Tenants can drop in to have their say at Family Fun Event

28 July 2010

Tenants of the Croftlands Estate in Ulverston will be able to find out more about the future of their homes and have their say at an event arranged by South Lakeland District Council and South Lakes Housing (SLH).

The Drop In session will take place at the Croftlands Community Centre on Thursday 29 July starting at 2.00pm until 3.30pm.  Staff from SLDC and SLH will be chatting to tenants about the options available to secure the long-term future of their homes in order to keep them well maintained over the next thirty years.  Tenants will have the chance to ask questions and discuss options, plus complete a questionnaire asking for their views. 

Throughout the event, there will be a whole host of activities to keep everyone entertained including a balloon and magic show, face painting, bouncy castle, a hook a duck competition with prizes, goody bags and a raffle.  Refreshments and a tuck shop will also be on hand in the Community Centre with the added bonus of a Play Station and a Wii. 

Councillor Peter Thornton, portfolio holder for Housing and Development, said, “The council wants to find out what the tenants believe is important about the future management of their home, before deciding on its preferred option later in the year.  By going out and about in the district we are hoping to speak to as many tenants as possible so we can build up a real picture of what tenants want.  We are being open and consulting with tenants every step of the way and really want to hear their views and opinions to help us make the right decision.”

A project board made up of members from the Tenant’s Committee, Councillors, board members from SLH and staff from SLDC and SLH is helping manage the Housing Options Study.  Questionnaires have been sent to all the tenants with a newsletter explaining about the different options.  Roadshows and drop in events will be held throughout the district until the end of August and tenants can also call the free phone number, 0800 014 7518 during July and August to have their say. 

Under the current national housing finance system, the future management of the housing stock owned by the council is unsustainable, and by 2011 will not provide sufficient funding to meet all of the housing management and improvement costs.  If the council keeps hold of its housing stock and stays within the current Housing Revenue Account (HRA) system, indications show that the council would fall behind on the investment programme. 

By year thirty, SLDC would face a significant shortfall of £110 million resulting in services and homes that would not meet current minimum quality standards.  The council thinks this is unacceptable which is why it is considering the future ownership and management of its housing stock.  In doing so, the council will keep track of what the new Government’s proposals for the future of council housing will be.