The Chief Executive's Message

The financial year ending March 2009 has been the most difficult experienced by all housing associations for decades. Under these circumstances I am very pleased that we have achieved our objectives and improved services to tenants by investment in existing properties and restructuring staffing arrangements.

Traditionally we have used outside contractors for maintenance work. Whilst performance was satisfactory an improvement to customer service was the objective. Consultation with tenants was undertaken and the solution was to take direct control of the work. Changes to staff structure enabled the management of maintenance work in-house. A multi skilled workforce was recruited, significant investment in equipment made and existing staff were developed to take on more duties and responsibilities. Home grown is invariably the best and by taking this direction staff continue to improve their understanding of tenant’s needs and aspirations. These changes have improved the quality of repair and improvement work together with response and completion performance.

The Association is a market leader in the development of high quality energy efficient housing. Electricity producing photovoltaic panels, ground source heat pumps, super insulation and solar panels are some of the renewable and environmentally friendly technologies that have been used. This ethical approach combat climate change and fuel poverty has continued with the development of our most ambitious project at Long Sutton incorporating our first wind turbine and bio-mass system heated properties at Manby.

Very large increases in energy prices were experienced during 2008 and fuel poverty has increased nationally. The Association responded by providing a substantial budget for energy improvement work to existing properties. Training our workforce and purchasing specialist equipment has enabled insulation improvements to many properties with environmentally friendly products. The Board have led this campaign to look after existing customers by ensuring that thermal comfort and energy performance are improved. This campaign will continue for the benefit of our tenants and the environment.

The ‘Investors in People’ standard was again awarded to the Association in February 2009 evidencing that people are at the heart of what we do. In March 2009 our staff, as a group, decided to freeze salaries and not accept pay increases, recognising the hardships being caused by the economic crisis.

The Board and I were very disappointed with the increases to rents during difficult financial times. Rent is set by Government guidance designed to align rents of similar properties by 2012. The formula used could have resulted in much larger increases however the Board capped them where possible. Rent increases have been necessary to ensure that we remain a financially viable, responsive, customer focused, quality landlord in the future.

John D Howes FRICS

Chief Executive & Secretary