In direct response to some recent comments on the discussion forum.
The Project
I could not agree more that this is the ideal opportunity for the
wider community to air its views on issues related to Caia Park.
Updates are there to keep the community informed of progress. That
progress is slow at the moment although the consultation exercise is
continuing. The aims of the project will ultimately be informed by
the views of the community.
Open Communities does have an obligation to ensure the facts about
this project are made available to the local community (whether you
‘agree’ or concur with the findings is out of our control). We will be
able to do this when the consultation exercise is complete and the
local community has had their say on a wide range of community
issues. It is then down to the Housing Sub Group to analyse the views
of the community and take a recommendation – if any - back to the Caia
Park Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel will then make a decision
on what - if anything - they plan to do next. The Housing Sub Group
was set up by the Caia Park Advisory Panel to steer the project. The
Advisory Panel meets every month to discuss a wide range of local
issues. It is open to all.
I will repeat what I’ve said before - this is not a ‘stock transfer
project’ but a community consultation exercise.
Publicity
On the issue of publicity, 5000 newsletter have been hand delivered to
every property in Caia Park. The newsletter invited tenants and
residents to get involved but unfortunately only a handful of people
used our freephone number. Our web site (and this discussion forum)
is also publicised in the newsletters. Over 100 flyers in both A4 and
A3 formats were hand delivered to schools, health centres, shops,
support groups and community groups. Admittedly it can be difficult
to find space on notice boards but we do everything to ensure that we
‘find a space’ on these facilities. Every organization contained in
the Caia Park directory received the information. Six drop-in
sessions have been held throughout Caia Park at venues suggested by
local residents. We are in the process of visiting all of the tenants
& Residents groups within Caia Park. Meetings with the Housing Sub
Group are continuing. The Council is now ensuring that
representatives attend the meetings and the residents are more than
happy with this, taking the view that inclusiveness and transparency
is a key element in the project.
In addition to this, every home on Caia Park is or will be visited –
not once but twice – to complete the survey questionnaire, If there
is no response the questionnaire is delivered to be completed and
returned in the pre-paid envelope supplied. A further 5,000
newsletter will be hand delivered at the end of the project to inform
the community of the project outcomes.
It is true that the flyers can have a limited ‘shelf life’ in some
facilities so we regularly call in to ensure the information is still
on show.
Open Communities
Open Communities is a Welsh Assembly Government (and Westminster
Government) approved independent training and advice agency. We are
on the approved lists of both Governments to carry out community
consultation and Independent Tenants Advisory work projects. This
project is concerned with the former. We are independent of local
authorities and Registered Social Landlords.
The organization depends on this independence for its very existence.
Any compromise of this independence would be counter productive not
only to Open Communities but to the communities we engage with.
with regards the consultation exercise, and i repeat exercise,this is
peoples housing we are talking about, not just some pre school
playground stuff,can one answer the questions we have asked time and
time again then,which is the best way forward ,and i repeat again this
is not an exercise, this site is trying to empower folk,but which
way,in other council bourgh the consutation as been done, not slow as
what is going on in wrexham, i do feel that some of the information u
giving out is very misleading for the average person not involved in
all of this,would it not be far better to point all the facts out,how
much information would have been posted if it was not for the likes of
me and chris,NOTHING, so again you may say its very SLOW,welsh have
given £12million to clwyd alyn RSL,why cant we get money and bring the
housing up to the WAG standards,we need to secure the housing stays
with the council,even if it means taking our government to the E/
U,BACK HANDED METHODS,all talk no action to save the housing
On 29 Mar, 08:46, Administrator <raymond.co...@opencommunities.org>
wrote:
> In direct response to some recent comments on the discussion forum.
> The Project
> I could not agree more that this is the ideal opportunity for the
> wider community to air its views on issues related to Caia Park.
> Updates are there to keep the community informed of progress. That
> progress is slow at the moment although the consultation exercise is
> continuing. The aims of the project will ultimately be informed by
> the views of the community.
> Open Communities does have an obligation to ensure the facts about
> this project are made available to the local community (whether you
> 'agree' or concur with the findings is out of our control). We will be
> able to do this when the consultation exercise is complete and the
> local community has had their say on a wide range of community
> issues. It is then down to the Housing Sub Group to analyse the views
> of the community and take a recommendation - if any - back to the Caia
> Park Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel will then make a decision
> on what - if anything - they plan to do next. The Housing Sub Group
> was set up by the Caia Park Advisory Panel to steer the project. The
> Advisory Panel meets every month to discuss a wide range of local
> issues. It is open to all.
> I will repeat what I've said before - this is not a 'stock transfer
> project' but a community consultation exercise.
> Publicity
> On the issue of publicity, 5000 newsletter have been hand delivered to
> every property in Caia Park. The newsletter invited tenants and
> residents to get involved but unfortunately only a handful of people
> used our freephone number. Our web site (and this discussion forum)
> is also publicised in the newsletters. Over 100 flyers in both A4 and
> A3 formats were hand delivered to schools, health centres, shops,
> support groups and community groups. Admittedly it can be difficult
> to find space on notice boards but we do everything to ensure that we
> 'find a space' on these facilities. Every organization contained in
> the Caia Park directory received the information. Six drop-in
> sessions have been held throughout Caia Park at venues suggested by
> local residents. We are in the process of visiting all of the tenants
> & Residents groups within Caia Park. Meetings with the Housing Sub
> Group are continuing. The Council is now ensuring that
> representatives attend the meetings and the residents are more than
> happy with this, taking the view that inclusiveness and transparency
> is a key element in the project.
> In addition to this, every home on Caia Park is or will be visited -
> not once but twice - to complete the survey questionnaire, If there
> is no response the questionnaire is delivered to be completed and
> returned in the pre-paid envelope supplied. A further 5,000
> newsletter will be hand delivered at the end of the project to inform
> the community of the project outcomes.
> It is true that the flyers can have a limited 'shelf life' in some
> facilities so we regularly call in to ensure the information is still
> on show.
> Open Communities
> Open Communities is a Welsh Assembly Government (and Westminster
> Government) approved independent training and advice agency. We are
> on the approved lists of both Governments to carry out community
> consultation and Independent Tenants Advisory work projects. This
> project is concerned with the former. We are independent of local
> authorities and Registered Social Landlords.
> The organization depends on this independence for its very existence.
> Any compromise of this independence would be counter productive not
> only to Open Communities but to the communities we engage with.
> In direct response to some recent comments on the discussion forum.
> The Project
> I could not agree more that this is the ideal opportunity for the
> wider community to air its views on issues related to Caia Park.
> Updates are there to keep the community informed of progress. That
> progress is slow at the moment although the consultation exercise is
> continuing. The aims of the project will ultimately be informed by
> the views of the community.
> Open Communities does have an obligation to ensure the facts about
> this project are made available to the local community (whether you
> 'agree' or concur with the findings is out of our control). We will be
> able to do this when the consultation exercise is complete and the
> local community has had their say on a wide range of community
> issues. It is then down to the Housing Sub Group to analyse the views
> of the community and take a recommendation - if any - back to the Caia
> Park Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel will then make a decision
> on what - if anything - they plan to do next. The Housing Sub Group
> was set up by the Caia Park Advisory Panel to steer the project. The
> Advisory Panel meets every month to discuss a wide range of local
> issues. It is open to all.
> I will repeat what I've said before - this is not a 'stock transfer
> project' but a community consultation exercise.
> Publicity
> On the issue of publicity, 5000 newsletter have been hand delivered to
> every property in Caia Park. The newsletter invited tenants and
> residents to get involved but unfortunately only a handful of people
> used our freephone number. Our web site (and this discussion forum)
> is also publicised in the newsletters. Over 100 flyers in both A4 and
> A3 formats were hand delivered to schools, health centres, shops,
> support groups and community groups. Admittedly it can be difficult
> to find space on notice boards but we do everything to ensure that we
> 'find a space' on these facilities. Every organization contained in
> the Caia Park directory received the information. Six drop-in
> sessions have been held throughout Caia Park at venues suggested by
> local residents. We are in the process of visiting all of the tenants
> & Residents groups within Caia Park. Meetings with the Housing Sub
> Group are continuing. The Council is now ensuring that
> representatives attend the meetings and the residents are more than
> happy with this, taking the view that inclusiveness and transparency
> is a key element in the project.
> In addition to this, every home on Caia Park is or will be visited -
> not once but twice - to complete the survey questionnaire, If there
> is no response the questionnaire is delivered to be completed and
> returned in the pre-paid envelope supplied. A further 5,000
> newsletter will be hand delivered at the end of the project to inform
> the community of the project outcomes.
> It is true that the flyers can have a limited 'shelf life' in some
> facilities so we regularly call in to ensure the information is still
> on show.
> Open Communities
> Open Communities is a Welsh Assembly Government (and Westminster
> Government) approved independent training and advice agency. We are
> on the approved lists of both Governments to carry out community
> consultation and Independent Tenants Advisory work projects. This
> project is concerned with the former. We are independent of local
> authorities and Registered Social Landlords.
> The organization depends on this independence for its very existence.
> Any compromise of this independence would be counter productive not
> only to Open Communities but to the communities we engage with.
I read your comment wih interest, you say that this is about
consultation, I apoligise for my confusion but when I was involved in
this current project that was exactly what it was about. I am sorry
that you never had much of a response to your phone line but as you
are aware I feel that it would of been much better to have promoted
the use of the information highway. If this is just a simplistic
consultation exercise then why the need for an independent advisor,
why the training on tennant management and stock transfer. Perhaps
proffessionaly you may not feel that this current programme has not
reached the status of actually going for stock transfer. You yourself
indicated that tennant management would not bring the much needed
finance needed to achieve the Welsh Quality Housing Standards, the
Council have stated tha they have not got the money to achieve any of
the identified improvements needed, and you suggest to me that this is
not about partial stock transfer. Come on there is a need for clarity
to define what this is really about, I personally find your
questionaire missleading and for your information, the few individuals
that I have spoken to have had their copies shoved through the door.
I once again request the mission statement and constitution of this
group is, I also further request copies of your current contract and
job remit, because I currently find it difficult to understand that
some local resident groups get knocked back on funding from a lack of
constitution, whilst the highest teg grant in Wales ever applied for
in Wales is to simply question residents on what they think of current
council services.
At a recent local event Gary Jones invited myself and others who
regularly use this sight to have a meeting to discuss our views, this
is why I left the group as I felt uncomfortable at the lack of info,
all the talk being done behind closed doors and a request to
incorperate a party line regarding what this project is about. I am
all for community consultation but many of us are dissaffected by the
way that meetings are conducted so I suggest that yourself and Gary
join us on this sight where we can discuss the questions already
asked. Perhaps if you put some info on here all those that have passed
the sight by may have stopped and left a comment???
I am beginning to think that there is an exceptionally high number of
ludites out there or that individuals are unable or unwilling to enter
in to debate, a lack of knowledge and capapility are in my opinion two
areas that need to be addressed. So once again for thos ethat have
been elected and for those that have not, all yo percieved community
leaders where are you and what is your opinion????????? What about our
local council candidates, surely housing must be one of your main
priorities???????? Perhaps not, have we really been sold down the
river or are we just potencial financial fodder for our burocratic
leaders. To tell you the truth I have not got a clue, which ever it is
it isn't right and a community I believe that we have a right to hear
what is being said and by who. I am more than happy to share any info
I have come across plus defend my point of view what about everyone
else.
I have recently found out that local council elections are due, where
is the voice of our local candidates and how do they stand in response
to the current situation regarding possible stock transfer and the
issues regarding inadequate housing stock. Who exactly are the
candidates for the Caia Park area. Once again I ask if anyone else has
any information on what the current boundaries are for Caia Park. I
would definetly be interested in hearing what our potential candidates
have to say.
A further question, when you discuss the news letters, do you mean the
Communities First regeneration publication or a seperate press release
dealing specifically with the current project?
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