cosmetics and sauce. We cannot recycle yoghurt pots or margarine tubs.

With all your recycling, wash it first, try to crush and flatten your recycling so it takes up less space, and don’t mix up the materials you place in each bin. If you carry it down in a carrier bag – please don’t put that in the recycling!

Over 110 complexes already have these new sites and we are rolling them out all the time. If you want to find out if one is coming to you soon, please visit the website at www.warwickdc.gov.uk, email contract.services@warwickdc.gov.uk or call 01926 412 464.

like so many things that we use on a daily basis, the electrics in our homes deteriorate with use and age. it is important that we check them regularly in order to be sure that you and your family are not at risk, and that the installation continues to be in a safe and serviceable condition.

of your usual Housing & Property Services contacts. Please send your email address to lag2010wdc@yahoo.com so that we can update our database (remember to include your name and address).

Meetings will be held at the Town Hall, 7.30pm on the following dates;2 march 20113 may 2011, including an aGmAll leaseholders in Warwick District are welcome to come along.

HOME NEWS

www.warwickdc.gov.uk

whaT is a pir?AnD WHY SHOulD I gET OnE?

19

we have found a great new craft workshop, “fab fabs” at the Sydni

Centre in Sydenham – not only is it a great way of meeting people and passing a few hours doing something enjoyable, it’s a creative way of recycling and re-using your old materials and fabric.

The Fab Fab Workshop meets every Thursday from 11am - 3pm, the idea is to make creative new things with old fabric. Sewing machines and all the fabrics are provided, you just need to turn up during the session – and you can drop in

What a faB idea!

and out of the session to suit your availability.

Action 21 are behind the project and Fab Fab’s co-ordinator, Alison Smith says, “All the fabric we are sent is being re-used to benefit the community and our current project involves making fabulous patchwork curtains for Action 21’s new Sustainability Centre in Jephson Gardens”.

Fab Fabs also organises big clothes swaps in the community where you bring items along (men’s, ladies and children’s clothing, accessories, hats and bags) and swap them for something else! There is no charge and you could

walk home with a great new outfit – it brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “out with the old and in with the new!”

Just check the Action 21 website for more information www.action21.co.uk or call the Sydni Centre on 01926 422 071.

HOME NEWS

www.warwickdc.gov.uk

20

if you have access to SKY, Virgin Media, a mobile phone, a computer or “Wii”, then you can view Home

Choice properties on your TV screen and bid for them from the comfort of your own home! This is in addition to other bidding options currently available, such as bidding by phone.

You log on using your unique bidding reference number and date of birth. You can then bid for properties and access a list of your recent bids.

The property lists on digitv will be updated every 2 weeks in line with the usual HomeChoice bidding

cycle. The information about each property will now include a photograph and for any further information, you just need to click on the “more details” button.

Bid from your armchair!

sky Interactive Directgov – press “select” on the welcome page Local Services -1 Quickcode: WARKSTV (9275788)

virGin Home Interactive – 7 News and Info Looking Local – 6 Quickcode: WARKSTV (9275788)

moBile Go to: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/digitv

wii & pc insert the following into your browser – looking.local.gov.uk

To find iT, JusT follow The insTrucTions

Why not have a look and let us know what you think! Contact hadvice@warwickdc.gov.uk or call 01926 456 431/456 446.

www.warwickdc.gov.uk

HOME NEWS

2121

The food Co-op buys bulk quantities of seasonal fresh vegetables and

fruit each week and they are packed by volunteers. Bulk buying saves cash, and because the volunteers

and Then There were

five!you can now get your five a day at five different venues across the district. The first food co-op started in 2005 in lillington and its success has led to a further four co-ops in the area, at warwick, sydenham, whitnash and kingsway.

give their time for free the savings are passed on to the community. Prices are checked with local supermarkets and are always considerably cheaper. The vegetables are not just a bargain – they’re good for you too!

Anyone can order a bag and at the moment the Co-ops are packing a total of over 100 bags per week spread over the five centres.

All you have to do is order and pay the week before, but each Co-op has its own arrangements, so just call them direct for more information. “Our volunteers are fantastic”, says Judy Steele, co-director of South Warwickshire Local Food. “They share recipes and tips for getting children to eat their greens and we also organise food based events and cookery workshops.”

The vegetables and fruit are bought from local wholesaler Richard Clarke of Warwick Street, Leamington. “Richard and his staff have supported us all the way”, says Judy. “He’s always looking out for local food for us and we would like to include even more locally grown food in the bags, we just need some land and a grower to help us to make this happen.”

HOME NEWS

www.warwickdc.gov.uk

22

love your lefTovers!

TIm’S TuRkEY

CuRRYingredients

Leftover turkey – chopped into bite

sized pieces

1 tbsp oil

1 large onion – sliced

1 apple – peeled and chopped

1 tbsp curry powder

½ tsp ground ginger

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp ground turmeric

200g tin of chopped tomatoes

(per person)

¼ pint of milk (or coconut milk)

¼ pint of chicken stock

1 oz (25g) flour

1 tbsp mango chutney

70 – 100ml natural yogurt (optional extra)

To make

z Pour the oil into a pan and lightly fry

the onion and apple until soft.

z Add turkey and all the spices and

cook for about 2 minutes

z Add the milk, chicken stock and

chopped tomatoes and mix all

together

z Add the mango chutney

z Add salt and pepper to taste

z Add flour to thicken

z Bring to the boil and then simmer for

20 – 30 minutes

z Stir in the natural yogurt 5 minutes

before you finish cooking (optional

extra)

z Serve with rice, naan bread or salad.

EmmA’S EASY PIE

ingredients

Leftover turkey – diced

Olive oil

1 onion – sliced

3 or 4 garlic cloves

2 or 3 large leeks – sliced

2 carrots – chopped

small pot of crème fraiche

packet of ready made puff pastry

1 egg

To make

z Cook the onion, garlic, leeks and

carrots over a medium heat until soft

z Add turkey and cook for a further 10

minutes

z Turn off heat and add the crème

fraiche

z Add salt and pepper and empty

mixture into a large pie dish

z Roll out the pastry to the size of the

dish and seal it on top by pressing

down with a fork – decorate the top

with any leftover pastry trimmings

z Brush with egg and bake in the oven

according to the instructions with

the puff pastry

z Serve on its own or with potatoes

and/or vegetables.

Enjoy!

how about a couple of suggestions for using up any left-over turkey this christmas! our new tenant panel members share their own favourite recipes.

www.warwickdc.gov.uk

HOME NEWS

23

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One word from the word bank is not in the puzzle. If you can find it, complete the form below and post it to us. In the event of a tie, first out of the hat wins.

name: .............................................

address: .........................................

...........................................................

Tel: ...................................................

The missing word is:

...........................................................

send your enTries To:Fiona Walsh, Housing Services, PO Box 2175, Warwick District Council, Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 5QE to arrive by 14th January 2011

win a £40 asda voucher or one of four runners-up prizes of a £5 asda voucher.

wordsearch winnerCongratulations to Mr Blackaby of Leamington who won first prize in our Autumn Wordsearch Competition. He won £40 Tesco Vouchers.

www.warwickdc.gov.uk

HOME NEWS

Unhappy with the service you receive from Housing?Fiona Walsh .................... (01926) 456 447

Leaseholder Enquiries ........................ (01926) 456 420

refuse & recycling ..... (01926) 412 464

rentsProblems with paying your home rent. Guy Greenland/Yusaf Ramzan ...........................(01926) 456 438/457/239Problems with paying your garage rent Mark Herbert ..................... (01926) 456 435 rent Direct Debit, Eva Nicholls ..................... (01926) 456 409rent Allpay Cards, Satnam Sangha ............... (01926) 456 408Pay your rent by phone........................................(01926) 412 420

Tenant Involvement(Tenant Panels & residents Groups)Margaret Allen ................ (01926) 456 451

Tenants’ Contents Insurance SchemeSatnam Sangha ........ (01926) 456 408/409

Council Housing Estates SupervisorsEileen McKeoghChristine Ledger Square ....07866 609 655John Lamb – Fallow Hill .... 07866 609 674Andy SmithKennedy/St Paul’s Square ..07866 609 657Ant CollinsNew Brook Street/Radcliffe Gardens – (grounds maintenance only).............................................07866 609 656Senior Estates SupervisorNew Brook Street/Radcliffe Gardens/Dell House/44 Clarendon Sq (cleaning only).............................................07979 486 617

Disabled Adaptations . (01926) 456 405

GaragesApplying for a garage – Mrs Darlison/Mrs Leech ............................(01926) 456 424/5Garage Repairs ................ (01926) 412 828

Homelessness.....................(01926) 456 427/428/429/359

Home News Fiona Walsh ..................... (01926) 456 447

Overdue Gas ServicingNatalie Kearns .................(01926) 456 035 Sue Sweeney ...................(01926) 456 434 Tenancy Enforcement .....(01926) 456 419

Warwick response (Lifeline Service)24 hour number .............. (01926) 339 577Supporting People Services Manager Joan Hicks ...................... (01926) 456 405

If you prefer to write, our address is:Housing and Property ServicesWarwick District Council, P.O. Box 2175, riverside House, Milverton Hill, royal Leamington Spa, CV32 5QE

If you prefer to email:Housing Register & Homelessnesshadvice@warwickdc.gov.ukReporting Repairscontactus@warwickdc.gov.ukRepairs Queries – not for reporting repairs hsgrep@warwickdc.gov.uk Housing Officers & Estate Managementhsgem@warwickdc.gov.ukRent Arrears Teamhsgra@warwickdc.gov.ukLettings & Moving Homehsglet@warwickdc.gov.ukHousing Complaintshsgcr@warwickdc.gov.ukLifeline Control Centreccms@warwickdc.gov.ukLeaseholders

HOUSING rEPAIrS 01926 412 828HomeChoice and Housing Officer enquiries 01926 412828

Where possible, information can be made available in other formats, including large print, CD and other languages if required. To obtain one of these alternatives, please contact 01926 456 108.