Sustainable Communities help people sustain their tenancies. by Aidan McGuinness

Overview 1.Identify what an unsustainable community looks like. 2.Action taken to create a more stable community. 3.Measuring the change.

Background – Void Problem Voids as at April 2006 or 17.5% of tenemental stock. 85 voids in Elderpark Street April 2006 (7 closed off tenements). Re-let times 124 days 2005/06. Monetary Costs = £0.33million per year. Abandonments treble peer group average

Change Needed In Elderpark EnvironmentalSocialEconomic Graffiti and VandalismGangs being intimidating Boarded up shops Dumping /Litter /Dog fouling Community centre Underutilised Lack of life chances. A lot of small flats /backlog of planned works Large no. of voids flats & abandonments Large % not in work or in training. Gang culture – ASB behaviour Few social eventsLarge % in debt to Association

Understanding Of Why We Do Things To create a “balanced community” or the new the term “sustainable mixed community” – “guarding the sustainability of their stock to prevent concentrations of deprivation” (The Scottish Government May 2010) OR Where people are happy to live, pay rent (housing management section) and have their monies reinvested in property (maintenance section) and services.

How To Achieve The Big Picture Improve Effectiveness of Day to Day Activities New Projects / Manage Change

Impact/Effort Matrix Elderpark Outcomes IMPACTIMPACT EFFORT Biggest Impact Hard to Achieve * Appearance of Common Areas * Tackling ABS & Gang Culture * Initiatives to re-letting void properties * Tackling dog fouling * Reduce No of small flats * Activities in the community centre * Welfare Rights V Debt * Allocation Policy – Economic active * Programmes to support employability *Reuse of empty shops

Initiatives to Tackle High level of Voids & Incidents of ASB Deal with the ASB New Culture; “Up Close and Personal” Partnership Working New Estate Management Service New Allocation Policy Marketing Strategy – “Who do you Target” Letting Initiatives Reduced Rents for a limited period Environmental improvements Flexible incentives

Building Relationships – Community Events Association led events. Facilitating social events in the Elderpark Community Centre. Role of all staff to get involved.

Partnership working – Sustaining Tenancies Help To People Setting Up Home. Employability services. Advice surgery GSWRA Awarding contracts Welfare Rights Service / Fuel Poverty Aberlour Tomorrow’s People – opportunities for young people Willingness of staff to “ Make it happen.”

Key Stats Voids 2009/10 re-let in 15 days – compared to 124 days 2005/06. Current Tenant arrears 3.62% Sept compared to 5.6 % in 2005/06. Former tenant Arrears: In 2009/10 £30.5K less than previous year in 2008/09. The number of evictions and abandonments has reduced significantly from 2008/09.

Changes In Tenant Satisfaction levels Q1 What do you consider to be serious problems in the area? Results 2005Results 2009 Loitering48%26% Discarded rubbish53%24% Drug dealing47%15% Dogs/Cats57%14% Street drinkingN/A 8% Graffiti43% 7% Vandalism45% 6% Source for 2009 results MIS survey based on 500 surveys

Changes in ASB Complaints Serious complaints st &2 nd 2010/11 Aggressive / Abusive Behaviour10122 Substance Abuse221 Frequent Disturbance23143 Inappropriate Behaviour2792 Persistent Noise16113 Vandalism040 Persistent Environmental Issue410 Total Very Serious Complaints2008/ st &2 nd 10/11 Serious Damage to Property520 Drugs951 Harassment120 Racial Harassment / Abuse320 Assaults and Threatening Behaviour543 Total23154

Changes in Nuisance complaints 2008/ / /11 Q1& Q2 Pets18344 Noise Nuisance complaints / life clash32439 Litter / fly tipping55333 Graffiti / Unkempt GardensN/A 3 Total

Success Factors Partnerships working Culture change within Elderpark – “Why we need to achieve a stable community plus how?”. Improved tenants’ perception of our service – “more willing to play their part”.