Welcome to the new format of Tenant Focus. Over the next few editions we will be changing the way we deliver this newsletter to improve it for you. If you have any feedback or suggestions on what content you would like to see please email communications@swindon.gov.uk

Make sure to keep us updated with changes to your living arrangements

To ensure our tenants’ safety, and in order to keep our records up to date, it is important that we are informed of any changes to your living arrangements.

In the instance of the passing of a family member it is important to note that it is not always possible for a relative to succeed the tenancy, as there are a number of policies and procedures we need to adhere to in order to ensure everyone is treated equally.

If you receive Universal Credit, Housing Element or Housing Benefit, any changes to your living arrangements may also affect your benefit entitlement. It is important that you report any changes so that you are not over or under paid for your housing costs. If you have any queries, contact your Neighbourhood Housing Officer.

Have you checked if your household is on the food waste trial?

The routes for the new weekly food waste collection trial have now been announced. Over 11,000 households are on the trial, including houses, flats and communal occupancies. The routes will run through parts of Middleleaze, Nine Elms, Wroughton, Broome Manor, Marlborough Road, Park South, Broad Street, Coleview, Highworth, Cheney Manor, Gorse Hill, Abbey Meads and Taw Hill. Not every household in these areas will receive the trial, if you live in one of these areas you can find out whether your household is on a trial route by visiting the SBC website. For more information about the food waste trial, including what can and can’t go in the caddies, please click here.

BBQ safety reminders

Barbecues are great for when the sun is shining, but they do carry a fire risk. Please remember to:

-   Avoid placing the barbecue on dry grass or vegetation.

-   Use firelighters or barbecue fuel to light the coals – always avoid using petrol or paraffin.

-   Keep children and pets well away from the cooking area and never leave the barbecue unattended.

-   Avoid moving the barbecue until it is completely cool, and make sure any remaining charcoal is cold before disposing of it carefully. Ideally, use water to damp down the ashes.

-   Ensure disposable barbecues are cold before disposing of them.

-   Avoid disposing of hot barbecue ashes in plastic rubbish bins as this can easily start a fire.

-   Never use a barbecue indoors or inside a tent, as they can produce potentially lethal carbon monoxide.

For more fire safety information and guidance, please visit the DWFR website.

Reporting potholes is now much easier

Keeping Swindon’s roads safe and maintained is always important. In 2018, our Highways team worked incredibly hard to fix over 7,500 potholes - of those, only 910 were reported from the public. It is a difficult task delivered on a small budget with many technical difficulties.

The Council has now developed an easier way for you to report any potholes you see on the SBC website. All you have to do is simply mark a pothole on an interactive map and leave a few extra details using your computer or smartphone.

Find out more about the New Eastern Villages development and highways improvements

The New Eastern Villages (NEV) team are holding three drop-in sessions over the next couple of weeks to give residents the chance to find out more about the NEV development, including plans for major highways projects starting in October 2019. If you would like to find out about the proposed transport schemes at White Hart Junction, Gable Cross, Great Stall Bridge and the Southern Connector Road, you can find details about the drop-in event here and more information about the whole development here.

Working together to support the community.

Two of our tenants, Bill and George, are supporting the member owned Wiltshire and Swindon Credit Union. The Swindon Credit Union community point is open on Tuesday afternoons from 1pm to 3pm at the community café in the John Moulton Hall, Penhill. Bill and George are both enthusiastic about the Credit Union and can provide information on its services, and the benefits of becoming a saver. If you are unable to get to the community point, you can visit the website to learn more about volunteering where you live, and how to become a member.

Penhill Neighbourhood Wardens & St Luke’s Academy - working in partnership to improve local gardens.

Penhill Neighbourhood Wardens usually find themselves inspecting communal areas in flats for repairs, removing unwanted furniture from tenants, conducting risk assessment and generally helping out in the local community. However, recently they took advantage of the lovely dry weather and teamed up with some pupils from St Luke’s Academy to help tame some unruly gardens in Penhill. They did a fantastic job, from taking armfuls of brambles to the skip, to completely freeing a shed full of weeds and ivy.

Contribute to this newsletter
Would you like to write an article for Tenant Focus about something happening where you live or to promote something that you feel passionate about? Please let us know by email at getinvolved@swindon.gov.uk