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Report to Area Panel re Feedback on Decent Homes
Response to Issues Raised at Area Panel Meeting about Decent Homes Investment on 15th November 2005
Issues Raised | What’s happening ? / What’s planned ? | Who’s responsible ? |
The timescale for completing the work on an individual property was too long and more than the suggested 8 – 10 weeks | Sheffield Homes is working actively with contractors to reduce the time period spent working on each individual property. The agreed programme schedule of properties is designed so that each property is not to be worked on in excess of the 8 – 10 week period. The time a contractor is working on a property is a Key Performance Indicator used to manage their performance. These figures are reported to the Project Groups, Area Investment Working Group and the Local Board. Tenants representatives are in attendance at all these meetings. | Sheffield Homes Area Investment Team Managed by Gary Lund Tel 2334646 |
In some instances the workmanship could be better, there was a need for improved customer care and the contractor needed to be more accountable | Each property is inspected once completed. The property is only signed off when there are zero defects agreed by a Sheffield Homes surveyor and contractors Clerk of Works with the tenant present. Offered has been made to tenants representatives and project group members to attend sign off of individual properties with the agreement of the tenant Each scheme has a dedicated named Customer Liaison Officer employed by the contractor and a Senior Housing Officer from Sheffield Homes is designated to each scheme. Surgeries have been set up for tenants to attend if they have any issues with quality of work or other matters. For a recent surgery 197 written invitations were sent. 13 people attended of which 6 were about outstanding work 2 about the fitting of the tenants own fittings and 5 were compliments | Sheffield Homes Area Investment Team Managed by Gary Lund Tel 2334646 |
Issues Raised | What’s happening ? / What’s planned ? | Who’s responsible ? |
The contractors needed to ensure that the property was left in a safe condition at the end of each day | A Clerk of Works tours the site at the end of the working day. Customer Liaison officers are required to visit all properties to ensure that tenants have use of facilities over night. A designated named health and safety officer is available and their contact details are given to tenants at the start of the scheme. A 24 out of hours service is available and is delivered by Kier via their Standby service | Sheffield Homes Area Investment Team Managed by Gary Lund Tel 2334646 |
Better communication was required regarding proposed changes with examples given of door design and wall thickness. Clarification was sought regarding a rumour about a possible 3 year delay for properties on Parsons Cross | Any changes to specifications are determined through the Area Investment Working Groups and Project Groups. All tenants affected by these changes are visited individually outlining the nature of the changes and how this affects the work to their home. In this area these have been mainly changes to options of door colours. No work has been delayed by 3 years in the Parsons Cross Area. A request was made at Area Investment Working Group and with the local TARAs and no one has been able to produce a copy of any written letter detailing this. | Sheffield Homes Area Investment Team Managed by Gary Lund Tel 2334646 |
Issues Raised | What’s happening ? / What’s planned ? | Who’s responsible ? |
Improve the communication with Social Services with regard to the requirements of the elderly for example in respect of walk in showers | All properties where it is identified either by the tenant themselves or those visiting that there may be necessary adaptations are referred for a visit by an Occupational Therapist in Social Services Social Services have been provided with address lists for all future programmes. If adaptations are identified by the Occupational Therapists they are programmed in with the other decent homes work to that property. The number of adaptations carried out in the area have significantly increased since the commencement of the decent homes programme | Sheffield Homes Area Investment Team Managed by Gary Lund Tel 2334646 |
Action needed to be taken against those people who did not maintain their gardens or parked their cars on grass verges | Area P have employed a Housing Officer dedicated to tackling breaches of tenancy of this nature they are focusing on the areas where decent homes have been completed and are tackling these breaches with a variety of measures. | Sheffield Homes Anti Social Behaviour Team managed by Simon Young Tel 2039682 |
There appeared to be too much wastage as much of the items being discarded could be reused | Surveyors are asked when detailing work to ensure that any fixtures, which can be are retained. There may be instances where kitchen units are removed as though in reasonable condition they cannot be matched with other units or that type of unit can no longer be supplied. In the case of bathroom retention of baths may be impacted by tenants choice. If tenants do not opt for an extended bathroom it may be necessary to remove an existing bath in order that the required hand basin can be fitted and also the w/c can be fitted. If practical contractors have been advised to reuse or recycle items which are removed from properties | Sheffield Homes Area Investment Team Managed by Gary Lund Tel 2334646 |
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