Agenda item - Nottingham City Homes Report

Agenda item

Nottingham City Homes Report

Report of Nottingham City Homes

Minutes:

Paul Howard, Tenancy and Estate Manager at Nottingham City Homes (NCH) introduced a report to update the Committee on the work of Nottingham City Homes within the area. He highlighted the following information:

 

(a)  In light of the tragic events at Grenfell Towers in London, Nottingham City Homes wants to reassure residents that the cladding installed on its properties is not the same type as installed on Grenfell Towers. The safety of its residents is priority and fire alarm tests are carried out weekly in high-rise properties, and monthly in low-rise properties. Nottingham City Homes continues to work with Nottinghamshire Fire service to ensure fire safety keeps residents safe;

 

(b)  The regeneration of the Church Square area continues following the recent approval of 17 new family homes. The site has now transferred to NCH and the scheme is due to be completed by May 2018;

 

(c)  The annual Leaseholder and Tenants Awards took place at the end of March. There was a very large number of nominations for individuals, community groups and projects. Information on the winners can be found at http://www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk/get-involved/tenant-awards-2017/

 

(d)  Work is taking place to assess tenancy sustainability, particularly in the Radford and Dunkirk areas and, if possible, to establish why tenancies are not sustained and what work could take place to improve that;

 

(e)  A new repairs management system is in place and NCH aims to respond more quickly to repair requests;

 

(f)  The format of the performance report will be different for the next meeting. The new format will be more easily accessible;

 

Following questions and comments from the Committee the following points were highlighted:

 

(g)  There will be a series of fire safety information available for residents at high-rise properties across the City in the coming days;

 

(h)  Historically there has been resistance from some residents around installing sprinklers in the high-rise properties. Sprinklers will be fitted, starting with the Victoria Centre flats. Residents in the main welcome this move;

 

(i)  There are a number of privatised high-rise properties in the Hyson Green area in particular. NCH is happy to work with private owners around safety in their buildings;  

 

(j)  Nottingham City Council is in the processes of reviewing its emergency response plans to ensure that should a fire take place in a high rise block that residents safety was addressed in the aftermath. The committee commented that following a fire on Alfreton Road in the past the response of emergency services had been excellent;

 

RESOLVED to

 

(1)  Note the update and performance information provided to the meeting;

 

(2)  note the allocation of funds for 2017/18 as detailed below:

 

Ward

Actual Budget (including carry over from 2016/17)

Schemes Approved

Schemes Committed

Schemes De Committed

Remaining Budget

Arboretum

£20,273.95

£0

£0

£0

£20,273.95

Dunkirk & Lenton

£44,252.75

£0

£0

£0

£44,252.75

Radford & Park

£49,523.37

£0

£0

£0

£49,523.37

 

(3)  approve the Area Capital Funding request detailed below:

 

Address

Request

Reason

Cost

Approval

Mozart Street and Landseer Street – Radford

Replace the current dilapidated fencing with metal ball finial railings in line with phase 1& 2 of this project that has already been successfully delivered.

Current timber fencing looks unsightly and damaged. We have delivered 2 phases to this area and there has been a major improvement in the appearance of the estate and upkeep of gardens by tenants.

£29,061 (NCH Environmental Budget

 

£58,647.00 (ACF Public realm Funding)

Approval 

Hovenden gardens Car parking scheme- Hyson Green

Improve car parking design to Hovenden gardens; joint scheme with NCC

Current design of car park is poor and does not allow for maximum usage of the space available. Scheme is aimed to increase number of parking spaces

£20,273.85 (NCH contribution)

Approval

2-16 Coleby Avenue Lenton

Remove the hedges that have mostly died and install bespoke railings to the boundaries around the flats, reinstate the pathways, install a mowing strip to the perimeter as this will smarten up the boundary and create a tidy finish.

The current condition of the boundaries to these flats is poor. The rest of the street has high quality railings installed, so this project will bring the flats up to the same standard.

£24,361.25

Approval

 

Supporting documents: