Housing News and Views Spring 2013

The nine two-bedroom flats at Galley Hill

in Gadebridge, Hemel Hempstead, can

claim two firsts: the first wave of our new

home building programme, and the first

development in Hertfordshire to use an

innovative low energy building technique.

The Galley Hill homes will only cost

around £100 a year to heat, saving

tenants money on their energy bills.

Councillor Margaret Griffiths, Portfolio

Holder for Housing, said: “This year we’re

investing £14 million in our new-build

programme – and this is just the start of

our plans to create more homes for our

residents in Dacorum. As soon as these

homes are built, they will be offered for

rent to households on our waiting list.”

A further 62 homes will be started this

Council hunts for the keys to homesThroughout March we’re spreading

the message far and wide that our

tenants and leaseholders are the key to

making the housing service work better

for us all.

You can get involved in a variety of

different ways, such as:

� Giving valuable feedback as a Housing

Hero

� Checking on services as a Tenant

Inspector

� Meeting with managers

and councillors to influence

policy

Whether it's ten minutes a

year or two hours a month, there's

something to suit everyone. It’s all

voluntary, but free training and learning

new skills really help boost your cv.

We think it’s so important to get your

input that we’re advertising on Heart

97.6FM, on the jobs pages in the Gazette

and Herald Express and online at

www.jobstoday.co.uk

Although many of you already make an

impact on how housing is run and look

out for your neighbours, we need

more of you to get involved.

Tenants and leaseholders who

are already on board – such as

Adam Weissand (left) – have

helped out by starring in a YouTube film

and sharing their own stories on our

Facebook and Twitter pages (see page 3).

Call 01442 228000 and ask for tenant

involvement or visit

www.dacorum.gov.uk/key

HousingNews and Views

Spring 2013

First newcouncil homesget go ahead

year, as well as a new homeless hostel.

Over the next five years we aim to

provide a further 1,000 affordable

homes in partnership with housing

associations.

You can see for yourself how the three

development sites are shaping up on our

new homes special feature on pages

6 and 7.

Plans to build our first new council homes for over twenty

years have gathered pace, with the first bricks due to be

laid this summer.

02 | News and views www.dacorum.gov.uk

No ID? No entry!Always remember to ask to see an

identity badge before letting

someone you don’t know in to

your home – including our

contractors and council staff. If

you have any concerns, call

housing on 01442 228000 and

ask us to check them out.

Chips are upfor Scrappy Micro-chipping your dog can help you

to protect it.

Make an appointment to have your

dog micro-chipped at Hemel

Hempstead Civic Centre. The service,

available on Tuesday mornings, is free

to council tenants. We are also giving

out neutering vouchers.

Tenant Vivienne Ferrereira brought

Scrappy along: “If my dog is stolen and

escapes, I know we’ll be reunited,” she

said.

To make an appointment please call

our Dog Warden Sarah Lewis on

01442 228000.

News and Viewsaims high Housing News

and Views

newspaper was a

finalist at the

Local Public

Services

Excellence in

Communications

Awards in

February. If

you’d like to

share your experience of being a tenant

or leaseholder please call Luisa Clarke

on 01442 228000. Next year we’d like

to win!

We know from the Survey of

Tenants and Residents (STAR) that

improving parking in Dacorum is a

major priority for you.

With the help of ward councillors,

council staff and the emergency

services, we have identified several

possible locations for extra parking:

1. Marlins Turn, Hemel Hempstead

2 Ritcroft Street, Hemel Hempstead

3. Cowper Road, Markyate

4. Fennycroft Road, Hemel Hempstead

For more information call Gill Barber on

01442 228000 or email

[email protected]

If parking is a problem in your area you

could also consider renting a garage,

which costs tenants and residential

leaseholders £8.75 each week from

1 April.

Visit our website

www.dacorum.gov.uk/garages to

download an application form or call

lettings on 01442 228000.

News pages 2-3

Help and advice pages 4-5

New homes special

feature pages 6-7

Your tenancy page 8

Tenants and Leaseholders

Committee page 9

Repairs and maintenance page 10

Supported housing page 11

News in brief page 12

Do you have an idea for a story?

Call Luisa Clarke on 01442 228000

News and Views Spring 2013

Contents

Large print reminderWe are putting large print colour copies of News and

Views in the communal lounges of all our supported

housing schemes and also recording it onto CD for people

to listen to. To receive either version call 01442 228000

and ask for tenant involvement or email

[email protected]

STARsurvey update

New parking spaces

01442 228000 [email protected] News and views | 03

We’re continuing to improve the standard of

cleaning in the communal areas of our blocks

of flats – one of the priorities you

highlighted last year in the STAR survey.

If you live in a flat you will get a booklet

about cleaning standards with this newsletter.

The new cleaning rota signs are also going up in every

block. Please help us by reporting fly-tipping or any

cleaning issues. Call 01442 228000 and ask for cleaning

department or email [email protected]

Managing complaints locallyFrom 1 April there will be a more local way of getting a complaint resolved.

At the moment, if you’re unhappy with the way we’ve investigated your complaint,

your only option is to approach the Local Government Ombudsman. Thanks to the

Localism Act, tenants and leaseholders will now be able to ask a ‘designated person’

to consider if the Council has acted fairly.

You can ask any MP or local councillor to act as a designated person. Alternatively,

you can set up a tenants’ panel to consider complaints.

If you are interested in finding out more about setting up a tenants’ panel to consider

complaints call 01442 228000 and ask for tenant involvement or email

[email protected] by Friday 5 April.

Leaseholders:your housingservice needsyouLeasehold services wrote to all our

leaseholders recently and we have

had a fabulous response from you –

thank you!

So many of you have told us you

want to get involved, representing

the views of other leaseholders at

regular meetings. This will help us to

help you and will improve the service

we offer. If you haven’t sent your

form back yet, please fill it in and use

the pre-paid envelope to return it as

soon as possible.

Look out for full feedback on the

consultation in the next issue. You

can call leaseholder officers Alison

Chatterjee and Julie Moseley on

01442 228000.

Getting to know youYou are the key to improving the housing service and a

change in the team means we can work with you more

locally to improve the areas where you live.

Team Leader Carolyn Leech says: “We want more tenants and

leaseholders to begin working with us; either by joining one

of our committees, helping us to tackle litter problems,

creating community gardens or activities for local children.

Contact your Tenant Involvement Officer to find out more –

and if you see us out and about pop and say hello, we can’t

wait to meet you all”.

Contact tenantinvolvement@dacorum. gov.uk or call 01442

228000 and ask for tenant involvement.

STARsurvey update

Look out for cleaning leaflet

04 | Help and advice www.dacorum.gov.uk

We sent you a leaflet with the last issue of News and Views

explaining the changes that the Government is making to Housing

Benefit and Council Tax Benefit from 1 April.

Clear your arrearsThe week beginning 25 March is a ‘rent free’ week, so

if your account is up to date you do not need to make

a payment.

If you have fallen behind, please use this opportunity

to reduce or clear your debt.

If you owe us money we’ll be calling you in the

evenings or at weekends to remind you to pay. If you

are having problems paying your rent talk to us as

soon as possible.

If you’re struggling, we’re here to help. Call

01442 228000 and ask for housing rent.

You will not be affected by these

changes if you are:

� old enough to receive Pension Credit;

� of working age and you, your partner,

or a child (who lives with you and who

you get Child Benefit for) is disabled;

� of working age with a child under the

age of five;

� or of working age and receive a War

Disablement Pension or a War Widow’s

or War Widower’s Pension.

If you’re working age, claiming Council

Tax Benefit and you’re not in one of the

protected circumstances above, you will

only be able to claim Council Tax

Support for up to 75% of your council

tax charge. If your home is council tax

band E or above, you will only be able

to claim support for up to 75% of the

band D council tax charge.

Housing Benefit:

Social Sector Size CriteriaIf you live in a council home and

you have one or more extra

bedrooms, you may see a reduction

in your Housing Benefit – sometimes

called the bedroom tax. The new

rules set out how many bedrooms

you need depending on the age, sex

and circumstances of your

household. Your benefit will be

reduced by 14% of your rent if you

have one extra bedroom and by 25%

if you have two or more extra

bedrooms. If your Housing Benefit is

reduced, you will need to pay us, as

your landlord, the difference

between your Housing Benefit and

your rent.

To find out more about what is

considered to be an extra bedroom,

go to www.dacorum.gov.uk/benefits

Help is on handMore information about all of these

changes is available on our website

at www.dacorum.gov.uk/benefits

If you need help or advice, a team of

specialists is on hand. Call them on

01442 228999 between 8.45am and

5.15pm, Monday to Friday, or email

[email protected]

Changes to benefits

Council Tax Benefit is changing

If you are of working age, under the

Council Tax Support scheme there will

also be a flat-rate deduction of £5 each

week from the amount of support you

receive for each non-dependant living

with you. (Non-dependants are people

living in your household who do not

need you to support them, such as

children who have left school, parents,

other relatives or friends).

Your council tax bill will tell you what

you need to pay. To find out more about

the Council Tax Support scheme go to

www.dacorum.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport

In April, Council Tax Benefit will stop.

Instead, all councils, including Dacorum,

will run their own local Council Tax

Support scheme. The Government is

reducing the amount of money available

to fund the scheme, which means that

we will have less money to help you

pay your council tax.

01442 228000 [email protected] Help and advice | 05

Brave tenant warns of candle dangerEarlier this year council tenant Loren Goldenberg-

Kosbab rescued her neighbour from a fire in their

block of flats. Loren, pictured here receiving an

award for outstanding bravery from the Dacorum

Community Safety Partnership, tells the story in

her own words.

By Loren Goldenberg-Kosbab

At around 8pm, 24th January 2013, an elderly

disabled woman, living alone, was trapped in her

blazing flat. Upon being alerted by a smoke alarm,

her next-door neighbour with quick realisation and

without hesitation kicked her front door in, whilst

screaming "Fire!" and got her to safety.

All very dramatic and something you see on TV,

but this was a very real situation. That neighbour

was me.

We have all been there, burnt the toast setting off

the smoke alarm, but it usually only takes a few

moments to grab a chair and stop the deafening

noise. If this happens on a regular basis, we get

fed up and disable it. STOP and THINK!

Smoke alarms are not just to alert the person in

the home, they are there to alert anyone who can

hear it.

A candle caused the fire, setting alight near by

furnishings and the fire spread very quickly,

trapping my neighbour. Thankfully, I heard the

smoke alarm along with her screams of help, and

managed to get her out. It only takes two breaths

of toxic fumes to render a person unconscious, a

few more and it would have been a different story.

The fire brigade arrived quickly and extinguished

the fire but the damage was severe. I felt for my

neighbour, as her home was nothing more than

soot – losing everything she valued.

Dacorum Borough Council properties are fitted as

standard with smoke alarms. If they keep going

off, don’t just disable them, either stop the cause,

or if defective get the Council to replace it. Check

them regularly too and make sure family and

friends also have them.

My neighbour could have been insured with

Dacorum Borough Council for under a fiver. It

wouldn’t bring back all that she lost but it would

have helped her rebuild her life.

Call Herts Fire and Rescue Service on 0300 123

4060 or 01442 265028 to get a free smoke

detector fitted or for a home safety check.

You can read the full version of Loren’s article

online at www.dacorum.gov.uk/firesafety

© D

av

id S

atc

hel

It’s an exciting time for social housing in Dacorum. We wanted to

share with you the plans we’ve put in place to start building 71

new homes for the borough, the council’s first for over twenty

years.

The new homes are being built over three sites which are all in need

of regeneration, so have the added advantage of improving how the

whole area looks.

We’ve considered the design of each site individually, and have

chosen architects for their creativity and commitment to high quality.

We’ve also specified that homes need to be built to high eco

standards, reducing their environmental impact during construction

and lowering energy bills for our tenants.

06 | New homes special feature www.dacorum.gov.uk

Farm Place, Berkhamsted

Background: The 26 new homes at the Northchurch

end of Berkhamsted are being built on

the site of one of our former supported

housing schemes.

Types of homes: 8 one-bedroom flats

12 two-bedroom flats

6 three-bedroom houses

Progress update: Tendering for a builder and expect to

start on site later this year

Design: Avanti Architects won a competition to

design this site

Our new homes are close to our heart, and unusually for a social

landlord, we’ve put our own team in place to manage every step of

their development. We’re aiming for them all to be finished by

March 2015. Meet Housing Development Manager Jack Burnham,

who leads the team, on page 7. He’ll be updating our Facebook site

with news and photos.

Laying the foundations for new hom

Galley Hill, Gadebridge

Background: St Peter’s Church in Gadebridge shut several years ago. After a h association scheme fell through bought the site.

Types of homes: 9 two-bedroom flats

Progress update: Tendering for a builder and expe start on site this summer

Design: Architects Chambers Goodwin an Partners are using an innovative energy building technique called Passivhaus. It is one of a handful developments to be built with thi technique around the country. Th will only cost around £100 a year heat.

[email protected] New homes special feature | 07

Behind the scenesWho are the people who make up

Dacorum’s housing service? In this

issue we meet Housing Development

Manager Jack Burnham.

“I joined the council in September

2011, having previously worked for

Uttlesford and Broxbourne councils. I

also have experience of working with

a Canadian Housing Association. I’ve

taken on different roles, mainly

focusing on developing new affordable

homes.

“I now manage Dacorum’s

development and we’re responsible for

building the first new council homes in

over 20 years, something we’re all

proud to be doing. I work with

architects, builders, engineers and

other professionals to coordinate the

construction. This includes everything

from purchasing land and finalising

plans, to checking the final homes for

quality and finish.

“I also work with housing associations

to create more new affordable houses

to home people waiting on the

Housing Register. Together, we’re

aiming to build 1,000 new housing

association homes in Dacorum over

the next five years.”

“The best part of my job is knowing

that we are not only building energy

efficient, sustainable buildings, but

providing high quality affordable

homes for those that need them. I

can’t wait until the first tenants move

in.”

You can call Jack on 01442 228000 or

email [email protected]

mes

was housing

we

ect to

nd e low

l of

is he flats

r to

London Road, Apsley

Background: We are building 36 homes and space for

two shops on a site that has been

derelict for years. When the owner, a

private developer, went bust in 2011, we

bought part of the site at an auction and

the rest of the site this March.

Types of homes: 12 one-bedroom flats

24 two-bedroom flats

Progress update: Putting planning application together

and expect to be on site later this year

Design standards: Our own planning department has

helped RG+P Architects come up with a

high quality design that fits in with the

local area. Features include a roof

garden and shops.

08 | Your tenancy www.dacorum.gov.uk

Tenancy agreement updated You should have received a draft copy of our new Tenancy Agreement at the

beginning of March. The letter included with it tells you how to express your views

on the changes made to the agreement.

The deadline to send us your comments is 29 March. We’ll then make any changes

needed to the document and send a final version out to you in April.

If you have a question, please call housing on 01442 228000.

Moving out?See our new leaflet ‘Leaving your home’ if you are

moving out. It reminds you what we need you to do to

make sure the house is left in an acceptable condition. It

also contains a helpful change of address checklist list

and tips on making the move easier.

You can download a copy from www.dacorum.gov.uk/

leaflets or call housing on 01442 228000.

John’s in themoneyHow would you improve your area if

we gave you some money?

John Baumann applied to our estate

improvement budget to ask for a

petrol lawnmower as he cuts the

communal gardens in Singlets Lane,

Flamstead after his original one broke

down.

“I saw the article in News and Views

and just decided to write in,” he said.

“I knew it was something that would

benefit all my neighbours. When the

weather gets better I can’t wait to try

it out. If there’s any one else out

there who has an idea, my advice is

just to ask. The money’s there and if

you don’t ask, you won’t get.”

We know everyone will enjoy John’s

well cut lawn and would like to thank

him for all his efforts.

Tenants and leaseholders can apply

for a grant from the housing service’s

estate improvement budget of up to

£1,000. There is no minimum amount.

For more information and details of

how to apply please call 01442

228000 and ask for estate

improvement.

When Mr and Mrs Austen moved from a

three-bedroom house in Highfield to a

two bedroom house in Adeyfield, we

helped them move their carpets,

furniture and cooker – and gave them a

one-off payment of £1,000.

If you’re thinking of moving to a smaller

home, we can now offer a range of

incentives to help. From April, if you do

decide to move to a smaller home we

will:

� Take up and relay your carpets

� Arrange and pay for your furniture to

be packed and moved

� Arrange for your cooker to be

disconnected and re-fitted in your new

home

� Make a one-off payment when the

transfer is completed (the amount

depends on the size of the property

you are moving from)

We have also revised our Allocations

Policy to increase the points available to

tenants wishing to move to a smaller

property, while still allowing you to keep

a spare room.

Feedback from the Tenant and

Leaseholder Conference last September

and from tenants who have recently

applied to move to a smaller property

has been positive. One tenant said: “It

makes sense for people wanting to

downsize to be given priority as this

would free up bigger houses for the

people who need more bedrooms.”

For more information about moving

to a smaller home call housing on

01442 228000.

Thinking of downsizing?

01442 228000 Tenants and Leaseholders Committee | 09

TLC updateby Rose Kosmalski, Chair

Meet the TLC: John Howard

Dear Residents

Even though this is the spring issue I

would like to wish you all a Happy New

Year. My Christmas was very quiet, as

we had to cancel our meeting on 14

January because of the snow.

Like John [below], I’ve been helping out

with the ‘you are the key’ campaign to

get more of us to have a say in how

Dacorum’s housing is run. It got me

thinking about how I started. My

involvement with the council dates way

back to 2002. The first reason was to get

the council, in the street where I lived, to

replace the old metal windows with new

PVC windows. It was not done straight

away, however all the windows were

eventually replaced.

Have you ever watched a television

programme or read an article about

council tenants? They seem to have this

second class stigma attached to them,

Hi my name is John Howard. I’m 56

years young and reside in the Chaulden

area of Dacorum. I actually live in the

same house as I did from the tender age

of six weeks old.

I have been employed with the same

company, now called Safran, for all my

working life. I’m a keen musician and

have played the guitar in numerous local

bands.

As a native of this area, I have seen some

changes over the decades from the

fledgling Commissions for the New Towns

to the Dacorum Borough Council.

One of these changes, when the council

was thinking of transferring housing out,

actually got me involved with the issue

of affordable social housing. I’m now on

the TLC, which isn’t all a bed of roses, but

new budding ideas appear in the mix.

I helped put the Survey of Tenants and

Residents (STAR) together which

produced a bountiful windfall of your

views and priorities. This gives the

council a foundation to build upon and

the TLC ideals to champion for you.

The discussion topic of late is that of the

housing welfare reforms [see page 4],

which will affect the way bedroom under

occupation is assessed in relation to

housing benefit. My advice is to discuss

this issue with the housing officers and

not sweep it under carpet.

Recently I’ve taken part in the ‘you are

the key’ campaign to get more of us

involved in Dacorum’s housing. Have a

look at our film on You Tube and think

how you could help. We’re in this

together.

and to say that this angers me is an

understatement. What makes you and I

any different from the person next door

who owns their house? Nothing. The

council staff view has changed quite a

lot over the last few years and I can say

that there are now some terrific people

working there, but it is not the people

that need to change; it’s the perception

that needs to be changed.

And this is what I want to change, and I

want you and I together to make a

difference.

You might say that you don’t need any

help at all from the council and you are

happy with things just ticking along. But

the reason for the campaign on the front

page is that we do need you to get more

involved.

You will learn a great deal and as

knowledge is power, the more of us who

do get involved the greater the voice we

have to make a difference.

Best wishes

Rose, on behalf of the TLC

Contacting the TLC

Please remember the TLC represents you, the tenants and resident leaseholders

from all over Dacorum. To get in touch, email us [email protected] We

promise to respond to all emails. You can also write to us, in confidence, c/o

Tenant and Leaseholder Committee, Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre, Marlowes,

Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1HH.

10 | Repairs and maintenance www.dacorum.gov.uk

The news that we terminated our

contract with Carillion for gas boiler

servicing and repairs back in December

just missed the last issue of News and

Views.

We were unhappy with the service they

were providing and did not want to risk

any problems over winter. Local Hemel-

based company Orion Building

Repairs drop-in extends to Berkhamsted The handy weekly repairs hot desk has been extended to Berkhamsted Civic Centre.

Maria McKenna, Resident Liaison Officer for our repairs and maintenance contractor

MITIE, has been a regular presence at Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre on Thursday

mornings for some time. She will now spend alternate weeks at the two locations. Call

customer services on 01442 228000 to check where she is that week.

There’s no need to make an appointment: just drop by to see her, and she will raise

your repairs questions directly with the MITIE Housing Repairs Team.

Requesting a repairTo report a fault during normal working hours between 8am and 6.30pm

Monday to Friday, contact Dacorum Borough Council:

� By phone: use the freephone number 0800 0186050 or call 01442 228000

and ask for repairs

� Online: www.dacorum.gov.uk/repairs

� In person: visit your nearest Customer Service Centre

To ask for an emergency repair between 6.30pm and 8am Monday to Friday,

at the weekend or on a Bank Holiday, call the freephone number

0800 0186050. Do not report emergency repairs online.

See your Tenants’ Handbook to find out more about what is considered to be

an emergency repair.

Set your boiler right

Handyhints #3

Boilers are designed to work more

efficiently if they are on the

correct setting. It’s false economy

to set them too low.

Some boilers have their controls

behind a panel, which you will need

to open to get access.

Your boiler needs to be on a high

setting to heat your home up

properly in the colder months. This

will also help to prevent problems

with condensation. When it gets

warmer, remember to turn it down

again.

Orion takes over heating repairs

Contractorreview updateWe are reviewing our arrangement with

housing repairs and maintenance

contractors. Our aim is to create a more

efficiently run service, better quality

workmanship and customer care, and

fewer emergency repairs.

Tenant representatives have been

helping us choose the option that will

benefit you all most.

After reviewing the options we have

decided that it is necessary to have a

number of different contracts to achieve

our aim:

� One main contract for all repairs,

maintenance and improvement

works;

� One contract for heating;

� Several smaller contracts for specialist

work such as community alarms, fire

alarms and lifts.

Most of the new contracts will start next

year. To prepare for this we will be

asking you for your opinions on how the

service can be improved when you

contact us to ask for a repair.

Engineering Services has taken over

until we can go through the formal

process of procuring a new contractor.

So from now on our engineers will be

wearing shirts with the Orion logo and

carry Orion identity badges. Please ask

to see their identity before letting them

in. If you are in any doubt please call

Pat Coles at the council on 01442 228000.

%

01442 228000 [email protected] Supported housing | 11

Spring clean keeps you safe

Using scooters

It’s time to start thinking about the annual supported

housing gardening competition.

Last year we had an Olympics theme (pictured), but

this year you’re free to design your garden the way

you want.

As usual there are two categories: supported housing

schemes and individual tenants who live in flats or

bungalows and are eligible to receive support from

the supported housing service. There will be prizes

for the best three gardens in each category.

Ask your supported housing officer for an

application form from 27 May or call supported

housing on 01442 228000.

Tenants have their sayby Mr Wiggins from Christopher Court scheme

I was asked by my Supported Housing Officer if I would like to attend the

Supported Housing Tenants Forum. While I didn’t quite know what to expect I felt

it gave me a chance to have my opinions heard.

The forum provided an opportunity to meet other tenants who lived in similar

accommodation and to discuss ideas between us. I felt it enabled us as tenants to

swap notes and collectively suggest changes that affect us on a regular basis that

could improve our quality of life.

I feel it is positive that Dacorum are communicating with their supported housing

tenants. Meeting at different sheltered housing schemes improved our

understanding of the layout of other schemes, and the fact transport was provided

meant that no one was denied the opportunity to participate. I feel it is going to be

a good thing for us.

To join the Supported Housing Tenants Forum call supported housing on

01442 228000.

Get set, grow!

We’ll be joining you at supported

housing coffee mornings to talk about

the importance of keeping corridors and

exits clear: not because we’re being

bureaucratic, but because as your

landlord it’s our responsibility to meet

fire, health and safety regulations.

We carry out fire risk assessments every

year to make sure you are safe. Our

recent inspection picked up a number of

things which become dangerous when

fires start and smoke makes visibility

zero, becoming trip hazards, giving off

poisonous fumes or blocking escape

routes:

� Plants, both fresh and plastic, on

communal window sills

� Ornaments and pictures in corridors

and window sills

� Mobility scooters

We are organising a spring clean at each

of our schemes. We’ll remove all fire

hazards and are happy to move any

items to the communal lounge. We’re

looking at providing more mobility

scooter storage areas (see below).

Have a look at the BBC One Show clip

we’ve put on www.youtube.com/

dacorumBC where comedian Arthur

Smith highlights the dangers of objects

in hallways when trying to escape during

a fire.

There are now a new rules about having

a mobility scooter which tell you how to

safely use, store and charge them.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

has said that they must not be stored in

corridors.

If you have a mobility scooter already,

you need to park it in a designated area

and provide us every year with proof

your scooter is serviced and has an

electrical safety certificate. You are not

allowed to take scooters into lifts

because their weight can cause damage

and it is also a fire risk.

If you are thinking of getting a scooter, it

will only be allowed in your scheme if:

� A medical assessment says you need

one;

� There is a designated parking space;

� You live on the ground floor. If you live

upstairs, we may be able to move you.

For more information call supported

housing on 01442 228000.

12 | News in brief www.dacorum.gov.uk

Spring Digestout nowHave you read the

latest Dacorum

Digest, our quarterly

residents’

newspaper? This

issue includes:

� Details of our new

mortgage scheme

to help first time

buyers onto the property ladder

� How we’re helping a local sports club

to boost the economy

� A handy guide to what goes where in

your recycling

� Plus council news, events and what’s

on across the borough.

If you haven’t received your copy

through your door, please let us know by

emailing [email protected] or call

01442 228694 with your postcode. You

can also get a copy of Dacorum Digest

online at www.dacorum.gov.uk/digest,

at your local library or from our civic

centres.

Contact us...If you would like more information, want to give us some

feedback or would like this issue in another format such as

large print, CD or in another language, please call

01442 228000 and say the name of the person you want to

speak to or simply ask for housing or tenant involvement.

You can also email us on

[email protected]

or visit www.dacorum.gov.uk

Find us on the Council’s main

facebook and twitter sites

Adeyfield unpacks the bunting If you missed last year’s Jubilee festivities, don’t despair. We’re organising a family

event from 10am to 3pm on Sunday 2 June in Queens Square, Adeyfield, to

commemorate 60 years since the Queen’s Coronation.

If you have any photos from the coronation we’d love to hear from you.

Look out for more information nearer the time on the community noticeboard or call

Sarah Hubbard on 01442 228000.

Save the dateDon’t forget to put our annual Tenant

and Leaseholder Conference on

Saturday 28 September on your

calendar. If you have any suggestions

about what we should include, or want

to help organise it, please call Selina

Burris on 01442 228000.

Congratulations...Congratulations to Mrs Kubik of Tring

who won £50 in our recent prize draw.

The draw was open to everybody who

responded to an email questionnaire

about paying their rent by direct debit.

The survey found that most people

wanted to be able to sign up on the

phone or online rather than filling in a

form, so we’re now putting systems in

place for this.

Paying by direct debit is quick, easy and

secure. If you would like more

information please call 01442 228000

and ask for housing rent.

Have your say in local electionsA by-election will be held on Thursday 21 March 2013 for the Adeyfield West Ward

of Dacorum Borough Council.

Polling stations will be at Communal Hall, Old House Road and

Adeyfield Community Centre. They will be open from 7am to

10pm on 21 March.

Look out for Hertfordshire County Council elections taking place

on Thursday 2 May 2013, when all residents across the borough

can have their say. For more information on the elections or

about registering to vote, go to www.dacorum.gov.uk/elections

or call 01442 228000 and ask for electoral services.

USEYOURVOTE