Annual Report

Transcription

1 Annual Report

2 another successful year for the Pembrokeshire Housing Group

3 Board of Management Mrs Christina Hirst FRICS BSc Chair Chartered Surveyor and practicing management and training consultant for the property and housing sector Mr Peter Hughes Vice Chair Retired Management Consultant and Chair of Tenants Panel Mr Martin Bell BA, DipTP, MRTPI (retired) Retired Principal Planning Officer, South Pembrokeshire District Council Mrs Dean Campbell Retired Head Occupational Therapist Chair of Personnel Panel Mr Brian Charles OBE, IPFA Former Executive Chairman of Dwr Cymru Welsh Water Mr Gordon Doughty Former Regional Director with national building supplies company Mrs Yvonne Evans BA retired December 2014 Former Councillor Mr Chris Jones Retired Businessman & CAB Advisor Mr Edward Lewis Retired Senior Partner Solicitor Chair of Audit Committee Mrs Jo Rees-Wigmore University Housing Lecturer; qualified Housing Practitioner, Chartered Surveyor and Auctioneer Co-opted Members Cllr David Simpson Retired Managing Director and Magistrate Mrs Sue Rogers Vice Chair of the Tenants Panel Mr Mark Lewis Retired Finance Director Observer Cllr Alison Lee Cabinet Spokesperson for Housing, PCC Management Team Peter Maggs Group Chief Executive Adrian Williams Group Finance Director Graham Holmes retired March 2015 Housing Director Nigel Sinnett Property Services Director Elin Brock commenced March 2015 Housing Director Registered Office Details Pembrokeshire Housing Association Limited Meyler House, St Thomas Green, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. SA61 1QP Tel: (01437) Fax: (01437) Registered with Welsh Assembly Government No. PO72 Financial Conduct Authority No R Pembrokeshire Housing is a charitable organisation. 1

4 2 Building Homes and Improving Communities

5 Chair s Statement It gives me pleasure to present this my first report as Chair and to report on a successful year for the Pembrokeshire Housing Group. The Group now comprises three active organisations: Pembrokeshire Housing - providing a range of affordable homes for rent for older persons, families and single persons, as well as people with support needs. Pembrokeshire Care & Repair - providing a range of services to older and or disabled private sector householders to enable them to remain in their own homes. Mill Bay Homes - providing market housing for sale, initially targeting first time buyers and retirement housing. All three organisations have performed strongly financially, which has contributed to a surplus of 2.77m and an increase in reserves of 22% at the year end. The Board believes that a solid financial foundation is essential to enable the Group to deliver its strategic aims. Details of the activities of Pembrokeshire Care & Repair and Mill Bay Homes can be found on pages 7 and 8 of this report. Pembrokeshire Housing s programme of investment in the County continues. During the year it accessed 4.01m in Social Housing Grant from the Welsh Government. This included 1.79m under the innovative Housing Finance Grant initiative. This is combined with private finance from its lenders and enabled the completion of 117 new homes. It also acquired the land for and commenced the construction of a further 106 new homes. Our agreement with the Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council to deliver more for less has been extended into the 2015/16 financial year. We continue to work in partnership with private developers, and during the year acquired 14 homes via Section 106 Planning Agreements. Welfare Reform is a key issue for both the Association and its tenants, and supporting those affected by welfare reform continues to be a priority. During the year our Money Advice Team supported 83 households to obtain 40k of financial support towards their housing costs. It was pleasing to note the results of the customer satisfaction survey undertaken by the Welsh Government across all housing associations, where Pembrokeshire Housing scored higher ratings than the all-wales average in each category. This included 94% satisfaction with the services we provide and 89% with the overall quality of their home and their neighbourhood as a place to live. Good governance is crucial and responding to recognised codes Pembrokeshire Housing has adopted a Governance Improvement Plan, which includes renewal and recruitment, and recognises time limits for Board membership. It is with regret therefore that our longest serving Board Member has resigned this year. I wish to thank Mrs Yvonne Evans for her long and dedicated contribution to the Association and its work. Yvonne held the office of Chair of the Association, and prior to that Vice-Chair, both for 3 years. Her contribution will be missed. It gives me pleasure to welcome two new Co-opted Members to the Board, Cllr David Simpson, the former Cabinet Member for Housing and Mr Mark Lewis the recently retired Director of Finance of Pembrokeshire County Council and look forward to working with them. I wish to thank my colleagues on the Board for their trust in electing me and their support during my first year of office. I would also like to express my appreciation to the previous Chair Mr Brian Charles for the way he led the Board during his term of office. At the end of the year Graham Holmes our long serving Housing Director retired. We wish him a long and healthy retirement. I wish to welcome Elin Brock, our new Housing Director, who joined the Association in March, to the team and look forward to working with her. I wish to thank Peter Maggs, Group Chief Executive, the Directors and the Staff teams for their support and continuing to deliver a wide range of services to the people of Pembrokeshire. Providing Affordable Quality Homes Mrs Christina Hirst FRICS BSc Chair 3

6 Business Development Pembrokeshire Housing continues to invest in the County and is the lead provider of new affordable housing. It is committed to supporting the local economy, and contributes to building safe and stable communities. It supports rural communities using local lettings initiatives. Using a mixture of Social Housing Grant from the Welsh Government and private finance from our lenders 117 new homes were completed by the Association. It also acquired the land for and construction commenced on a further 106 new homes. Working in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government the Association participated in a smaller properties programme which specifically provides homes for those people affected by Welfare Reform. The Association also works in partnership with private developers to deliver affordable housing on market sale sites, and during the year acquired 14 homes on 2 sites via Section 106 Planning Agreements. The homes delivered during the year comprise flats, bungalows, including those designed for wheelchair users, and houses. They were located in both urban locations; Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Neyland and rural locations; Roch, St Florence, and Lamphey Number of homes in management The lead provider of new affordable housing 4

7 Service Provision During 2014 our customers participated in an all-wales survey of housing association tenants. The results of that survey are set out below and it was pleasing to note that in all areas our satisfaction rating was better than the average of other associations. The percentage of customers who were very satisfied or fairly satisfied included: 94% - the services we provided 91% - the way we deal with repairs and maintenance 89% - with the overall quality of their home 89% - with their neighbourhood as a place to live 89% - that their rent provided value for money Welfare Reform is a key issue for the Association and its tenants. It continues to support those affected by Welfare Reform with advice and assistance, including financial incentives for those wishing to move to smaller accommodation. Our Money Advice Team was able to assist 83 customers to obtain 40k of financial support towards their housing costs. The Association achieved the Welsh Housing Quality Standard for its housing stock in 2012 and in order to maintain that standard it continues to invest in existing properties. During the year we installed 109 new kitchens, 44 new bathrooms, 119 new central heating boilers, new doors to 43 properties and new windows to 87 properties. In line with our cyclical programme we redecorated 322 properties. Our in-house maintenance team undertook 75% of all responsive repairs providing an effective and efficient service appreciated by our tenants. Working closely with colleagues in health and social care we were able to undertake adaptations to 45 homes providing our tenants with greater comfort and safety. During the year we provided a new home to 278 households using the Choicehomes@Pembrokeshire joint waiting list. Our tenant involvement structure continues to go from strength to strength and we have established a team of Quality Assurance Assessors. Their role is to examine services provided by the Association to assure they achieve the standards set, and to work with staff to suggest how improvements may be achieved. Provided a new home to 278 households 5

8 The Facts Repairs - Average number of days to complete Emergency Responsive 2013/ / Rent levels 2013/ /15 1 bedroom flat bedroom flat bedroom house bedroom house bedroom house Total lettings during 2014/15 (As a percentage) 83% Waiting List 7% Homeless 8% Transfers 11% Exchanges Rent arrears as a percentage of total rent 2013/ /15 Actual 0.25% 0.50% Target 0.8% 0.25% Rent loss due to void properties as a percentage of total rent 2013/ /15 Actual 0.36% 0.27% Target 0.2% 0.35% 117 new homes were completed. construction commenced on a further 106 6

9 Pembrokeshire Care & Repair Chair s Statement I am pleased to report on another successful year for Pembrokeshire Care & Repair. A strong financial performance enabled the Agency to continue to provide a range of services to over 1,650 customers. This includes both grant and privately funded work, the Welsh Government funded Rapid Response Adaptations Programme (RRAP) and the locally funded Handyperson Service. Funding was received from the Welsh Government, Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Housing. Additional Welsh Government monies, the Intermediate Care Fund, was allocated on a regional basis and administered by local authorities. Working in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council and Hywel Dda Health Board the Agency was able to assist 192 customers to obtain adaptations to their homes to improve their safety and comfort. I wish to thank all of our funding partners without whose support the Agency could not undertake its much needed work. 2% 12% Internal Voluntary Sector/ Other 28% Health Authority Referrals Source 18% Local Authority Nature of Work 40% Self 3% Advice/ Information/ Sign Posting 40% Small Repair Adaption Here to Make Sure Older People have, Warm, Safe and Secure Homes * All clients are offered a Home Safety Check as part of Casework Service and Intermediate Care Funded health Liaison Officer Early in the year the Welsh Government announced it was revising its funding for Care & Repair Agencies across Wales and from 2015/16 was only prepared to fund 12 rather than the existing 22 agencies. It required Agencies to merge and in so doing have regard to the Williams Commission report and recommendations in relation to Local Government reorganisation. In response, Pembrokeshire Care & Repair has been working jointly with Ceredigion Care & Repair, managed by Cantref Housing Association to establish a combined Agency to deliver services across Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Due to a delay in the announcement of Welsh Government funding, the original target date for merger in April was not achievable and a revised date for July was agreed. From July 2015 the combined West Wales Care & Repair Agency will operate from offices in Haverfordwest and Aberystwyth, continuing to offer the broad range of services across Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. A new Board, with representation from strategic and funding partners across both areas is being established to direct the work of the Agency. I wish to thank my colleagues on the Board for their support for the Pembrokeshire Agency over the past 15 years, and look forward to working with new partners. I also wish to express my appreciation to Tina Mills the Agency Manager, and congratulate her on her appointment as Manager for the combined Agency. In particular and on behalf of the Board, I wish to thank the staff team for continuing to deliver high level services during what has been a period of uncertainty for them all. 71% *Home Safety/ Falls Prevention 16% Emergency Alarm System 1% Improvements to Heating/Energy Efficiency 2% Privately Funded Work Welsh Government Funded Core Service 2013/ /15 Referrals received Completed Jobs Value of Work 509K 726k Welsh Government Funded Intermediate Care Fund 2013/ /15 Referrals received Value of Work - 125k Local Handyperson Service 2013/ /15 Referrals received Value of Work 79k 54k Welsh Government Funded Rapid Response Adaptations Programme 2013/ /15 Referrals received Value of Work 95k 70k Income Maximisation/Benefit Increase 2013/ /15 Clients who had income increased Annual value of increased income 71k 118k Benevolent Funding Raised 2013/ /15 3.5k 1.2k Dean Campbell Chair 7

10 Mill Bay Homes Chair s Statement It gives me pleasure to report on a successful year for Mill Bay Homes in my first year as Chair. A strong financial performance, better than budget, has enabled a payment to be covenanted to the parent, Pembrokeshire Housing, one year ahead of the Business Plan. During the year 14 sales were achieved, which includes the last two properties at our first development Longstone Court, Letterston. Work progressed on Phase 1 at Coppins Park, Pentlepoir, a site of 2 and 3 bed houses including 2 Low Cost Home Ownership properties, with the Show Home opening in September. By March 12 sales were achieved with further completions and reservations since the year end. At Maes yr Ysgol, Templeton, a site of 24 x 2 and 3 bedroomed bungalows we opened the Show Home in March and have a number of reservations. Mill Bay Homes made two substantial land acquisitions during the year, at Crundale and Kilgetty. These sites will be developed on a phased basis. We commenced contracts on two sites, Phase 2 Coppins Park, Pentlepoir and Phase 1 of Ashford Park, Crundale, which is a mixture of bungalows and houses and contains 12 affordable housing properties. Quality Living - Affordable Prices In fostering community links we undertook safety awareness and ran a safety poster competition for the pupils of Templeton Primary School. Mill Bay Homes is also providing sponsorship for local sports clubs Saundersfoot AFC and Kilgetty Cricket Club. I wish to thank my colleagues on the Board for their support, and the staff team led by Matthew Owens for their hard work and commitment, and look forward to continuing to build on the success to date. Ron Butler Chair business with a social purpose 8

11 Financial Overview The Group continues to perform well returning a surplus of 2.77m and a 22% increase in reserves. Pembrokeshire Housing: the parent association in the Group returned a significant increase in surplus and reserves and was successful in attracting 4.01m of social housing grant including 1.79m awarded under the innovative Housing Finance Grant initiative. With a permitted gearing covenant of 80%, the Association has more than enough headroom to raise sufficient private funding for its future development plans. Earnings gift aided from other business interests are coming on stream as planned and making a positive contribution to the delivery of affordable housing. The sector as a whole is facing the challenge presented by welfare reforms and the Association is positioning itself to deal with this. Pembrokeshire Care and Repair: the financial performance of the Agency exceeded expectation returning an increase in turnover and a better than budget surplus. Client demand remains strong at a time when future government funding is under pressure. This presents a challenge for the Agency and plans are in hand to deal with this. On 1st July 2015, Pembrokeshire Care and Repair Two Thousand Limited will be renamed West Wales Care and Repair Limited when the former agencies of Pembrokeshire Care and Repair and Ceredigion Care and Repair join together. The new agency will operate in the areas of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. Mill Bay Homes: considerable progress has been made in establishing Mill Bay Homes as a provider of quality homes in Pembrokeshire. All targets were met with an increase in sales activity and a growing customer base. Land acquisitions have been secured for a further 117 units and more are in the pipeline at feasibility assessment. Very much a business with a social purpose, Mill Bay is making a worthwhile contribution to the provision of affordable housing in Pembrokeshire. Value for Money: The Group is committed to achieving value for money in all its business operations. Smarter procurement is widely deployed resulting in considerable savings. Benchmarking is in place and key performance indicators are being developed that will facilitate the decision making process when setting strategy and compiling business cases. committed to achieving value for money 9

12 Our Financial Position Consolidated Income and Expenditure Account For the year ended 31st March Turnover 14,975 12,571 Cost of sales (1,413) (1,040) Gross surplus 13,562 11,531 Operating costs (8,357) (7,651) Operating surplus 5,205 3,880 Net interest (2,601) (2,205) Other Surplus for the year 2,770 1,802 Balance Sheet At 31 March Housing properties 167, ,482 Social Housing Grant (94,784) (90,775) Other assets Total fixed assets 72,901 64,263 Net current assets 7,149 3,650 Creditors due after one year (64,785) (55,418) Net assets 15,265 12,495 Designated reserves Restricted reserves Revenue reserves 14,938 12,200 15,265 12,495 A copy of the Association s audited accounts is available on request 10