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Great Yarmouth Tenants Sign-up for a First

PR 127

6 February 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tenants on the Halfway House estate in Southtown have signed an action plan between their estate and a number of public service providers in Great Yarmouth. It is the first step which could lead to a transfer of responsibilities for the estate to a housing organisation run by local people.

On January 24 representatives of the tenants and residents association (TARA), Denis Gilbert, Head of Housing for Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Councillor Sue Lawley attended the ceremony at Manor Close Community Centre.

The agreement is part of a national scheme called Tenants Empowerment Options Study.

It gives tenants the opportunity to meet with Council staff to have an input into how capital investment in their homes, including a budget for repairs is managed.

Sheffield-based senior consultant John Fenton, from the Agency for Community Empowerment, has been working with the Halfway House association, using funding from the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. He will be carrying out a feasibility study to ascertain if the scheme has the backing of the majority of the tenants.

If consensus is reached tenants will work closely with the Council’s housing department, and develop links with local authority departments such as the youth service and education bodies to put across the concerns and aspirations of people living at Halfway House.

There is also the opportunity to improve people’s lives by setting up groups such as food co-ops (to take advantage of price cuts through buying in bulk), or credit unions which help people on lower incomes to borrow and save without incurring high rates.

The Tenants Empowerment Options Study has been in existence in England and Wales for 20 years. It has been mainly taken up by large cities and in the North of England. To John’s knowledge Great Yarmouth is the first town in East Anglia to adopt the scheme. Currently more than 200 schemes exist, affecting 80,000 homes.

“The action plan commits all parties to work together more closely in a spirit of co-operation, openness and trust,” said Denis. “The Council welcomes the proposed work to establish the level of participation and empowerment which the local residents desire.”

“The scheme is a new departure for the Borough,” said Councillor Sue Lawley, Cabinet Member for Social Policy. “We are keen to see how it progresses and how the tenants of Halfway House benefit.”

The enthusiasm is shared by Kavan Gilmore Secretary of the tenants and residents association who said: “These are exciting times and the chance to manage our own estate is an opportunity we intend to grasp with both hands.”

For further information contact Head of Housing Denis Gilbert on 01493 846278. John Fenton, Agency for Community Empowerment, on 0161 926 8190.

For further information on Tenants Empowerment Options Study go to www.afce.org.uk.

Picture caption: Head of Housing Denis Gilbert (left), and Secretary of the tenants and residents association Kavan Gilmore watch as Councillor Sue Lawley signs the action plan.

Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513

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