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Tuesday 26th February 2008
Lynn Hurrell cc Berenice Leyland, Chairperson, Green Vale Homes February 2008 Dear Ms Hurrell, Bacup and Stacksteads TMO
I am writing on behalf of the National Federation of TMOs (NFTMO) to raise with you our concerns about the problems being encountered by our member organisation, Bacup and Stacksteads TMO. We understand that promises made to tenants about the continuing role of the TMO after the transfer to Green Vale Homes have not been honoured and that progress towards a signed management agreement have stalled. It is now almost two years since the transfer to Green Vale Homes was completed yet the TMO’s status appears to be no nearer resolution, in spite of considerable expenditure by the housing association on external advice. We understand that the current concern for Green Vale Homes centres on the implications of VAT in relation to services provided by the TMO under the proposed management agreement. The issue of VAT was highlighted in our 2004 publication ‘Stock Options – Guidance and Good Practice for TMOs’ (page 39) where the clear advice was to take the impact of VAT into account in the stock transfer business plan. The guidance was available to Green Vale Homes and Rossendale Council during the preparations for the transfer and we are surprised that no provision was made. The NFTMO is a member of the government’s task group that has been working on a new regime for tenant managed housing due to come into force in October. A key feature of that new regime will be a new framework for supporting the development of TMOs in the RSL sector. Government ministers are keen to see positive support for TMO developments in housing association stock. Ian Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the CLG, told us recently that he will be monitoring progress and looking for examples of good practice. We are concerned therefore that the failure of Green Vale Homes to enter into a management agreement with Bacup and Stacksteads TMO will continue to provide a high profile example of bad practice that will not help any of the parties involved. We therefore call on you to be more proactive and creative in finding a solution to the current impasse. We believe that it is possible to find a way forward and we have offered our active support and assistance should it be required. I will arrange for a Federation representative to attend a meeting if that is likely to help to progress things. I am copying this letter to the Chairpersons of Green Vale Homes and Trans-Pennine Housing Ltd.
Yours Sincerely
Terry Edis
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Monday 18th February 2008
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Wednesday 12th December 2007
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Wednesday 12th December 2007
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Saturday 4th November 2006
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Wednesday 12th September 2006
Letter from Alison Halstead (Sheltered housing Improvement Officer) to the tenants
June 2006
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March 2006
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Wednesday 26th January 2005
DID YOU KNOW?
Lancashire county council is currently proposing the use of the disused Waterbarn Mill site (off Newchurch Road, adjacent to Glen Crescent) as a waste transfer station for the entire borough. This proposal would mean a huge increase in the number of heavy goods vehicles throughout the valley coming and going from this site. Its location also poses dangers to the environment in the area and would significantly impact detrimentally on the lives of local residents.
As such the tenant members of Bacup and Stacksteads TMO are completely opposed to the proposed site and are fully supporting the residents group
"War Against Waste" in their campaign to remove this proposed site from Lancashire County Councils approved list.
Currently the huge public outcry has forced Lancs County council into putting on hold the planning application for this site, however we still need your support!
We have set up an online petition which is open for any member of the public to sign.
Thursday 13th January 2005
"Tenant Inspection advisor" vacancy received from the Audit Commission.
(click thumbnail for full advert)
Thursday 4th November 2004
Following from a meeting our chair and secretary attended this Tuesday, they were called back to discuss the outcome of a mock inspection of the repairs and maintenance service Rossendale Borough Council currently provides.
HACAS has been working with council tenants asking them about standard of repairs, customer service and value for money, council staff at Housing technical services what their jobs entail and how they go about their respective jobs and local tenant groups who work with HTS what they perceive to be the main problems that exist and possible solutions.
It turns out that what Bacup & Stacksteads TMO has been saying to the council for the past 18 months about how and where the repair service is failing was indeed the reasons. We are now working closely with the council in developing the new structure of HTS and how its services will be restructured in the coming months.
We look forwards to working with those concerned and hope the improved working will build a maintenance service our tenants will be proud of.
Annual General Meeting 29th June 2004
Our society Annual General Meeting was held on 29th June. During this meeting it was decided (by a majority vote of society members) that Bacup & Stacksteads TMO would present Rossendale Borough Council with a "Right To Manage Notice".
This process will bring tenants in Bacup & Stacksteads one step closer to being in control of how there homes are managed, maintained and improved. A big thank you goes out to society members for the great turn out on the night. With your continued support , Bacup & Stacksteads TMO will drive the right to manage process forwards over the next 12 months, producing a robust and complete business plan.
This will enable tenants living in Bacup & Stacksteads to move even closer to the day they will actually manage the delivery, funding and administration of all housing services currently provided by Rossendale Borough Council. Photographs from the evening
Pennine Road Survey
The Pennine Road quarry lorry survey is now completed. Click here for the results
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March 2005 We have just finished improvements for disabled access to properties on Glen Crescent.
January 2005 We have completed a Fencing project on Howarth Drive, helping to cordon off the elderly bungalows from school children taking short cuts across peoples gardens.
November 2004 With our fencing contractor, we have completed more fencing work on Farm Avenue in Bacup.
Also working with Rossendale Borough Councils Architects department we have secured new fencing for the rear of Thorn Bank as the current fencing was inadequate under health and safety regulations.
We are also investigating the possibility of installing security lights on flats in the Sandfield Road Area, and tree cutting to make the area less prone to crime.
July 2004 We have just finished installing new fencing to a property on Grassmere Terrace in Bacup. We hope the local community appreciate the investment we have put into this often forgotten area by our local authority. Photographs to follow.
Last year we funded a fencing project on Haworth Drive in Stacksteads providing the elderly residents with security to the rear of their homes. This fencing provided work to a local company also benefiting the area. |
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| Tenants on South Street, Bacup
also benefited from a separate fencing project we provided.
Our thanks go out to Bennetts for doing an excellent job. |
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In February 2004 we developed and completed a project tidying and cutting back a small woodland off South Street in an attempt to improve the environment and the elderly tenants television reception. |
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| In 2003 we took on a project to provide double glazing to a block of flats on Burnley road in Bacup. The elderly residents can now afford to turn their central heating on less, and save money due to thermal rating of their homes being so much improved. |
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| We are currently looking into the possibility of erecting a communal television mast system at two locations in the valley to enable elderly residents to receive better reception.
Stay tuned for more projects in 2004! |
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