MEMBERS PRESENT
Jean Fishpool - Chairperson
Shirley Baldwin - Vice Chairperson
Margaret Valleley - Secretary
Molly Hodges Treasurer
Crawford Powney
Roy Adams
Betty Marchant
Gordon Cartwright
Nancy Evans
Don Begg
Betty Barnfield
Diane Howls
Jo Anscombe
Lillian Jones
Peggy Cavanagh
Joan Robbins
Mary West
Tina Walsh
Leslie Beeks
Doreen Gower

1. Welcome and apologies
Jean, Chairperson opened the meeting and welcomed all members and guests.

Apologies were from: Greta Ashford, Jack Halfpenny, Gloria Godwin, Douglas Green and Sally Ann Smith.

2. Minutes from the last meeting:
One member had not received a copy of the minutes. They were accepted as a true record of the proceedings

3. Matters arising from the last meeting
Members asked if Jean had received a reply to the letters written to Gordon Shirley and Jim Russell. This was concerning a date for the Comprehensive Service Review into Sheltered Housing.
Jean has had no reply. Members asked if she could write again as this was unacceptable.

Eddie promised to find out if Penyard Gardens were on the improvement programme. No reply to-date.
Kim Davis said she would check to see if this had been done.

We haven't had a reply about the breakdown of the service charge.
Kim told members that she didn't think the total amount of the service charge could be broken down.
Members stressed that the main concerns were the different areas paying different amounts of service charge

4. Guest Speaker
Jean welcomed the group's first guestspeaker---Mike Steadman of Lighting Utilities. Mike told members that Lighting Utilities were an independent company. They are brokers who find the cheapest gas and electricity providers. Mike is based in Marden and covers all HR postal codes.

He went on to explain that the difference that companies are charging is significant. In some cases the difference is 60%. Consumers have the right to switch providers at any time and it takes twenty-eight days. All types of payment are available. Mike said that he would need the members' full name, address, post- code and telephone number to deal with any request. Mikes' telephone number is 07966039542.
Jean thanked Mike for coming to the meeting.

5. Guest Speaker
Jean welcomed the group's second guest speaker---Jackie Vaughan-Jones.
Jackie said she was new to care-line and had worked as a manager in a large residential care-home before. "My caring and community skills are still there".

If you pull the cord for assistance there will be a delay of a few seconds before an operator replies. We have your health details, which enable us to assess your needs.
If our operators get no reply from you then they will try for a few minutes -- then they will telephone you. If there is still no reply they will contact the nearest next of kin. Please never be afraid of pulling the cord by mistake. We do not mind.
All pull cords should be checked regularly. Also pendants.

Repairs can be reported to care-line at any time and our operators will always call the emergency services for you.
In the event of a power cut there is a back up battery, which lasts for four hours. After four hours care-line will telephone you and give you the care-line telephone number. Members said they were concerned with the number of tenants who leave keys in the back of doors and leave the safety changes on at night. Both these hamper the emergency service gaining access to the property. The group asked if a letter could be sent to all tenants explaining the difficulties.

Kim said a letter would be sent to tenants.
Jackie also introduced John to the group. John is a well-known voice at care-line. Jean thanked Jackie for coming to the meeting.

6. Treasurers report
We now have £277:37p in the fund.

7. Tenant liaison meetings
Smallbrook Gardens: Very poor turn out.

8. Report from the Federation
There were not enough members attending to have a general meeting. The next meeting is on Monday 5th March.

9. Senior Awareness Dav
To date we have forty-eight tenants from various Schemes interested in taking part in the Senior Awareness Day. There are still a few schemes to reply.

10. Welcome to Kim Davis
Members welcomed Kim Davis who is Acting Principal Housing Officer.

11. Any other business
At the next meeting SHTUG members will be presenting a cheque for £116 to the Macmillan Nurses. Members raised the money on a charity stall at Ross Market House last November.

Helen Greenway had come along to the meeting to ask for members' ideas on car sharing to meetings. She said that instead of the usual 40p per mileage Herefordshire Housing were considering £1 per mile.
Members expressed their concerns about insurance. Helen said that this would have to be looked into.
SHTUG also suggested that with the cost of taxis and the amount used for all the different meetings, it might be viable for Herefordshire Housing to have their own mini bus and employ a driver. Also members suggested using Dial-a -ride and Help the Aged. The WVRS have a sixteen seater Mini bus that could be used.

Helen said she would come back to the group at a later date.

Members asked if there was any news on Tony Jaques? Helen said that there was no news at present.
Jean thanked Helen.

Ballinger Court: New flooring is at present being laid in the corridors. Work is to start on the kitchen and lounge soon.

Southgate Court: Are they going to renew the aerial and will they be putting up a digital one?
Kim will find out.

A member applied personally to put up a digital aerial and has had no reply as yet.
Kim said that the Housing Officer would be dealing with all applications concerning the erection of television aerials.
A member said that their trip-switch keeps going off and it is too high to reach. Can they have it lowered? This seems to be a problem for many tenants in sheltered housing. ActionKD

Brierly Court: There is a problem with reaching the kitchen window. Tony Jones is aware of this and he is looking into it.

Elm Grove: When are we going to have a Housing Officer?
Kim said that Herefordshire Housing had employed two more Housing officers, but she could not say which area they would be serving.

Fowbridge Gardens: A dangerous tree needs attention before it falls on a bungalow or on the road.
Jean said that there would be a collection at the end of the meeting for Eddie.

12. Guest speaker for the next meeting
It was decided to invite a Macmillan Nurse as guest speaker for the next meeting.

13. Date and venue for the next meeting
The next meeting will be held at Penyard Gardens on Thursday 5th April 07 at !0:30am. Afterwards members and guests will be having fish and chips.