Working together to create ‘Better Places’
23rd January 2008
Somer Community Housing Trust has launched an
exciting, new way of working that aims to deliver better services
to residents and make its neighbourhoods successful places to
live.
‘Better Places’ involves a reorganisation of all the Trust’s
services to support individual neighbourhoods. The aim is to create
‘Neighbourhood Plans’ for each area, by working closely with
residents and communities to agree local priorities and find
solutions. This will be achieved through talking to residents,
carrying out on-site surveys and using a range of monitoring
information to identify opportunities and challenges. The first
three Neighbourhood Plans will be developed during 2008.
To support Better Places, the Trust’s area has been divided into
15 new neighbourhoods, each with a dedicated Neighbourhood Team.
They have been developed in consultation with the police and Bath
& North East Somerset Council, to allow them to share
information and plan action together.
Setting up the Neighbourhood Teams has meant a number of changes
in the areas where staff work, which take effect from Monday, 28th
January. The Trust has written to all residents to let them know
their new neighbourhood area, with a booklet explaining who their
Neighbourhood Team members are.
Each Neighbourhood Team consists of a dedicated Housing Services
Officer, Rents Officer and Neighbourhood Tradestaff member. They
will work together more closely than has been possible before, and
will be supported by colleagues from the Estate Services, Resident
Involvement, and Anti-Social Behaviour Teams, as well as Sheltered
Housing Officers and Surveyors. They will also work closely with
colleagues from other agencies working in the neighbourhood, which
will have substantial benefits for residents.
Angela Gascoigne, the Trust’s Managing Director, said:
‘We are very excited about this new approach,
which will allow us to respond to local issues that are affecting
neighbourhoods, at the same time as delivering a consistent service
that meets individual requirements.
‘We will be working very closely with
residents, partners and other organisations to create and deliver
plans that achieve the greatest impact.’