MEMBERS PRESENT
JEAN FISHPOOL CHAIRMAN
SHIRLEY BALDWIN VICE CHAIRPERSON Acting Secretary
MOLLY HODGES, TREASURER
ROY ADAMS
BETTY BARNFIELD
BETTY MARCHANT
MARY WEST
NANCY EVANS
LILLIAN JONES
MENAI ROBERTS
PEGGY CAVANAGH
LESLIE BEEKS
GORDON CARTWRIGHT
DOUGLAS GREEN
TINA WALSH
JO ANSCOMBE
JUNE BATES
GWYNNETH HUTT
JOAN ROBBINS
MARTIN SMITH HEREFORDSHIRE HOUSING

Welcome and apologies
Jean opened the meeting and welcomed all members present. She welcomed a new member to the group:
Mrs Gwyneth Hutt.

Apologies :
Mary Cartwright, Margaret Valleley, Lily and Jack Halfpenny

2.Minutes of the last meeting
Minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a true record of the proceedings.

3.Matters arising from the minutes
Ammendment: Martin Smith distributed examples of the new Repairs Evaluation Questionaires to members of S.H.T.U.G. for their comments.

4.Guest Speaker
Jean introduced Mr Gordon Shirley. Director of Operations for Herefordshire Housing.
Gordon thanked everyone for inviting him and said that he would be pleased to answer any questions.

When asked about the new Kitchen needed at Ballinger Court, Gordon said that consultation would take place with the tenants and agreed that the cupboard space used at the moment was totally inadequate.

Lifts: Money is being made available by Herefordshire Housing for lifts to be installed at Southgate Court and Brierley Court. Consultation is taking place between Herefordshire Housing staff and tenant representatives.

Gordon said that it was good to see tenants getting involved. Brierley Court are having a few problems to sort out, regarding sewerage pipes.

Adaptations to bathrooms: There is a back-log of applications by tenants who need a shower fitted, as they can no longer get in and, out of a bath. Herefordshire Council have at last released one hundred and ten thousand pounds and Herefordshire Housing will match this amount.

It could take 12 months to catch up on all the alterations that need to be carried out.
Moving to other property is a very last resort.

Applying for help to S.S.F.A. is an option but each applicant will be means tested.
The improvement plan money pot is one hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year.
The company rely on Herefordshire Council for their money input. Demand for alterations exceeds the money available.

Sadly the quality of life is being deprived for many disabled tenants through lack of funding.
The cost of one shower installation is three and a half thousand pounds.
Gordon said that work would definitely start in September 2006 on the new lights in the car-park at Ballinger Court.

Tenants at Church Croft were told that the problem they are having with the new door will be solved next week.
Jean thanked Gordon for attending our meeting.

4b. Jean welcomed Allan Farrington: Housing Officer for Herefordshlre Housing.

Allan gave tenants a good insight into the situation of a Housing officer.
This involves consultation with would-be tenants pre-allocation, Viewing and letting, dealing with neighbour disputes, noise, repairs, abandoned vehicles, gas services, rent arrears, homelessness, and also working at times with the Police department.

Each H.O. is responsible for 800 properties.

The H.O. will go through the tenancy agreement with each applicant, once housed this is followed up by visits to the said tenant.

Two months notice can be given with-in the first year if there is reason to do so. Working with tenants, eviction is always a last resort, and very rare.

Allan brought along a contraption that is used for picking up needles that are sometimes left in empty properties, a less pleasant duty .

Jean thanked Allan for attending our meeting.

5. Treasurers Report
Molly: The group now have £214 -52p in fund.

6. Eddie
Tenants wishing to form a group at Fownhope were told by Eddie to go ahead, the Communal Lounge being free for all tenants who live on the scheme to use.
Disraeli Court: Flats are not being re-let. The number of tenants has dropped from 30 to 19.

Flyers are to go out to other sheltered housing schemes to let people know of any events they may wish to attend.
Southgate Court: Tenants complained about the gate to their flats being continually left open.

Request for the doorway between the kitchen and the laundry room to have the door re-hung to give more privacy.

There was a bad reception to a call made to the Alarm system, which caused distress. Eddie made a note of this.
Barklie Court: Strangers are taking short cuts through the grounds. Ballinger Court: Estimates for floor covering range from £15,000 to £32,000.

Eddie said that his budget for Sheltered housing schemes is £40,000 per year. We need more funding.

7. Tenant Liaison G.M.
There were no reports back. Meetings have been cancelled and no dates as yet set on some schemes.

8. Any other business
Susanna Piohtee: Five. S.H. Schemes have entered the Garden competition.
It will be a month before we know the result of the application for £1000 grant.

Susanna thanked Ballinger Court for asking Herefordshire Housing to donate £50 to participating schemes, with success, and she has visited Garden Centres for advice.

We hope to get two lap-top computers and printer for the group. Jean will liaise with Amelia Hughes regarding funding.
Ballinger Court: Tenant has written to the Lions Club many times regarding holidays, no reply has yet been received.

9. Guest Speaker for the next meeting
We will ask someone from the D.T. department.

10. Date and Venue for the next meeting
Thursday 6th July 2006 at 10:30 am at Penyard Gardens Ross-on-Wye.