homingwww.-.gov.uk/council-housing inSpring 2019

Volunteers Bryan Coyle and Hugh Logan are helping to give a community allotment a new lease of life. Full story page 13.

In this issue Meet the Field Officers Fire safety update Win tickets Wild flowers flourish on city estate Welcome Welcome to the spring issue of homing in. As the weather improves, we’ve got ideas for getting outside on community allotments across the city. There’s news of how one group of residents are Volunteers adding a splash of colour to their neighbourhood with wild flowers – and a chance to apply for spring into action seeds from Kew Gardens. Residents across the city are taking part in the Great British Spring Clean. Plus information about a new youth café and Volunteers from the council’s Tidy Up Team, activities for youngsters, a chance to win tickets members of Friends Groups and other organisations to the Brighton Festival, along with a round-up are teaming up with the council’s park rangers in a of updates from across the housing service. month of community events. Have a good spring! The Spring Clean is part of a national campaign organised by Keep Britain Tidy. There are lots of local events to get involved in, including: Craven Woods Get it covered! 5 April 11am to 2pm Do you have home contents insurance Meet the council’s rangers at the end of The for your possessions? Causeway to take part in a litter pick. A lot of people think their furniture, carpets, Woods curtains, electrical items and other belongings are 15 April 10.30am to 1.30pm covered by council insurance, but that’s not the case. Meet opposite the Hikers’ Rest in Coldean Lane for a litter pick with the Friends of Coldean Woods. We encourage all tenants and leaseholders to take Hill out household contents insurance to provide cover 20 April 11am to 1pm against theft, fire, and water damage – to help avoid Help to keep Whitehawk Hill looking spectacular by extra expense to replace your possessions if they joining rangers at this litter pick. get damaged. Preston Park Easter Egg Hunt and Rock Painting You can arrange insurance through any insurer. We 21 April 11am to 2pm recommend Crystal Insurance which offers a good Design and paint a rock with a litter related message choice of cover, with weekly payments starting from in an Easter Egg Hunt and competition organised by as little as £1. the Friends of Preston Park and the council’s rangers. For more information contact Crystal Insurance on For more details about these and other events visit 0345 450 7286 or visit www.crystal-insurance.co.uk. www.keepbritaintidy.org

New Housing Assistant Director Martin (pictured) has been seconded from his Martin Reid has been appointed as Assistant role as housing’s Head Director of Housing until April 2020. of Strategy, Property & The role has been brought in to oversee the development Investment and will lead of the new repairs and maintenance service and the the full range of housing delivery of new council homes. functions.

2 homingin www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing Fire alarms in high-rise blocks Following a couple of recent year, and these are published You can also find further fire fires in high-rise blocks, we’d on our website. These look at safety information, including like to reassure residents the building as a whole and the our fire risk assessments, at about our alarm systems. communal areas, checking signs www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ and doors for example, and fire-safety-in-flats. The national advice for purpose making sure common ways built blocks, supported by East are clear. Fire & Rescue Service An East Sussex Fire & (ESFRS), is for delayed evacuation. In both recent cases, the fires Rescue home visit were contained by the building’s In line with this guidance, safety measures and the fire we don’t have alarms in service were able to tackle communal areas. them quickly. If there’s a fire in your flat, you We will discuss our alarm should get out, stay out and policy with ESFRS at our next call 999. joint Housing Fire Health If there’s a fire elsewhere in & Safety Board to see if we need the building, the advice is that to review our practice. We are you are usually safer in your flat also continuing work to look at with the doors and windows introducing sprinkler systems in closed, unless heat or smoke more of our high-rise buildings. is affecting you. If you have any concerns about Leaving a building while the fire fire safety in your home, ESFRS service is attending to a fire can offer free home visits to check hamper the operation. or fit smoke alarms and offer a range of advice around home If the fire service decide it is safer safety. Call 0800 177 7069 or for you to evacuate the building, visit www.esfrs.org/your-safety/ they will tell you to leave. home-safety-visits for more We do fire risk assessments on information. all our high-rise blocks every

Apology to Calendula residents We would like to apologise to the residents of Calendula for the response from housing following a flat fire in the building. While the initial response worked well and the emergency repairs were done shortly after ESFRS dealt with the fire, a breakdown in communications meant no housing staff visited residents until the following afternoon. This is not good enough and we apologise. We’ve looked at our procedures to see what went wrong, clarified our point of contact for out-of-hours emergencies, and introduced a few changes to make sure housing staff attend any incident of fire in a block of flats.

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing homingin 3

Help us shape the new repairs and improvement service We’re looking for two new residents to get resident involvement groups and we would like to involved and have a say as we set up our new include two new volunteers as well. repairs, maintenance and improvement service. They will be able to provide ideas and feedback in We’re setting up a residents’ group to work with a variety of ways, including taking part in group housing staff to help continue to shape and design activities and monthly meetings. the new service, which will be introduced when the If you would like to get involved and have a say in current partnership with Mears ends next March. representing the views of residents, give us a call The group will be made of 12 resident on 01273 291295 or email futurerepairs@brighton- representatives – 10 will come from existing hove.gov.uk to find out more. Working to improve our service to you We’re planning to bring in a new housing management computer system to improve the service we provide to you. It’s still early days. The change won’t happen until next year and we’ll continue to keep you updated in Homing In. • We’ll be able to use mobile working to improve our customer service. For example, updating your information when we meet and reporting repairs. • We’ll also be introducing a new, improved, customer portal on the council website so you can do more things for yourself online, as well as having access to your rent account. Electrical Works Review • Don’t worry if you don’t have internet access, you will still be able to do things on the phone or The council and Mears have been working in person. together to review contract arrangements for electrical works last year. This follows work carried out with the council’s Internal Get involved Audit team. Some residents helped test the new system before it was chosen and we’ll be asking residents to test the The council and Mears checked a number new customer portal before it goes live. of electrical jobs for safety, certification and If you’d like to be involved, email hmsprojectteam@ correct charging. All work had been carried brighton-hove.gov.uk out safely, the correct certification was in As we prepare for the changeover to the new system, we’re place and no evidence of incorrect charging working hard to make sure all the information we hold is was found. up to date. To tell us about changes to your household or The review work identified that we need contact details, use our online forms or call 01273 293030. to make a number of improvements to Tenants: administrative processes. These are now www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/tenant-household-changes in place and are being monitored through Leaseholders: regular contract meetings. www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/leaseholder-contact-details

4 homingin www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing

New Homes Update

New council homes City centre homes in Kensington Street Twelve new council homes in the heart of the city are due to be finished in early summer. The development of nine flats and three houses in Kensington Street, in the area, will be let through Homemove to households with a housing need. The homes are built on three small pockets of council-owned land, previously used for parking. The project is part of our New Homes for Neighbourhoods building programme, which is building new council homes for rent across the city. Building for the future A former office space at Swallow Court in Whitehawk is being turned into three new council flats. Work is nearing completion on the flats, as part of a programme called ‘Hidden Homes’ which aims to transform redundant spaces in council-owned buildings into comfortable homes. Thanks to residents at Swallow Court for their patience and understanding while work has been carried out. Buying back former council homes How the new Selsfield Drive flats will look A scheme to bring back former council homes into council ownership is being extended. Work starts in The Home Purchase Policy is providing more rented homes for families on the housing register, by buying Selsfield Drive back properties sold under Right to Buy. People who bought a council home within the last Construction work is due to start later this 10 years must offer if back to the council if they spring on 30 flats on the site of the former decide to sell it. housing office in Selsfield Drive, Brighton. A trial was also introduced last year, to give owners Some work is already underway, to prepare the who purchased council homes at any time the option site and provide 10 parking bays for residents, of offering it back to the council if they wish to sell. to ease parking pressures in the area while The trial has now been extended and will continue construction is in progress. until at least the end of 2019. More developments are in the pipeline and we’ll To find out more visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ keep you updated in future issues of Homing in. home-purchase-policy or call 01273 293030.

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing homingin 5 Remembering An invite to leaseholders From the Chair of LAG, Christina Hadleigh David Spafford

The Leaseholders Action Group (LAG) is holding its Annual General Meeting on 6 April from 9am to 1pm at the Friends Meeting House, Ship Street - a year since I was elected Chair. LAG is the group the council consults with on leasehold management issues and all Brighton & Hove City Council leaseholders are invited to attend and take part. LAG has regular meetings with senior managers and was fully involved in the council’s design of the way repairs, maintenance, and capital works are delivered after the partnership with Mears ends on 31 March 2020. Our points and issues were taken Hampshire Court residents on board and we helped shape the way the services pay tribute will be delivered. The group also submitted detailed evidence to the We are sad to have lost Christina who passed Housing, Communities and Local Government away in January following a short illness. inquiry into leasehold reform, after which the Christina (pictured) was a well-known Executive Director, Larissa Reed, gave evidence member of the Hampshire Court community, in person. who always found time to talk to all the The council manages around 1,500 blocks of residents and anyone else she came into various types, in which there are approximately contact with. 2,880 residential leasehold properties. Between She was Chair of the Hampshire Residents 2012 and 2018, over 600 leaseholders were billed Committee for a number of years and also more than £5,000 each for major work on their served on other committees in the Kemp blocks. Other leaseholders are facing high cost Town area. major work bills over the next few years. Christina was a very keen gardener who The council are now drawing up the programme for would always share her expertise with the major works starting under the new contract and other gardeners. She entered the gardens the emerging details of this are of great importance in the ‘ in Bloom’ competition, to us. LAG will be involved in this and we are keen which we won on a number of occasions. to hear the views of leaseholders in this. You could always find her in her favourite I hope that you will support the Leaseholders Action ‘post’ at the entrance to the complex, tending Group by attending our AGM and that volunteers her garden and keeping an eye on anyone will come forward to take part in committee entering the property. meetings, and tracking the council’s management Christina was a big dog lover and could of our homes. always be seen about with Lola and her For more information: beloved Smart car. David Spafford: [email protected] We have planted a rose in her Keely McDonald, Resident Involvement Team: garden in memory of Christina. [email protected] 01273 293870

6 homingin www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing James Grows Wild Planting wild flowers boxes of wildflower seed kits from Kew Gardens is one for distribution within the of the ways residents on community and so they were the Sylvan Hall estate in able to provide James with Brighton are taking care packets of seeds and guidance of their environment. on growing. Barry Hughes, chairman of The results, as can be seen the residents’ association from the picture, were explains: spectacular and lasted for Last summer’s wild flower Sylvan Hall resident, James weeks – changing as new display at Sylvan Hall Martin looks out on a flowers emerged. grassy bank and last year Grow Wild is the national and birds. Grow Wild provides he decided that it could do outreach initiative of the the seeds and guidance; you with a splash of colour. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, provide the space and do the Each year the Sylvan Hall introducing wildflowers into work of turning the space Residents’ Association urban spaces and helping into a beautiful, colourful applies to Grow Wild for populations of butterflies, bees wildlife haven.

FREE Give away Pick up Homing In have teamed up with Grow Wild and we have the bat 10 seed kits to give away. Please let us know how you and have get on with your planting by sending us photographs of your wildflower patch for possible a chat! Fancy trying out a new sport? inclusion in future editions of (Left to right) Rachel, Ivy, Homing In. Free women-only table tennis sessions are held at Brighton Emma, Jana and Tracey at To apply email homingin@ Table Tennis Club on Tuesdays the Table Tennis Club brighton-hove.gov.uk or write from 12 noon to 2pm and 6pm Photo: Alexis Maryon to Homing In, Performance & to 8pm. Improvement, Housing Centre, The sessions are funded by Unit 1, Fairway Trading Estate, The informal sessions at the Comic Relief and organised in Eastergate Road, Brighton BN2 Fitzherbert Centre in Upper a partnership project between 4QL by 22 April 2019. Please Bedford Street, Kemp Town Brighton Women’s Centre, include your name, address, are all about bringing women Brighton Table Tennis Club and postcode and phone number. together to relax, have fun and Friends, Families and Travellers. make new friends. Applications will be entered into • The table tennis club also holds a draw and 10 lucky winners will All abilities are welcome, from a range of other sessions open be selected at random. beginners to experienced players. to all. Visit the website www. For more information about Grow To find out more please email brightontabletennisclub.co.uk Wild visit www.growwilduk.com traceywaters@womenscentre. or call 01273 670145 for more org.uk or call 07463 288007. information.

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing homingin 7 Meet the Field Officers A new team of council troubleshooters are out and about seven days a week across the city tackling concerns raised by residents. The field officers have been in action more than 950 times Ready to help – some of the new field officers since the team was set up last year, bringing council services • fly-tipping The team works from 12 noon out to the city’s communities. • discarded needles and 8pm each day, meaning they Every day is different, can visit residents at home in • bonfires depending on what reports the evening if needed, to discuss come in. Noise prompts most • barking dogs complaints and come up with complaints – whether it’s a • blocked drains quick solutions. one off event like a loud party • obstructions on pavements The ways to report issues are or ongoing disturbance from • motorbikes being ridden on not changing - the field officers noisy neighbours. footpaths will pick up work reported The officers also respond to a They also help with monthly through the existing channels wide variety of other issues, air monitoring checks across to the services. such as: Brighton & Hove.

Improving our estates “A lot of our work is problem solving. We link up with Working closely with local illegal parking, for example. other council departments, people to solve problems and Meetings will be held later and other organisations in improve areas is at the heart this year and we’ll keep you the city, to get to the root of of the field officers’ work. updated in Homing In, on the the problem and get things Instead of the estate council website, and at area sorted.” inspections, which used panels when dates are fixed. Teresa added: “Sometimes to be carried out, the field Field officer, Teresa Reynolds on a straightforward call officers will be holding local (pictured second from right) said: “I’m we might discover other community meetings. really enjoying getting involved underlying issues. For Residents can put forward with local communities, example, a neighbour ideas for action and understanding their needs who is the subject of a improvements to share at and listening to residents to noise complaint may be a the meeting and have a know what their concerns are. vulnerable person who needs say in what takes priority We want to hear from all age other support, and we can – it could be a crackdown groups, including younger contact other services to help on fly-tipping or tackling people as well. with that.”

8 homingin www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing Try something new this spring! From yoga and dance, to bike clubs and sport, there’s lots going on locally for youngsters this spring and throughout the year. A new youth café is held at Whitehawk Inn How about trying free music sessions at the SoundCity Drop-In at the East Brighton Campus of MET College, Don’t walk by for example, or Yoga for Teenagers at – tell us if you Leisure Centre? As well as organised activities there are informal clubs spot a problem and drop-in venues, such as Whitehawk Youth Café which opened last year. If you see something when The café is open on Mondays from 3.30 to 5.30pm at you are out and about in your Whitehawk Inn. It’s somewhere youngsters aged 11 neighbourhood which needs and over can chill out after school, with music, games, sorting, let us know. snacks and free wi-fi. Youth workers are on hand if You can help us to put things anyone wants advice or information, and there are right by reporting any repairs or opportunities for young people to get involved in potential safety issues which need helping to run the café, to gain skills and experience. dealing with, for example: The council funds local organisations to provide • blocked exits or rubbish in services and activities for young people on estates communal areas – anything across the city through the Youth Grants Programme. which could be a hazard in the Some of the money for these grants comes from event of an emergency or fire council housing rents. • loose paving slabs on pavements The activities mentioned here are run by the Trust for • broken drain covers Developing Communities. For more details visit www. Whatever the problem, no trustdevcom.org.uk/what-we-do/young-people or call matter how small it might seem, 01273 234769. we’d like to know about it. Let Find out about activities provided by other us know by emailing housing. organisations through the grants programme by customerservices@brighton-hove. checking out the Youth Collective website gov.uk or calling 01273 293030. www.brightonandhoveyouthcollective.org.uk. Repairs can be reported online, by calling freephone For information on local services for 12 to 25 year-olds 0800 052 6140 or our local offering help and advice on a wide range of issues, number 01273 294409, from mental health to employment and training, or by emailing us at: visit www.wheretogofor.co.uk. [email protected]

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing homingin 9 Thank you for recycling! Every day our recycling crews collect from around 12,000 homes across the city. Thank you to everyone who is helping to cut waste by recycling.

Here’s a reminder of what we collect in our Please separate: black box recycling service: • glass bottles and jars - washed, with lids removed • cans and tins - rinsed and empty • household batteries - in a clear • aerosols - empty with lids removed bag, by or on top of your box • cardboard - flattened to fit in your box or bin • paper - including magazines, directories and envelopes with ‘windows’ • plastic bottles - washed and squashed, you can also put the lids back on • metal jar lids No thanks: • Please do not put out plastic pots, tubs, food trays, plastic bags, food waste, foil or other materials More items, like drinks cartons (including Tetra Paks), clothes and electrical items, can be recycled at local recycling points and at our two recycling centres, at Wilson Avenue in Brighton and off Old Shoreham Road in Hove. We’ve now launched an A to Z guide which shows how you can reduce, re-use and recycle 180 different items and materials. To find out more visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/recycling Big response to Make sure toy appeal you are Thank you to everyone who donated Christmas registered 5 min presents for the children of those using the Purple People Kitchen food bank in . to vote The appeal for toys and other gifts was organised by Sheila Hall from the Housing Local elections are taking place in Employment Support Team and broadcast on Brighton & Hove on Thursday 2 May. local radio. Make sure you are registered to vote The response was amazing and the gifts were by 12 April. well received by the children. If you are not already registered, or if Our housing apprentices, Lily and Livvy, did a you are not sure, go to marvellous job of sorting and wrapping the www.gov.uk/registertovote or call the gifts and helping out on the day! Elections team on 01273 291999. There was even a surplus which was taken to It only takes five minutes and you will the RISE charity, which helps people affected by need your national insurance number. domestic abuse.

10 homingin www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing Makeover for Jasmine Court lounge Enjoying an exercise session in A communal lounge at Jasmine Court seniors Jasmine Court’s refurbished lounge housing scheme in has been given a fresh new look. Now residents are enjoying the refurbished lounge, Residents successfully bid for Estate Development which is used for a variety of activities. These Budget (EDB) money to buy a new carpet and include a weekly exercise class which is also open to furniture for the lounge. local residents. Mears fitted the carpet and supplied the furniture, • Have you got an idea that would benefit your and also redecorated the room as part of its community? To apply for EDB funds visit www. commitment to social value. brighton-hove.gov.uk/edb or call 01273 294651. Getting creative Residents at three seniors Pictured (right) is Rose Hill resident housing schemes have been Tuck sculpting with clay. showing off their artistic skills. At Lindfield Court in At Rose Hill Court in Brighton, the ‘Craftea Wednesdays’ craft the ‘Rose Hill Rebels’ art group group created a colourful mosaic showcased their work as part of of the Downs for their communal an Artists Open Houses event. lounge. The group gets creative with The mosaic was unveiled at a textiles, ceramics, painting and community event, which also photography at weekly sessions featured an exhibition of art by organised by a charity called residents at nearby Laburnum Equal Arts. Grove seniors housing scheme. Lanie, one of the Rose Hill Rebels, Funding for the mosaic was said: “It is nice to spend a couple supported by The Paley Trust of hours a week doing art in charity. Peter Otto chair of the company, getting opinions and trust is pictured (right) with Val suggestions.” Page who runs the craft group. Artist Lucy Groenewoud, who The groups are open to the public and other schemes, including Brooke supports the group, said: “What’s Mead in Brighton and Leach Court in Kemp Town, also run arts groups been fantastic is seeing the impact which local people can join in. To find out more call the Housing being creative is having on the Customer Service team on 01273 293030 or email seniorshousing@ wellbeing of those involved each brighton-hove.gov.uk. week. Having the opportunity to display their work alongside other If you are over 55 and would like to know more about the benefits artists gave the group real focus of moving to any of our seniors housing schemes, get in touch on the and drive.” number or email above.

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing homingin 11 How we’ve October to December 2018 been doing Here are the highlights of our Moving home We re-let 127 homes in an performance over the last quarter… BHMOVERs average of 24 days (excluding major work), and completed 100% of mutual exchange applications within target. Rent collection and current arrears Estates service We’ve collected 98.1% of rent The team completed 87% of and this is down slightly on the bulk waste removals within previous quarter. seven working days (696 jobs were done in total). Repairs and improvements We completed routine repairs in Anti-social behaviour an average of 12 days and kept “*!!*” 86% of people surveyed (18 out 96% of appointments made. of 21) were satisfied with the way their anti-social behaviour “?!!” complaint was dealt with. Customer services and complaints Tenancy management The Housing Customer Service We’ve helped 28 people to keep team answered 85% of calls, and their tenancies which were 87% of complaints were responded at risk, and taken back four to within 10 working days. properties due to housing fraud.

Meerkat Discovery Trail

Seven meerkats will be hiding Join us at our Meerkat Get Active around Moulsecoomb this spring. Day at Moulsecoomb Library on 10 Join the Meerkat Discovery Trail April from 10am to 1pm, where you and see if you can find them all! can meet our giant Meerkat, collect The trail is a chance for adults a prize for completing the trail and and children to have fun, enjoy take part in lots of fun activities. being out and about together and You can find the Meerkats between learn about local places where the now and 2 June. The Meerkat Trail Meerkats are hiding. There are booklet is available to download on stickers to collect along the way and the council’s website www.brighton- those who complete the trail will be hove.gov.uk/meerkat-trail in with a chance to win a scooter! For more information contact In addition to the trail, there are transport.projects@brighton-hove. also special events taking place. gov.uk

12 homingin www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing Grow your own this spring! Fancy getting your hands dirty and getting back to nature? There are community allotments around the city where you can get growing and meet new people at the same time. Spring is the perfect time to get involved, here’s a taster of what’s going on: Bristol estate allotment Bristol Estate Community Allotment, Beresford Road, Brighton Volunteers are digging in to give the allotment a new lease of life Back to nature at Plot 22 allotment and make it a relaxing spot for (above and left) local people to enjoy. They are growing fruit and Plot 22 at the Weald New Roots at Moulsecoomb vegetables, and will be creating Allotments, Allotments, Natal Road a wildlife pond and quiet Weald Avenue, Hove New Roots produce delicious seating areas. ‘Grow and Play’ sessions for fruit, vegetables and herbs on the Produce is shared at the estate’s parents with pre-school children Moulsecoomb allotments. community café, and the are held on the first Wednesday The group was set up 25 years allotment group hope to supply all of every month from April to ago and their plots includes a mini the veg for the Christmas dinner September, between 10am orchard, two ponds, a green house at the local community hall. and 12 noon. and hut for communal get-togethers. Bryan Coyle, from the Bristol Children can have fun learning People can get involved with a Estate community allotment, said: about nature and wildlife, variety of tasks on the allotment “The allotment is a beautiful spot planting seeds, picking fruit and at sessions held on Thursday and we want people to think of it vegetables, and making snacks afternoons and Sundays. as their garden. People can help from what they have grown. Find out more with things like planting or simply There’s a pond where youngsters call 01273 676278 or email chill out. can try pond dipping and a log [email protected]. “We are making lots of cabin for craft activities if the improvements and the more weather is bad. For more information about people that come along the better Sessions are free (donations allotments, go to www.brighton- hove.gov.uk/allotments – the allotment starts to explode welcome) and booking is into life in April and May, so it’s essential. Check out opportunities to volunteer at community gardens busy, busy!” Find out more and check out and allotments on the Brighton Find out more at the Bristol other community events at & Hove Food partnership website Estate community hall in Donald www.plot22.org/grow-play or www.bhfood.org.uk or call Hall Road or email coyle.bryan@ email [email protected] 01273 234810. yahoo.com

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing homingin 13 Brighton Festival 2019 Brighton Festival is the largest annual, curated multi-arts festival in England and runs from 4 to 26 May. The festival features over 130 events at 25 venues and locations across Brighton & Hove and Sussex, with artists and performers from more than 20 countries. Many events are free, including Our Place community activities in East Brighton (18 Win Brighton May) and (25 May), and Museum of the Moon - a huge illuminated model of the Festival tickets! moon which will light up the Enter our free draw for a Send your answers by email evening sky above Queen’s chance to win Brighton to homingin@brighton-hove. Park from 17 to 20 May. Festival tickets. gov.uk or post to Homing In For more information visit The winner will receive two adult competition, Performance www.brightonfestival.org, ring & Improvement, Housing and two children’s tickets to see 01273 709709, or call into the Centre, Unit 1, Fairway Another Star to Steer By, a new box office in Church Street. live show celebrating the power Trading Estate, Eastergate of storytelling, at the Brighthelm Road, Brighton BN2 4QL. Centre in North Road on 26 May Please include your name, at 11am. (Suitable for age 6+) address, postcode and phone Simply answer the following number. questions, based on information The closing date for entries in this issue: is 22 April 2019. The winner • How many homes are being will be notified and their built in Kensington Street? name published in next issue The fantastic Museum of the Moon of Homing In. will be coming to Queen’s Park • How many homes do our The competition is open to recycling crews collect from all households who receive every day? Homing In by email or post. Check out housing updates • How many events does on social media Brighton Festival feature? We’ve updated the names of our social media profiles. Congratulations to Mandy Gibbs from Keep up to date with housing news and events at facebook. Whitehawk who won tickets to see Ghost at com/BHHousing and the Theatre Royal in our winter competition. twitter.com/BHHousing

14 homingin www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing Dates for your diary… Cauliflower, potato and spinach curry Area Panels This easy recipe, suggested by Louise Symington The next round of Area Panels will be held from Plot 22 allotment (see our community on the following dates. allotments feature on page 13) is packed with spring vegetables. Times and venues are still to be confirmed – Ingredients – serves 2 contact the Resident Involvement Team,email Preparation 15 mins, cooking 45 mins [email protected] or call 01273 294651. Central 5 June East 3 June North 6 June West 4 June The agenda and minutes of meetings are available at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/area-panel-meetings 2 tbsp olive oil 1 large potato, peeled and 1 large onion, finely cut into medium chunks City events chopped ½ medium lemon, zest only Brighton Weekend 2 cloves garlic, finely 13 - 14 April chopped Pinch of salt and ground 1 tsp ground ginger black pepper Brighton Festival ½ tsp turmeric 90g spinach 4 - 26 May 1 tbsp medium curry 10g fresh coriander, powder roughly chopped 3 May - 2 June 1 x 227g can chopped 2 large wholemeal Historic Commercial Vehicle Run tomatoes chapatti 12 May Ends in Madeira Drive 1 small cauliflower, cut into small florets Kemptown Carnival 1 June Method 1. Heat the oil in deep-sided frying pan over a medium heat. London to Brighton Bike Ride 2. Add the onion and garlic, cooking for 10 minutes until soft. 16 June Ends in Madeira Drive 3. Add the ginger, turmeric and curry powder. Cook for 1 minute until the spices become darker and fragrant. You can find out about forthcoming 4. Stir in the tomatoes and then add the cauliflower, potato events in the city at www.brighton-hove. and lemon zest. gov.uk/events or visit www.visitbrighton. 5. Cover the pan and leave to cook for 30 minutes, adding com/whats-on a little water as necessary, although this curry should be fairly dry. If you have an event you’d like us to 6. Take the curry off the heat and season to taste with a little promote, please email homingin@ salt and pepper. brighton-hove.gov.uk or call Housing 7. Stir through the spinach until it wilts, then add the coriander. Customer Services on 01273 293030. 8. Serve with wholemeal chapati. © The Vegetarian Society www.vegsoc.org

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing homingin 15 www.bhims.org.uk Mediation Service Brighton &Hove Independent 01273 293541forout of hours 01273 294266or www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/noise Noise Nuisance [email protected] Tenant Disability Network 0845 1203710 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/brightonhovecab Citizens Advice Bureau 01273 673105 [email protected] Carelink PlusAlarmService Freephone 03003239985 theportal.org.uk of domesticorsexualabuseviolence) The Portal 0800 0526140(localline01273294409) [email protected] Repairs Helpdesk 01273 293224 brighton-hove.gov.uk housing.incomemanagement@ Management Team Housing Income 01273 292000 [email protected] Housing Benefit 01273 293030 [email protected] Housing Customer Services Like uson Follow uson www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/housingdoitnow Check outallhousingonlineservicesat Homemove website and more Information aboutmoneymatters,tax,benefits housingcos.brighton-hove.gov.uk Go totheHousingCustomeronlinesystemat Pay onlineat www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing thecouncilhousingwebsiteat Visit Useful contacts Online services 16 16 homingin www.gov.uk facebook.com/BHHousing facebook.com/BHHousing twitter.com/BHHousing ww2.brighton-hove.gov.uk

(advice and support for survivors (advice andsupportforsurvivors

www.homemove.org.uk www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-housing

01273 700812 01273 292365

Translations available onwww.brighton-hove.gov.uk The agendaandminuteswillbe www.brighton-hove.public-i.tv/core/portal/home You canviewwebcastsofallcouncilmeetingson and youcansubmitpublicquestions. All councilmeetingsare opentothepublic, BN3 3BQ. Chamber, HoveTown Hall,NortonRoad,Hove, The meetingwillbeheldat4pmintheCouncil Wednesday 19June2019 Committee Meeting Housing &New Homes City Council’s communicationsteamandthe Homing InisproducedbyBrighton&Hove Hove, BN33BQ. Room 166,HoveTown Hall,NortonRoad, to [email protected] orwrite If youhaveanycommentsoritems,email Tenant Editorial Board. available onourwebsite. of hove.gov.uk tostopreceiving apapercopy Email housing.customerservices@brighton- Save paper andget homingin homingin

homingin , CommunicationsTeam, and we’ll email you when it is andwe’llemailyouwhenitis online!

6627 Brighton & Hove City Council Communications Team