Housing Annual report

Housing Annual Report 2007/08

Introduction

Working hard to provide quality housing in Thanet

Welcome to our Annual Housing Update, which explains just how the Council’s Housing team have delivered their services to you over the last year. We have put together all the different services the Housing team provides as well as all the costs, figures and achievements relating to this service so you’ll see that they’re a very busy team!

The idea behind this booklet is for us to provide a clear and honest approach to the way we operate as a service and how we work to provide quality housing to all our tenants and leaseholders.

Looking after large numbers of homes across Thanet is not an easy task and we don’t always get it right – which is why we set ourselves targets to improve our services every year. There are also many different issues beyond our direct control – such as anti social behaviour, which is why we work closely with our partners including the Thanet Community Safety Partnership to find ways to reduce this type of behaviour and stop it affecting the lives of our residents.

The information in this booklet also shows just how committed Thanet Council is in investing in your homes – for example, we run a rolling improvement scheme, which sees kitchens, bathrooms, heating, doors and windows being replaced and has meant that 98.5% of our properties are considered ‘decent’ – meeting the target set by Central Government to make sure your home is in good condition.

I’m particularly proud to let you know that the staff who make up the Housing Estates team won the ‘Team of the Year’ award which is part of our Council’s staff awards and Housing Officer Cliff Williams, and Craig George, Housing Estates Manager were also recognised for going the extra mile in their jobs – which shows just how committed our staff are, to delivering an excellent service to you all.

I truly believe that the main reason for our Housing team’s success is linked to the help and involvement we receive from our residents. From well kept garden competitions, reporting anti social behaviour to giving ideas for The Centre redevelopment in Ramsgate – it is through your involvement that we have been able to concentrate on those things most important to you.