The Housing Executive has continued its annual round of district council meetings and has made a presentation to Down District Council. This is the final year in which the NI Housing Executive will meet the 26 councils, as they currently exist, following their establishment in 1973. In April 2015 the new super councils will come into existence.
Speaking at the presentation of the District Housing Plan to Down District Council, Clark Bailie, the Housing Executive’s Director of Finance said: “The Housing Executive has always prided itself in having a close working relationship with local councils and it is important this continues with the new and much enlarged new councils. The coming year is a period of transition for the new councils and in many ways that can also be said for the Housing Executive.
“2014 marks a turning point for the Housing Executive. Internal restructuring which has brought greater clarity and definition between our landlord and regional strategic housing functions is well advanced and we have now embarked on a ‘Journey to Excellence’, a programme which will ensure we deliver quality housing services to all our customers.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done to meet housing need, improve the housing stock and provide support for the most vulnerable in our community. It is essential that this work is delivered efficiently, effectively and prudently.
“One of the main issues we face is the demand for social housing and the number of people deemed to be in housing stress across Northern Ireland exceeds 20,000. Last year, through our regional services, we facilitated the completion of 1,967 much needed new social homes along with 1,299 starts. This year, in partnership with the housing associations, it is planned to start 2,000 new homes.
“Maintaining our stock of over 89,000 homes remains a priority for the Housing Executive and during 2013/14, through our landlord role, we were able to complete planned schemes to over 18,000 homes including external maintenance, kitchen replacements, heating installations and double glazing. This year we are investing almost £150m in our maintenance programme.”
Referring specifically to the Housing Executive’s investment in the Down District Council area, Loma Wilson, South Down Area Manager, said: “The Housing Executive has enjoyed an excellent relationship with Down District Council, both councillors and officers, working in partnership to deliver services to the people of the district.
“We have a strong agenda for Down. During 2014/15, we will support the delivery of new social housing as well as investing £8.10million upgrading and maintaining tenants’ homes, supporting people to live independently, increasing the energy efficiency of homes and providing grant aid in the private sector.
Landlord Services “Maintaining our stock is a priority for the Housing Executive and this year we will be spending nearly £4.784million on planned and response maintenance to Housing Executive homes. This will include outside maintenance work to 108 homes, new heating in 167 homes, the installation of double glazing in 130 homes and kitchens for 49 homes.
“We will also support those tenants who need help to live independently in their homes through the provision of adaptations. Last year we spent £281,000 on both major and minor works helping people live more comfortably in their homes.
“As part of the Housing Executive’s Community Involvement Strategy a Tenant Scrutiny Panel for the South Down area was established. This panel will scrutinise the services they feel are most important to tenants in the local area and undertake valuable work reviewing and improving housing services for local people. The Housing Executive’s BRIC Programme and Shared Communities Programme remained important contributors to the local community.”
Regional Services Turning to Regional Services, Loma Wilson continued: “Through our Regional Services we will help meet social housing need through support to the social development programme. During 2014/15 we aim to start 59 new units of accommodation in five schemes.
“We support the most vulnerable through the Supporting People Programme with £2.64million for housing support services for 2014/15. We currently fund 27 sheltered and supported housing schemes in the area as well as four floating support service.
“In addition we will provide assistance to help adapt homes in the private sector. Last year we approved 32 disabled facilities grants and a small number of repair, discretionary grants and renovation grants with a value of £594,000. We will also support improvement and repairs in the private sector through the provision of £675,000 in grant aid and energy efficiency initiatives in the private sector through the new Affordable Warmth scheme and the Boiler Replacement scheme.”
Loma Wilson added: “Our local team continues to provide a dedicated housing service to the Down District Council area. They work alongside our Customer Services Unit, Accounts and Housing Benefit teams to provide our tenants and the wider community with an effective and efficient service.
“I would like to extend my thanks to the councillors and officers of the Down District Council for their support to the Housing Executive over the past year. We look forward to continuing to work with the new shadow council on issues of mutual interest in the coming year.”
At the presentation, local councillors asked questions of the NIHE officers and a lengthy discussion ensued.
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