SWT Housing Newsletter 2020
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WINTER 2020 Housing News Great Homes for Local Communities Introduction from Cllr Francesca Smith (Housing Portfolio Holder) Welcome to our December issue of the Somerset West and Taunton Housing Newsletter. Going forward we intend to produce a newsletter for you to read every quarter. The next one will be due in spring and you can also find this newsletter online at www.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk. We have all been through so much this year, especially with lockdowns during the year. Just as we were gaining momentum after the first lockdown, we had to lock down again. We will of course continue to support our residents during the global pandemic and reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Despite, the difficulties this year, the Housing Directorate has continued to deliver against their objectives of delivering more new homes, providing great customer services and improving our existing homes and neighbourhoods. I hope you enjoy reading about the great things that have been achieved in this edition. The future of Local Government still remains subject to change and I wrote to you in November to make you aware of those changes. You may wish to look through the “Stronger Somerset” (www. strongersomerset.co.uk) and “One Council” (www.onesomerset.org.uk) information to familiarise yourself with the current situation. Lastly but certainly not least “I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” Annual Report 2019/2020 Highlights 83% of our Deane Helpline Our Debt & customers rated the service Benefit Advisor they received as excellent helped 444 tenants We spent 7.9 million repairing, maintaining and We completed 41 major improving your homes and disability adaptations and communal areas. 182 minor adaptions To view the full report please refer to our website: www.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk 1 How to have a Happy and Safe Christmas This year has been a strange old year and Christmas is not going to be the same as previously, however most of you will still be celebrating in some form. At this time of year you are likely to bring out equipment that you have not used since last year, for example: Christmas tree and lights, electric heaters and electric blankets, for those of you with students coming home from college and university, their return will not be complete without their various electrical appliances. Before you set up for Christmas please consider the following:- • Check your electrical appliances to ensure that the wires are not damaged, that the plug is not bent or damaged in any way. • Think about where any Christmas lights are going to be installed, can you keep all wires in locations where they won’t cause trip hazards. • Don’t forget our zero tolerance to items in communal areas, so please don’t decorate the outside of your door or put any decorations in the communal areas. • Remember not to overload electrical sockets or using multiplug adapters, these are likely to cause electrical fires. Never use a kettle or high power usage appliance on a multiplug or extension cable. • Remember that candles produce a lot of heat and can burn the surface they are standing on, always ensure that they are extinguished before leaving them. • Finally think about how you would get everyone out of the property should there be a fire in each of your rooms. Make sure that you don’t block exits. Our Christmas Opening Times Deane House Customer Hub (appointment only, depending on current lockdown guidance): Mon 21st Dec 9am-5pm Tue 22nd Dec 9am-5pm Wed 23rd Dec 9am-5pm Thu 24th Dec 9am -1pm Fri 25th Dec Closed Closed until 9am Monday 4th Jan 2021 (appointment only). All visitors and staff will be required to wear a mask unless exempt and to follow social distancing guidelines. Customer Contact Centre - Tel: 0300 304 8000 Our lines will be open: Mon 21st Dec 8am-6pm Tue 22nd Dec 8am-6pm Wed 23rd Dec 8am-6pm Thu 24th Dec 8am -1pm Fri 25th Dec Closed Lines will be closed until 8am Monday 4th Jan 2021. 2 More waste over the Christmas period? Do your bit and remember to recycle Somerset is being urged to keep up the good work after recycling an extra 3,500 tonnes of key materials during the COVID lockdown. Weekly kerbside collections of recycling continued in Somerset throughout the lockdown period. April, May and June 2020 saw a big jump in the amount of cardboard, plastic bottles, glass bottles, food waste and aluminium cans collected in the weekly kerbside collections, compared to 2019 figures. • Aluminium cans: up 69%, an extra 92 tonnes • Glass bottles: up 37%, an extra 1,360 tonnes • Food waste: up 27%, an extra 1,182 tonnes • Cardboard: up 24%, an extra 650 tonnes • Plastic bottles up 23%, an extra 172 tonnes During the Christmas period we usually have more waste than usual, Somerset Waste partnership thank residents for their commitment and ask you to continue re-cycling, helping build on the county’s already impressive recycling reputation. Recycling sites are now on winter hours until Wednesday 31 March, operating weekdays 9am-5pm and weekends 9am-4pm. Recycling site visitors must take responsibility to keep themselves and others safe. Restrictions remain, including: • Social distance, gloves, mask discretionary; • Max two people - same household - in vehicle, no one with COVID-19 symptoms or those asked to shield; • Site staff cannot offer manual assistance; • Van and trailer permits continue. To keep up to date with recycling sites, sign up for the SWP e-newsletter at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk and follow @Somersetwaste on Facebook or Twitter. Libraries offer digital help for job seekers Somerset Libraries are kicking off National Libraries Week with an innovative new scheme. From Monday 5 October iPads have been made available to job seekers looking for an extra bit of help in their quest for employment. The free iPad Loan Scheme from SCC is designed to help people looking for a new job or career but who may not have the IT skills or equipment they need. Members of Somerset Libraries can borrow a device for up to six weeks free of charge from Bridgwater, Chard, Minehead, Shepton Mallet or Taunton libraries. The tablets are pre-loaded with links, information and support for anyone in Somerset currently looking for employment, or who think they may need to be looking soon. The iPads are data-enabled, meaning people do not need to have internet access at home to use them. There’s a simple step-by-step ‘How to Use’ video on using the iPad and information including how to develop an effective CV, tips for successful interviews, how to search for local jobs and some useful health and well- being information and links. Additional free one-to-one support is available from the Positive People Programme, including a 24/7 helpline, digital support, virtual job clubs and workshops. To find out more about the scheme please visit the website: www.somersetnewsroom.com 3 An update from Denise Bradley - Your Debt and Benefit Case Manager Since the UK went into National lockdown on 23rd March 2020 as a response to the Covid-19 crisis, the benefit system has been put under huge pressures, but I have continued to work to help those tenants most in need. In the last 6 months I have advised and supported over 400 households in Somerset West and Taunton districts to claim the benefits needed, delivered food parcels and issued fuel vouchers. The DWP reported an unprecedented increase in claimants to Universal Credit. In the first week of April 2020 the number of claims received was more like a months’ worth of claims made in March 2020. In the month of April, I dealt with 101 referrals, 52 of those related to Universal Credit queries. If you have been affected by a loss of income/hours, have been furloughed or even made redundant and need help to pay your Rent and Council Tax, I am here to offer support. Although my drop in sessions have been temporarily suspended I can be contacted at The Deane House Hub. To make an appointment please contact me via email [email protected] or telephone 0300 304 8000. In April 2020 The Government increased the standard Universal Credit amounts, you can get Universal Credit even if you are self-employed and/or employed, please refer to the benefit calculators at www.gov.uk for more information and details of how to claim. Also if you were entitled to Council Tax Support on 1st April 2020 - you would have received a further reduction of £150 from your 2020/21 Council Tax Bill. If you think you may be entitled to claim Council tax support you can apply via our website, www.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-support/ or contact me. There is always additional financial support from the Agencies below: Citizens Advice - www.citizensadvicetaunton.org.uk. Tel: 03444 889623 Mon-Fri 8am-4pm Stepchange - www.stepchange.org. Telephone 0800 138 1111 West Country Savings and Loans - www.westcountry.org.uk. Turn2us - www.turn2us.org.uk. Samaritans - Tel:116 123 At this time of year watch out for loan sharks! Help us put a stop to illegal loan shark activity The Stop Loan Sharks app includes a contact form and phone number to report loan sharks, as well as information to help victims of illegal money lending to get support. This application is FREE and can be downloaded on the Apple Store or Google Play. 4 Bridging the gap in the community MIND are a support and advocacy project for tenants of SWT Housing who have mental well-being issues.