www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

RAVENSCOURT GROVE

www.facebook.com/haveringhousing

SEPTEMBER 2016UPDATE

More details shared on older peoples’ housing review At a meeting with residents on Thursday 18 August, Interim Director of Housing Neil Stubbings updated residents on the progress of the older people’s housing review.Changes since the last meeting include Brunswick Court being redeveloped as an extra care sheltered housing scheme and the Ravenscourt block of flats, which forms part of the Dell Court site, remaining rather than being demolished.The situation regarding Ravenscourt Grove sheltered housing scheme has not changed and the proposal is it will remain open.Mr Stubbings said: “As we progress through this informal consultation period we are listening to residents’ views and taking them on board as we prepare the Cabinet report.“As I previously said, the Ravenscourt Grove scheme does have reasonable facilities and is a popular

scheme for people wanting to move into sheltered housing.“There is work that needs to be done including enlarging the communal lounge and installing lifts to all floors so costs for this work are being obtained.“We also know there is a need for the grounds maintenance teams to take more care to ensure they don’t damage items when grass cutting, as well as making sure the flower beds are better maintained so we are having discussions with them about these problems.“There is also a great community spirit here and we want to build on that by making the scheme a community hub, providing support for older people living nearby as well as for those living in the scheme.” More information will be online at www.havering.gov.uk/Ravenscourt as it becomes available.

Who can I contact?If you have a question about the consultation please contact: email Chelsea.potts@havering.gov.ukGeneral enquiries www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

Neil Stubbings talks to residents Ravenscourt Grove

Ravenscourt Grove Update September 2016

Keeping in TouchYou can keep in touch with the latest news and information from Housing Services through our email newsletter.Go to www.havering.gov.uk/enews and choose At the Heart online.

There is also information available about this scheme at www.havering.gov.uk/Ravenscourt

and about the sheltered housing regeneration proposals at www.havering.gov.uk/ShelteredHousingDevelopments

You can also ‘Like’ us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HaveringHousing

Investing in the futureFor those schemes which are remaining open and becoming community hubs the aim is to invest in improvements.Suggestions for improvements can be made during the individual meetings, which are being scheduled.Some suggestions were made during the meeting on Thursday 21 July including:• The need for lifts to be installed.

Costs for this work are being obtained.• The need for improved access on to the site

for people using mobility scooters. Costs for this work are being obtained.

• The need for toilets suitable for disabled people to be provided. Costs for this work are being obtained.

In addition at the meeting on Thursday 25 August 2016, and at the meetings with community wardens, the following comments were made:

• One car park gate was self-locking and the other wasn’t so could both be self-locking. The practicality of achieving this is being investigated and costs obtained.

• That more signs were needed to direct people to the right blocks. A survey of signage is currently underway and appropriate new signs will be ordered.

• The need for the CCTV system to be extended. Costs are being obtained for extending the CCTV system and linking it to the central control room.

• That people from outside the scheme were using the communal laundry. This would be investigated to see how security can be improved and whether a token operated laundry could be installed to remove this problem.

• The need for extra washing lines. The cost for this is being investigated.

If the proposals are approved the way scheme officers operate will be reviewed so they can spend part of their time working at one scheme and some time working with older people in the community.The commitment that anyone wanting a daily visit from the scheme officer can have one will remain.

Next meeting9.30am to 10.30am on Friday 23 September in the Communal Lounge, Dell Court, Ravenscourt Grove, Hornchurch.

If you can’t come to this meeting please let us know using www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing and we will be happy to visit and talk to you.

Friday

23SEPTEMBER