Cleaner Safer Greener Neighbourhood Kitemark

David Cockcroft – Housing DirectorENCAMS

Introduction

• Some facts and figures

• What is the Cleaner Safer Greener Neighbourhood Kitemark

• How does it work?

• Who has registered?

• Discussion

Social housing

• Approx 18% of all homes in England (down from 30%) in 1981

• Over 2,000 Housing Associations• Largest 30 Housing Associations manage

over 800,000 properties (2007 figures) – about 38% of total

• On-going transfer of Local Authority stock to Housing Associations (RSLs) of around 100,000 per year

Social Housing

Our work with landlords

• Inspiring, supporting and equipping housing providers in improving LEQ

• Excellence and efficiency in neighbourhood management

• Study Tours and shared learning

• Measuring and monitoring environmental quality

• Cleaner Safer Greener Neighbourhood Kitemark

Why is LEQ important

• Customer satisfaction

• Regulation and inspection

• Increasing expectations

• Costs

The Audit Commission-“Addressing crime and ASB must be linked to

other improvements in the environment to enhance quality of life for people”

The Tenant Services Authority-“We believe everyone has the right to live in a

safe, clean neighbourhood”

“the actual incidence of crime,including serious crime, is not the principalfactor determining how safe people feel.For the majority of people, it is their daily experience on their street or estate that shapes their view”Audit Commission

CSG Estate Kitemark

• Neighbourhood based accreditation scheme

• Continuous improvement toolkit

• CSG work streams measured by 3 attainment levels

• Multi-agency working group

Five key themes• Vision and Values

• Strategic Planning

• Partnerships

• Resident Involvement

• Key Performance Results

Involving residents - Kitemark

• Aims to ensure that partners work together in a neighbourhood

• Resident involvement critical – more so at higher levels

• Check that residents have real influence over decision making

• Holding service providers to account

Benefits of the Kitemark• Review current standards and practices

against a national benchmark

• Demonstrate commitment and quality of service to residents and partners

• Identify improvement actions

• Promote innovation and good practice

• Strengthen resident engagement in neighbourhoods

Who has applied

CompletedBromford Group Northfield,

BirminghamExemplar March 2008

First Choice Homes Oldham Performer March 2008

Carlisle HA Carlisle Initiator April 2008

Brent Housing Partnership

East Brent Exemplar January 2009

Brent Housing Partnership

Wembley Exemplar January 2009

Who has applied

In progressMeres and Mosses Housing Association Market Drayton, Shropshire

Westlea Housing Association Chippenham

One Vision Housing Sefton

Teign Housing Newton Abbot

Sarsen Housing Association Devizes

Bristol Community Housing Association Bristol

Longhurst Group Spalding, Lincolnshire

MHS Homes Chatham

Golden Gates Housing Warrington

Shoreline Housing Partnership Grimsby

Salix Homes Salford

Feedback from assessors

“…it is not just about the look of the area, but how all partners work together and how the residents themselves influence what is achieved…”

“…it’s not just about “saying”, and the written documentation, it’s actually about the achieving , finding out the outcomes and the feelings of those who live and work there”…

David CockcroftHousing Director

www.encams.orgdavid.cockcroft@encams.org