Dartford Borough Council News

Council tenants and leaseholders have the chance to voice their views on services at the upcoming Dartford Borough Residents’ Forum public meeting. The meeting, taking place on Wednesday 11 January at Temple Hill Community Centre, features presentations from Trading Standards about how residents can beat scammers and from Digital UK on how to keep switched on after the April 2012 digital switchover.

The meeting is open to all Dartford Council tenants and leaseholders and refreshments will be provided from 6.30pm. For more information or to advise of any special requirements, contact the resident involvement officer on 01322 343682.

The forum is made up of Dartford Borough Council tenants and leaseholders who work in partnership with the Council and its contractors to monitor the delivery of housing services. The forum has been involved in a number of projects during the past year including developing the new Rent Arrears and Tenancy Fraud Policies and revising the Resident Involvement Agreement.

ENDS

Council tenants and leaseholders can join in discussions about housing services at the annual general meeting of Dartford Borough Residents’ Forum on Wednesday 12 October at Princes Park Stadium. Forum members will give an update on the group’s achievements over the last year and speak about their plans for the year ahead.

Introductions from Councillor Jeremy Kite and Councillor Pat Coleman will be followed by an informative presentation by Digital UK to keep you switched on in 2012 when the digital switchover takes place. Digital UK is the independent, not-for-profit organisation leading the process of digital TV switchover in the UK. Digital UK provides impartial information on what people need to do to prepare for the switch to digital, and when they need to do it. The company was set up by public broadcasters at the request of the Government.

A free prize draw for £50 in high street vouchers will also take place on the evening for tenants and leaseholders attending.

Tenants and leaseholders are encouraged to take this opportunity to ask questions or voice their views to the people who matter including forum members, council officers, Councillors and contractors who will be there on the night.

Information will be provided to interested candidates about becoming one of the committee members as spaces have become available this year.

Refreshments will be served from 6.30pm, for a 6.45pm start and transport may be provided if required.

For more information, visit www.dartfordhousingresidents.org, email rio@dartford.gov.uk or call the Resident Involvement Officer on 01322 343682.

ENDS

Dartford Borough Council has released its latest draft Homelessness Strategy for public consultation.

The Strategy was developed following a review of homelessness in the Borough. It details plans for preventing and tackling homelessness in Dartford from 2011 to 2014, focusing on the following five priorities:
1. To prevent homelessness within the borough, wherever possible.
2. To provide a range of accommodation for homeless households, making innovative use of solutions in the private sector alongside more traditional methods.
3. To ensure there is sufficient and appropriate support to meet the needs of various client groups, particularly those who are vulnerable.
4. To work with local organisations to provide a co-ordinated approach to tackling and preventing homelessness.
5. To keep up to date with homelessness trends, customer satisfaction, Government policy, legislation, and good practice in the area of homeless prevention.

Local authorities have a legal duty to provide advice and assistance to people in their area who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. In 2010/11, Dartford Borough Council accepted 146 applicants as being eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need. The Council also took positive action to prevent a further 86 people from becoming homeless.

Councillor Pat Coleman, Cabinet Member for Housing, said, “Nobody wishes to see a person homeless through no fault of their own. This is why the Council’s housing service and its partners work hard to assist people in the Borough who are unintentionally homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Please take a moment to read the strategy and let us know if you think we’re getting it right or if we could do things differently.”

The consultation on the Homelessness Strategy is open until 31 August 2011.

Anyone wishing to give their views and feedback on the Strategy can do so by completing the online survey at www.dartford.gov.uk/housing, calling 01322 343625 or emailing housingpolicy@dartford.gov.uk

ENDS

Council tenants and leaseholders have the chance to air their views on services at the upcoming Dartford Borough Residents’ Forum public meeting. The meeting, taking place on Tuesday 12 April 2011 at Swanscombe & Greenhithe Town Council Offices, features a presentation from Pinnacle psg about how they are tackling grounds maintenance on Council housing estates around the borough.

The meeting is open to all residents and free refreshments will be provided from 6.30pm. For more information or to advise of any special requirements, contact the resident involvement officer on 01322 343682.

The forum is made up of Dartford Borough Council tenants and leaseholders who work in partnership with the Council and its contractors to monitor the delivery of housing services. The forum has been involved in a number of projects during the past year including developing the Tenants and Leaseholders Annual Report, Local Standards and the selection of the new grounds maintenance contractor for housing.

Secondary age school children are now able to find out about living independently as a free mobile phone game was launched across Dartford and Gravesend in November. (more…)

Council tenants and leaseholders can join in discussions about housing services at the annual general meeting of Dartford Borough Residents’ Forum on Wednesday 13 October at Princes Park Stadium. Forum members will give an update on the group’s achievements over the last year and introduce the new Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Annual Report. The meeting features a talk from Councillor Pat Coleman and representatives from the Police and the Community Safety Unit. (more…)

Dartford Borough Council is on course for a 35% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2012. In Year One of its carbon management programme there was a saving of 444 tonnes of CO2 – exceeding its target of 421 tonnes. (more…)