West Midlands Police Authority is holding a public question and answer session at 1pm on Thursday 2nd February in Annexes 1 & 2 at Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 3DE.

Members of the public, councillors, and representatives of organisations are all invited to come and ask questions or comment on anything to do with current and future policing, crime, and community safety. 

For further information, see http://www.west-midlands-pa.gov.uk/ or contact:

Jonathan Jardine 0121 626 5599, j.jardine@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

In addition to the above, the following services will also still operate:

• Community Alarms Service
• Community Care – wardens only
• CCTV Concierge
• Caretakers on Flatted Estates (skeleton cover to carry out duties in line with Health and Safety)

Normal service will resume on Thursday, 1st December.

Working in partnership with Citizens Advice Bureau and Orbit Group, the lead registered social landlord for Mortgage Rescue in the West Midlands, has enabled a total of 47 families in Sandwell to remain in their own homes and communities, rather than face homelessness and repossession.

The figures were revealed at a Mortgage Rescue Scheme conference, where the borough’s council housing provider was singled out for praise as having the most effective performance and achievement in the region.

The conference was attended by a wide range of representatives including the Department for Communities and Local Government, Housing Communities Agency, local authorities, Citizen’s Advice Bureau and mortgage lenders.

Jenny Birch, head of mortgage rescue at Orbit said: “I am delighted to be able to recognise the performance and achievement of Sandwell Homes through their delivery of the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.

“It is as a result of the excellent working relations its Housing Options team has, with Orbit and lenders as well as their resilience and hard work in what is a very complex and resource intensive area, going that extra mile and working arrangements with the a Citizen’s Advice Bureau worker.

Ms Birch added that Sandwell Homes’ results were achieved in phase one of the Mortgage Rescue Scheme which ended in February this year, and another 11 applications had already being submitted for consideration to the scheme.

Cllr Simon Hackett, Sandwell’s cabinet member for housing said: “Prevention of homelessness is a top priority for Sandwell Council and Sandwell Homes.

“I’m extremely pleased to hear that Sandwell Homes is the top performer in the Midlands region and has negotiated 47 successful mortgage rescue applications with more hopefully in the pipeline.

“The reasons as to why people get into difficulties with their mortgage are many and complex – it may be due to loss of employment, illness or relationship breakdown.

“The Mortgage Rescue Scheme not only enables a vulnerable family to escape the distress and hardship that comes as a result of repossession, but is beneficial to the wider community as families can remain in their homes, jobs and schools, and among family and friends.”

The Mortgage Rescue Scheme works in two ways: eligible families receive either an equity loan in order to reduce their mortgage, or may choose to sell their home to a registered social landlord, usually a housing association and remain as tenants.

Recognising that unemployment is now at its highest rate since the mid-1990’s and with youth unemployment at more than 1 million, we were keen to offer tenants a chance to enhance their CVs whilst showing them how social housing works behind the scenes.

Following a recruitment campaign nine tenants were offered 8 week placements working in Sandwell Homes’ neighbourhood offices, building supplies centre and estate services cleaning team. However, five tenants were also lucky enough to be offered either temporary or permanent offers of employment.

Dave Salt, training projects co-ordinator for Sandwell Homes, said: “This project has been great to be involved with. All the participants have shown a real appetite to learn from us and it is clear that they wanted to make the most of their opportunity.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to Think Local, Job Centre Plus, and all the managers, supervisors and colleagues that have helped make this project so successful.”

Two graduates from the scheme were offered placements with local employers Langley Business Systems and Lifework, as a customer service clerk and environmental maintenance officer respectively, whilst three more were offered temporary positions at Sandwell Homes.

Dean Upton, who will be working at Princes End estate office in Great Bridge, said: “It’s been a fantastic opportunity to get experience of local government and see things from the other side of the fence when it comes to tenant related issues.

“I’m looking forward to taking with me the confidence and skills that Sandwell Homes has provided during my placement. Without them I would never have had the opportunity to get back into work so easily.”

The Home2Work scheme is still open to tenants who would like to get involved. For more information they should contact Dave Salt on 0121 569 6180.

In many cases the problems related to new style gas central heating condensing boilers, where water in the external waste pipes froze due to record-breaking sub-zero temperatures.

So, how can you prepare this year? First things first, don’t wait until winter to check your central heating is working properly.

1. Switch your boiler on and run it for an hour or so now. If it works fine you have peace of mind.
2. If it doesn’t, give our repairs team a call now and we stand a better chance of repairing it before you really need it. You can contact them on 0121 569 6000 or 0800 844 112 outside of normal working hours.

Your central heating may be working perfectly fine now but if we experience sub-zero temperatures like last winter it could still cause the external condensate pipe to freeze. If this happens DON’T PANIC, you may be able to resolve the problem yourself.

Check out the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council’s website for advice on how to get your boiler working again.

If all else fails, give us a call on 0121 569 6000 or 0800 844 112 outside of normal working hours and our repairs team will be glad to help.

The project has helped the apprentices gain specific work-based evidence to ensure they leave Sandwell Homes with a full NVQ qualification in their chosen field.

It also provided a great opportunity to help some elderly or vulnerable tenants who needed help maintaining their properties.

Following an approach from Cllr Pete Allen, Great Bridge ward in Tipton, three elderly tenants received some valuable extra help.

Tipton tenant, Billy Neal, said: "The lads have worked extremely hard and I would like to say a big thank you to them and their supervisors. I am really happy with the work."

One of the apprentices Dale Hickman said: "I really enjoyed getting involved in the project, meeting new people and learning new skills. Hopefully I can now go on to get a permanent job in painting and decorating."

Councillor Pete Allen added: "The excellent work carried out by these apprentices and the mutual respect gained by everyone involved, shows everyone that out future is in our young people."