Cleaner Safer Greener Neighbourhood Kitemark David Cockcroft – Housing Director ENCAMS
Introduction Some facts and figures What is the Cleaner Safer Greener Neighbourhood Kitemark How does it work? Who has registered? Discussion
Social housing Approx 18% of all homes in England (down from 30%) in 1981 Over 2,000 Housing Associations Largest 30 Housing Associations manage over 800,000 properties (2007 figures) – about 38% of total On-going transfer of Local Authority stock to Housing Associations (RSLs) of around 100,000 per year
Social Housing
Our work with landlords Inspiring, supporting and equipping housing providers in improving LEQ Excellence and efficiency in neighbourhood management Study Tours and shared learning Measuring and monitoring environmental quality Cleaner Safer Greener Neighbourhood Kitemark
Why is LEQ important Customer satisfaction Regulation and inspection Increasing expectations Costs
The Audit Commission- “Addressing crime and ASB must be linked to other improvements in the environment to enhance quality of life for people” The Tenant Services Authority- “We believe everyone has the right to live in a safe, clean neighbourhood”
“the actual incidence of crime, including serious crime, is not the principal factor determining how safe people feel. For the majority of people, it is their daily experience on their street or estate that shapes their view” Audit Commission
CSG Estate Kitemark Neighbourhood based accreditation scheme Continuous improvement toolkit CSG work streams measured by 3 attainment levels Multi-agency working group
Five key themes Vision and Values Strategic Planning Partnerships Resident Involvement Key Performance Results
Involving residents - Kitemark Aims to ensure that partners work together in a neighbourhood Resident involvement critical – more so at higher levels Check that residents have real influence over decision making Holding service providers to account
Benefits of the Kitemark Review current standards and practices against a national benchmark Demonstrate commitment and quality of service to residents and partners Identify improvement actions Promote innovation and good practice Strengthen resident engagement in neighbourhoods
Who has applied Completed Bromford GroupNorthfield, Birmingham ExemplarMarch 2008 First Choice HomesOldhamPerformerMarch 2008 Carlisle HACarlisleInitiatorApril 2008 Brent Housing Partnership East BrentExemplarJanuary 2009 Brent Housing Partnership WembleyExemplarJanuary 2009
Who has applied In progress Meres and Mosses Housing AssociationMarket Drayton, Shropshire Westlea Housing AssociationChippenham One Vision HousingSefton Teign HousingNewton Abbot Sarsen Housing AssociationDevizes Bristol Community Housing AssociationBristol Longhurst GroupSpalding, Lincolnshire MHS HomesChatham Golden Gates HousingWarrington Shoreline Housing PartnershipGrimsby Salix HomesSalford
Feedback from assessors “…it is not just about the look of the area, but how all partners work together and how the residents themselves influence what is achieved…” “…it’s not just about “saying”, and the written documentation, it’s actually about the achieving, finding out the outcomes and the feelings of those who live and work there”…
David Cockcroft Housing Director