Annual Report 2012-2013 1 Contents
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ANNUAL REPORT 2012-2013 1 CONTENTS Chairperson’s Report p4-5 Property Services p7-9 Care & Repair p10-11 Housing Services p12-16 Finance Services p17 Our People p18 3 economic climate and with the impact of welfare benefit changes affecting Chairpersons Report Governance Improvements the most vulnerable households in our communities. The Association will continue to support people affected by this legislation and help them in There were a number of changes to our Management Committee any way possible, whether it is through rehousing or providing assistance, throughout the year as a result of a Governance Review and Improvement advice or referrals to the appropriate agencies who provide a tailored Plan. With the help of others, the Association reviewed their governance response. I am delighted to be introducing our Annual Report following my first year as arrangements and embarked on a new recruitment and selection process for Committee Members, and introduced an Induction Policy and The reduction in grant funding has made development a more risky Chairperson of Cloch Housing Association. The last year has been a whirlwind Training Plan for our members to ensure they can govern the Association proposal for landlords and for the first time in a long time there is no of change for the Association with new foundations being laid for our future as a effectively and ensure that the business is operating with care and development programme moving forward for Cloch. That is not to say diligence. that we will not consider activity in the future but for the time being, successful and responsive landlord. We have been a proud landlord for over 40 our focus must be on consolidating our current position and working years now and performed at a very high standard providing excellent services to both independently and within the new Group structure to implement our customers. The changes made in this last year will help us move forward in a Financial Improvements improvements across all of our service areas. The staffing review resulted in changes to our financial services team professional and sustainable way as we help our customers meet the challenges which saw the creation of a Group Financial Services division to provide brought about by recent welfare benefit changes. services for all of the group. The Association carried out a Financial And finally Services review and this has resulted in key improvements being made in this area such as reviewing our 30-year financial model, updating our In July 2012, Cloch’s Sheltered Housing Warden at Elliott Court, Elaine financial regulations and ensuring that our long term viability is secure. Clarke sadly passed away aged 50 following a long battle with cancer. As the Chairpersons report stated last year, we were in a period of many ways has influenced the changes made in Cloch across the board Elaine worked with the Association for over 18 years and staff and tenants significant organisational change as we headed towards a Constitutional and having been involved in the Committee throughout the process I have fond memories of Elaine who not only fought the condition with Partnership with Oak Tree Housing Association. This was sealed with can say that we are in a far better position as an organisation than we great strength and bravery but also with immense humour. Our staff the signing of Independence Agreements on 31st January 2013. While were in previous years. The regulator will “engage” with an organisation Other Improvements raised over £2000 through various activities and with the help of others in this confirmed the independence of both organisations as independent if they have some degree of concern – and in the case of Cloch we have Alongside all of these strategic improvements, Cloch continued to memory of Elaine and this was donated to the Ardgowan Hospice in July Housing Associations in their own right, it was also the creation of a a “medium level of engagement”. A key business objective for us in provide a range of services and outputs to a very high standard including unique partnership which brings together two of the most successful the year ahead is to improve to such a level that this is reduced to “low completion of our new build development at Maukinhill which in the last 2013. I know Elaine is missed by all and she was a credit to Cloch. organisations in Inverclyde and creates a large Housing Association Group engagement”. year saw the last 39 homes completed and allocated. Our performance Finally I would like to thank staff and my fellow Committee members – for the Inverclyde area. in our key areas are highlighted throughout this annual report but past and present, who have contributed to our success in the last year. undoubtedly the Association is maintaining its high levels of performance This has not been the easiest year at Cloch with so many changes and This change has allowed us to share certain areas of work and together New Leadership and our customers are in the main, very satisfied. A Tenants Satisfaction issues to deal with; however we are in a better place as a result and can we can maximise our services to ensure that our customers are receiving Survey has been commissioned for the summer of 2013 which will assess look forward to 2013/14 and beyond with a fresh focus and a renewed value for money and a first class service. A staff structure review was carried out which streamlined our people how well we have been doing. confidence. resources and this was concluded in January 2013, when the Association welcomed a new Chief Officer, Paul McVey to Cloch HA to lead the Regulatory Engagement organisation in the years ahead. I was pleased to welcome Paul to the The Future organisation and he brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and fresh Monica Sheekey The Scottish Housing Regulator became involved with Cloch in 2011 thinking which is already helping Cloch move forward positively. The future landscape for the housing sector is a difficult one in the current amid growing concerns regarding mainly governance and finance. This in Chair, Cloch Housing Association 4 5 Property Services 4 www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk GREENOCK TELEGRAPH, Wednesday, 21 November, 2012 THE TWELVE minister unveils new £23m homes Maukinhill Regeneration GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS The regeneration of Maukinhill was completed last year with YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ONE the remaining 39 houses being handed over to the Association OF 13 PRIZES By Eric Baxter COURTESY OF CLOCHING INmaukinhill in July 2012. NEW housing has changed magic: the lives of Greenock fam- Janet and Billy Stewart ilies — 20 years after they outside their started fighting for better Corlic Street The Scottish Government’s Housing and Welfare Minister, Margaret Burgess, took time TOOLS homes. home; housing th And yesterday a Scottish minister out from her busy schedule on Tuesday 20 November 2012 to join Cloch Housing PRIZE FIVE Government minister praised the Margaret MaukinhillHousingGroupfortheir Burgess with long and successful campaign. Janet Stewart Association, Inverclyde Council’s Provost, Robert Moran, representatives from the local Minister for housing and wel- in her home, Dewalt Lithium fare, Margaret Burgess, visited below left; Greenock to celebrate the com- and, below community and other invited guests to celebrate the completion of 193 new affordable Drill complete pletion of the Cloch Housing right, Janet with 2 x 10.8v Association development at with Elaine Batteries and Maukinhill. McShane of homes at Maukinhill, Greenock. Flashlight Cloch has finished a four-year, Cloch HA. £23 million programme to build Pictures: £129.99 193 houses — 190 for social rent Sheenagh and three for a shared equity Cameron SAVE £40 scheme to help people buy their Costing £23million, and funded through a combination of Housing Association Grant own homes. HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW Tenant Janet Stewart, 50, moved YOUR CHRISTMAS TRIVIA? into her new Corlic Street semi- provided by the Scottish Government and private finance raised by Cloch Housing detached home three years ago Well, over the next four weeks we with husband Billy and son Jamie, will be looking for answers to our and yesterday they welcomed the Association, the development consists of a mixture of semi detached and terraced minister to Maukinhill. Twelve Christmas Trivia Janet said: “I could never have Questions. imagined all of these fantas- houses plus own door amenity flats built to meet the needs and aspirations of the local tic houses being built here when What Christmas item was we started campaigning all those invented by London baker and years ago for better heating and community. wedding cake specialist Tom windows.” That drive led eventually to Smith in 1847? council tenants voting to transfer Fill in your answer below. Remember to enter from the council to Cloch 10 years Cloch also received funding from the Scottish as many times as you can! Every entry for ago. every daily prize is entered for the Star Prize A total of 280 properties were moved, and Cloch then embarked below! (Original forms only, no photocopies) on a programme of demolition, and that has really impressed finance of £8.6m. pleted ahead of time and within Government to enable Action for Children to set decanting and building. me. Monica Sheekey, Cloch’s chair- budget. Residents are delighted STAR PRIZE Janet said: “We moved from a “The community have ensured person, said: “We also received with their new homes and the com- Burnhead Street maisonette with they have not been pushed out of wider funding to enable Action for plete transformation of an area up the Inverclyde Youthbuild programme with dampness into this warm, modern an area they wanted to stay in.