Have Your Say on Housing Service

Residents urged to have their say on borough's housing service

Local tenants and leaseholders are being urged to have their say and help shape the way housing services are provided in the borough. Cheshire West and Chester Council appointed Plus Dane Housing Group in 2012 to manage the Council's housing stock in Ellesmere Port and Neston until 2017.
The Council is now reviewing the best way to provide its housing services in anticipation of the current contract coming to end and is looking to hear from local tenants, residents and leaseholders, as well as any other interested parties, as part of the consultation process.

There are a number of options for future delivery of the service:

• The Council's Housing is owned by the Council but managed by another organisation With this option the Council remains as the landlord and still owns the properties. Currently Plus Dane managed the housing stock for us. A new management contract would go out to tender to make sure that the Council and the tenants and leaseholders get the best possible value for money. Housing providers, including Plus Dane, will be able to bid for this contract.

• Owned and managed by the Council With this option the Council remains as the landlord and still owns the properties. All the services currently carried out by Plus Dane would be transferred back to, and be delivered by the Council. These services include housing management, repairs and maintenance, lettings, grounds maintenance and some environmental improvements and improvements to the houses. Owned and managed by an external organisation This option would mean that ownership of the Council housing stock would be transferred to a housing association. They would then provide all the housing services. If this option was chosen there would have to be a ballot of all tenants and leaseholders to ask if they are in favour, and the majority of those who voted would have to vote in favour of the change.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Angela Claydon, said: "With this consultation we're really hoping to capture the views of local residents – it is these household experiences, aspirations and needs which will add valuable detail and insight to the process."

"It is extremely important that residents take part and help shape the service going forward and I would ask everyone who receives a questionnaire to complete and return it.

"It is important to point out to tenants and leaseholders that this is a consultation exercise to gather their views; it is not a vote on the future of the housing stock."

All tenants and leaseholders will receive a copy of the questionnaire through the post in early July. Answers to the questionnaire will form a key part of the consultation, which will look at the options for the future financing, ownership and overall management of the housing stock.
The consultation period will run until 23 September and there are a number of ways that tenants can express their views:

Tenants and leaseholders can send back the questionnaire delivered to their home.
The questionnaire can also be filled in online at www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk. All answers will be kept confidential.
A series of drop in events, open to all, will be held between 10am and 4pm in Ellesmere Port and Neston.
Ellesmere Port market – Wednesday, 5 August and Saturday, 12 September
Neston market square – Friday, 7 August and Saturday, 5 September
You can also give us your comments by.
Email: housingstrategy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 8 123