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Questions & answers

Here are answers to recent questions. Before you ask a question, make sure we haven't answered a similar one here already. There are more questions and answers on other pages.

Questions: 57 - 55  | 53 - 49 | 48 - 42 | 41 - 37 | 36 - 31 | 30 -22 | 21 - 15 | 14 - 8 | 7 - 1

Q48 I know that you are doing a lot of renovation to all the property in the area. Kitchen/Bathroom Windows etc. What about security? Are you thinking about putting alarms in homes? Because we do need them round here. On several occasion now I've come home and found young men coming out of my garden. So I do need some sort of security like all of the other tenants round here.
Bev Gordon, Larden Walk, Cheetham Hill

A The Investment money which we receive is largely to bring your home to the Governments Decent Home Standard. Whilst we already go beyond that - double glazing, removal of lead water mains, insulating both lofts and cavity walls, we cannot do everything. We consulted with tenants representatives before we were formed on a number of other things including fitting alarms, but it was an idea which tenants representatives chose not to pursue.

Neither we, nor the Council have fitted alarms, however should you choose to do so as your neighbour's have - then we would give you permission to do so.
Councillor Anna Trotman, Chair Procurement and Property Sub Committee

Q47 Please can you tell me what your HR policy is in relation to Bullying in the Workplace. Can you also tell me what the standard recommended practice in relation to suspending an employee from work.
Richard Redfern

A Thank you for your question. Under the Freedom of Information Act our Publication Scheme includes the policies that you are interested in. See Strategies and Policies and follow the link to 'Staff policy: harassment and bullying'.
Martin McKevitt, Chair Human Resources and Equality Sub Committee

Q46 Please could you tell me if I am allowed to put a camera up in my garden just to protect my garden. Am I allowed to do this, I just want the camera for viewing of my garden?
Laura Rimes, Blackley

A Yes provided it doesn't intrude on your neighbours' privacy.
Joan FitzGerald, Chair Neighbourhood & Quality Services Sub-Committee

Q45 Why aren't housing association properties put on the Homefinder website? Who gets offered properties that are available but not advertised to bid for?
Anonymous

A We don't advertise the house number of a property because there is often a tenant still living there, who has told us they are due to leave. Generally those tenants do not want people turning up at their home. We have however started to publish pictures of many of our available homes on our website, so that applicants can get an idea of what a property looks like before they bid.
Joan FitzGerald, Chair Neighbourhood & Quality Services Sub-Committee

Q44 Why aren't housing association properties put on the Homefinder website? Who gets offered properties that are available but not advertised to bid for?
Anonymous

A Currently, not every housing association in the city is a member of Homefinder. These associations allocate their properties from a waiting list made up of people who have applied to them directly. However, the main housing associations are members of the Manchester Housing Register, and if you are registered with the Council or one of the associations who are members then you will be registered with all the others too. Most housing associations have their own letting policies but half the lettings of all housing associations are let via the Council's allocations policy - the Council provides a list of applicants and the association will let from this list directly rather then advertising on Homefinder.

Offers can be made directly to high priority applicants before they are advertised on Homefinder. This might for instance be someone who is losing their current home through demolition; or when an adapted property with a stair lift will be matched to someone who has problems with mobility. Since they take priority over other applicants, we have to check that there isn't a suitable high priority applicant waiting for the property before we put it on Homefinder - if there is then we will offer the property directly to them.
Joan FitzGerald, Chair Neighbourhood & Quality Services Sub-Committee

Q43 Why is there not more done to keep streets as litter free as possible? I also think people should be made to keep any garden area rubbish-free or do it for them and charge a fee - unless they are OAP.
Mr E Norry, Sheridan Court

A Although street cleaning is carried out by Manchester Council, Northwards staff report any problems they see while they are out and about. They also challenge people about untidy gardens, and we do charge if we have to tidy the garden on a tenant's behalf. Our Northwards Wardens are empowered to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for littering, dumping rubbish or dog fouling. Our leaflet "Managing Your Neighbourhood" contains more information about how to report problems and what standards you can expect.
Joan FitzGerald, Chair Neighbourhood & Quality Services Sub-Committee

Q42 A number of residents from Deepdale Court were worried about the aerial equipment on the roof. They were concerned that extra communications equipment might pose a health risk to the people living there.
Anonymous

A In line with Council policy, communications equipment is only sited on tower blocks after consultation with residents. There are no plans for any additional equipment at Deepdale Court; although Orange will need to carry out maintenance work from time to time. There are no health risks associated with the equipment currently in place at Deepdale Court.
Joan FitzGerald, Chair Neighbourhood & Quality Services Sub-Committee

Questions: 564 - 55  | 53 - 49 | 48 - 42 | 41 - 37 | 36 - 31 | 30 -22 | 21 - 15 | 14 - 8 | 7 - 1

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