Welcome To Wirral

The Project Group replaces the earlier Commissioning Sub-group, in order to reflect the additional guidance and support role the group has taken on with regards to the NRF Project Officer. The group’s Terms of Reference were endorsed by the Strategic Housing Partnership in December 2006.

The Project Group undertakes a number of areas of work for which it has delegated decision-making powers from the Strategic Housing Partnership:

1          To manage the commissioning process for allocating NRF funds and allocating project underspend.

2          To support the Project Officer role, offering guidance and direction where required to the post-holder and specifically by:

• Overseeing the 6-monthly and annual reviews of the Performance Management Framework (PMF)
• Scrutinising projects’ progress and their success or failure

3          To maintain awareness of additional funding opportunities

4          To report decisions, recommendations and concerns back to the full Partnership, for approval where necessary

Meetings are held on a regular basis as deemed necessary by the group, usually monthly.

The Strategic Housing Partnership has commissioned the following interventions which contribute towards Decency and Liveability floor targets:

Home Ownership Using Sustainable Empty Dwellings (HOUSED)

Scheme impacts on both decency and liveability floor targets.  Its objectives include reducing number of empty properties in the NRF area by bringing empty properties back into use, providing decent homes for vulnerable households in the private sector.

Urban Green Landscape Initiative (UGLI)

Scheme will offer improvement
grants to part fund improvement works.  Working with owners of vacant and derelict land and community groups to target concentrations of derelict land particularly along major gateways and create positive new uses.

Neighbourhood Wardens – Seacombe and Tranmere

Schemes employ Wardens whose role is to help improve the quality of life for the residents of Seacombe and Tranmere, through the provision of a high visibility presence, dealing with a whole range of issues such as anti-social behaviour and environmental quality.

Leasowe Neighbourhood Warden

Scheme has built upon the experience and impact of other Neighbourhood Wardens within the Borough.  Provides support to the area housing team and carries out minor repair works in conjunction with LCH repairs service.

Wirral Warm Homes

The scheme tackles poor energy efficiency and increases affordable warmth.  It aims to assist in the alleviation of cold and damp related illnesses, aggravated by poorly and under insulated homes, particularly amongst the elderly.

Private Landlord Officer

Scheme seeks to raise the quality of management and housing standards within the private sector, by challenging various areas including irresponsible lettings, property management and poor housing conditions, linking in with various initiatives to encourage decent homes.

Joint Operation to Keep Entries free of Rubbish(JOKER)

Purchase of community engagement signage to be positioned on the gated entrances of alley-gates. Entries in up to a maximum of 200 entries in the NRF area (Min 2 per entry). Similar signs will also be placed at a minimum of 30 locations in other areas where there are communal collection points for presenting bins or locations that suffer from repeated household waste dumping.

Gardens for Schools

Enhancing the local environment through the delivery of ‘greener, cleaner, safer’ places both in schools and the wider community including quiet areas for reading; sensory gardens; wildlife areas and composting and recycling.

Handyperson Service

Scheme provides an affordable, reliable service to attend to smaller maintenance or repair jobs, thereby helping to improve property condition.

Neighbourhood Environment Team (NET)

Purpose:
• To tackle the maintenance and general improvement of  whole street  environment 
• To educate, inform and enforce where necessary
The team will pilot their work at a local level interacting with service providers and the community to assess local need.

Housing and Employment Link Project (HELP)

Scheme helps people gain housing and employment opportunities and access any appropriate support to sustain this, thus helping to reduce the chances of repeat homelessness.  The scheme also provides housing opportunities for people seeking employment, through the provision of furnished tenancies and subsidised rents.

NRF Project Officer

Appointment of a dedicated NRF Officer who can support the SHP in the development and implementation of NRF funded programmes.

Environmental Wardens

Scheme focuses on maintaining standards in relation to vacant sites, empty or abandoned properties or neighbourhoods undergoing HMRI intervention, including clearance.

Private Sector Stock Condition Data / Research

Purchase of a model to analyse the EHSCS against census data coupled with local stock condition data to provide an up to date picture of level of decency in the private sector.  Information is supplied at out put area.
Contribution to the cost of a private sector stock condition survey with particular emphasis on vulnerable people.

Decency through Thermal Comfort

Scheme aims to improve properties of vulnerable hard to reach household so that they meet the Thermal Comfort criteria of the Decent Homes Standard.  It will target BME and young adult households and will work with the Councils Landlord Accreditation Team to identify properties and clients suitable for assistance.

Wirral Mediation Service

Scheme provides an independent mediation service, building on existing provision, providing a service utilising local knowledge across Wirral neighbourhoods, to help resolve various issues such as neighbour nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

BNBEAG

Scheme will look at how NRF areas and the environment can be improved to benefit local communities.  Scheme will work with various agencies and the community and will employ a Programme Manager and a Neighbourhood Warden.  Development of a mini warden scheme (children) will also be taken forward.

For further information:

Gary Kennaugh

NRF Project Officer

0151 691 8697

garykennaugh@wirral.gov.uk

 

Related websites:

Neighbourhood Renewal Unit – provides a national perspective about the funding programme.