Home Is Where the Heart Is
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Home Is Where The Heart Is The South Ulster Housing Association 2010 Annual Report Contents Chairman’s Report Board of Management Director’s Report Management Report Income and Expenditure Account Balance Sheet Contact Details: Auditors, Bankers, Solicitors & Registered Office The South Ulster Housing Association 2010 Annual Report CHAIRMAN’S REPORT I have great pleasure in This has included New Build Scheme in Newry As mentioned earlier staff levels have continued presenting the Annual (29), Banbridge (15), Lurgan (4), Craigavon (6) and to increase as the Association expands its Report for South Ulster Portadown (15). operation. The Association continuously reviews Housing Association its staffing levels and further recruitment will take for Year Ended 31st One of the schemes in Gowanvale Drive, Banbridge place over the coming year. Training is vital in March 2010. was the Associations first “Shared Future” housing ensuring that staff are equipped to deal with the scheme. This has been a great success and I look ever changing environment we operate in. This was my second forward to further schemes developed under this period as Chairman umbrella. Indeed the Association was pleased to The Association committed over £10,000 to and I am pleased to welcome the Minister for Social Development, Ms training, seminars and conferences, ensuring that have been able to Margaret Ritchie, to visit the scheme. Although I both members and staff are aware of the current assist the Association was unable to attend personally, several members housing environment. The NIFHA conference was once again. It has did and feedback from all was very positive. in Brighton and I am pleased so many members been an extremely were able to attend. We currently have one busy year and I would like to personally thank Another one of our schemes was developed member of staff attending the University of Ulster Mr Sam Preston (Director) and Mr Mark Turner specially for people with learning disabilities, here on day release, undergoing a Post Graduate course (Assistant Director) for their professional advice in Portadown. As you may be aware this scheme in Housing. I would like to wish Ms Jill Irwin well as and guidance during my time in office. is called ‘Locke House’, after one of our founding she progresses with her studies. members Mr Alan Locke. Members have had an I am also pleased to welcome Mr David Cooper, opportunity to visit the scheme with one of our Finally challenges for the forthcoming year. Our as a new addition to the Board. Mr Cooper has a Board meetings held on the premises. This was a new build scheme is fairly healthy for 2010/11, financial background and in this economic climate, pioneering approach to bring our Association out but with budgetary cuts imminent, there is no his experience will be most welcome. into the community and certainly I can confirm guarantee of future developments. that it was a great success. Many of our members have been with the However, under the leadership of our Director, Association from its formation and each year we Another highlight during the year was our Mr Sam Preston I am confident that our continue to expand. This is not only the number invitation to Hillsborough Castle to officially Association will be able to deal with whatever of properties and the area we operate in, but also receive our Investors in People (IIP) Award. This challenges face us. the number of staff. It is with this strength of was a momentous occasion and feedback from performance of staff that SUHA will continue to IIP was that our Association had excelled in this Arnold Hatch grow in strength and reputation. assessment. I would like to thank Mr Mark Turner, Chairman Assistant Director and all the staff for the hard During this financial year 2009/10 the Association work and dedication to ensuring that we achieved has added another 73 properties to its portfolio. this award. “It is with this strength of performance of staff that SUHA will continue to grow in strength and reputation.” BOARD OF MANAGEMENT CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN Mr G A Hatch Mr J Haslam Staff, Finance and Corporate Governance Committees HON SECRETARY HON TREASURER 2nd VICE CHAIRMAN Mr A Whitten Mr S S C Wilson Mr R Redman Development & Staff & Finance Committees Development & Finance Committees Staff Committees Mr G A Locke Mr J Hunter Mr D Johnston Development & Development & Development & Corporate Governance Corporate Governance Finance Committees Committees Committees Mr B Cassells Mrs M Simpson Mr C Warren Finance Committee Staff & Corporate Governance Staff & Committees Corporate Governance Committees Mr D Cooper Mr S Doyle Finance Committee Corporate Governance Committee DIRECTOR’S REPORT Can house prices go much lower? Last year the A remarkable change to say the least from several years ago. question was “How low will they go?” This year the above question has been repeated numerous times, Despite changes in the EU legislation regarding “Off the Shelf” and “Design as all those involved in many aspects of housing and Build” purchases, we were still able to acquire new dwellings which had provision came to terms with the unprecedented reached the magical 100% completion stage. These schemes have been put situation which has arisen in the last year. to good use and many applicants who were in urgent need are now very satisfied tenants of the Association much sooner than expected. As I predicted in last year’s report the downturn in the market enabled social housing providers to To quote the Housing Minister, “we were able to acquire the right type of obtain “more for less” without having to become dwellings, at the right price, in the right place, at the right time”. We were involved in any new initiatives for procurement unable to acquire numerous dwellings which were offered to us due to the of sites and contracts. In many cases the cost to fact that they were not in the right place. provide the dwellings dropped by 20-25%. It would appear that the market price for dwellings has now levelled off at a Some developers were even making the following statement, “Give me what realistic and workable figure for all concerned. you can” when contacted regarding the purchase of “Off the Shelf Dwellings”. “Can house prices go much lower?” Traditional Development Canal Street/New Street/Sinclair Street, Ballygowan Road, Banbridge – Phase III – The difficulty in obtaining the approval was due to Newry – 29 Dwellings 15 Dwellings/Meadowbrook, Craigavon – 6 the fact that the area of land had been designated Dwellings/Levin Road, Lurgan – 4 Dwellings as open space. Our proposal was eventually As predicted this scheme was completed in May/ treated as a special case which the planning policy June 2009 and lived up to expectations not only A visit from the Housing Minister, Ms Margaret allows in certain circumstances. for the tenants who moved into the new dwellings Ritchie, was very well received especially by one of but also all the members of the team who were the new tenants for whom a special needs dwelling The acquisition of the site is now in progress and involved from inception to completion. had been constructed. The applicant had been it is expected that the legal formalities will be very patient but nonetheless was very pleased completed in July/August 2010. ”A good job, very well done” was a comment to receive her keys from Minister Ritchie. The made by a local resident in Canal Street. Hopefully spacious new dwelling which was built to include a Annaghdale Place & Garvaghy Road, the Planning Service are in agreement with layout agreed with the family and the O.T. will no Portadown – 3 Special Needs Dwellings this statement when they are dealing with the doubt make day to day living a lot more easy and application to replace the derelict properties at comfortable. No longer will she need a member of We also look forward to providing 3 special needs 16–32a Canal Street. her family to carry out the simple task of opening dwellings on these sites which were acquired a window. She now has a remote control which by the Association 10 years ago. The small land will be great assistance to her as she leads a more bank has proved to be very useful in this instance independent lifestyle. due to the fact that suitable sites for this type of development close to all amenities are not readily All the dwellings in the scheme were complete at available. Planning approval has just recently been the end of 2009/beginning of 2010, again well received and work on site should commence in ahead of the programme. Our thanks again to Kelly August/September 2010. Brothers who as usual carried out all the work to a very high standard. Ennis Green, Lurgan – 7 Dwellings/Princes Close, Lurgan – 4 Dwellings/ Beech Grove, Rectory Road, Lurgan – 1 Special Needs Dromore – 5 Dwellings Dwelling At long last we were able to start work on site at At long last agreement was reached between the all 3 locations. One particular family could hardly N.I.H.E. and Craigavon Borough Council as to who believe the news that the foundations of their was the rightful owner of the land. It turned out special needs dwelling at Ennis Green were finally to be the Council. After a considerable amount of being laid. They had been very disappointed on discussions, numerous meetings and letter writing, several occasions that the scheme was delayed for full planning approval was received. a variety of reasons beyond our control. Two other families will benefit greatly when they and we will look forward to the completion of our and work on site is now progressing very well.