Wokingham

Wokingham Community wardens and improvements to homes are just two of the benefits set to come Wokingham council tenants way as Wokingham District Council’s decision-making executive considers the housing revenue account budget 2006/07 at its meeting next week (February 23).

The reserves of the Wokingham housing revenue account budget are now in a healthy enough position for the executive to consider additional funding for four new posts – a fundraiser, a community development worker and two community wardens – and a major repairs programme for all council houses.

If approved, a new grants fundraiser post will be created and their main role will be to attract substantial additional funding through grants to enable tenants groups to undertake a range of estate improvements and similar projects. The post, which will be funded from the Wokingham housing revenue account budget, will work with residents’ associations as the vehicle for submitting bids to charitable bodies and government departments. They will also work closely with the district council’s tenant services and tenant representatives.

A large proportion of the work of Wokingham district council’s community wardens relates to Wokingham council housing areas and tenants are keen to see an increased presence. As a result, if agreed by the executive, two community wardens will be employed for a two-year basis. Three-year funding for a community development worker to lead the revitalisation of the Gorse Ride estate in Finchampstead is also set to be considered. This post would mirror the highly successful Rainbow Park project in co-ordinating the district council’s activities and achieving investment into the area.

The Wokingham executive is also being asked to consider £300,000 of reserves to be used to improve council housing to ensure that the national decent homes standard is met. One of the targets set by the government is that all councils and housing assocations will ensure that everyone in social housing should have a ‘decent’ home by 2010.

Wokingham Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, executive member for social care service and housing, said: “If approved by the executive next week, a range of improvements will be brought about for council tenants in the Wokingham district. Funding for additional community wardens in council housing areas reflects local priorities and concerns for reducing anti-social behaviour. In order for the council to meet the government’s decent home standard we need to make improvements to council housing and we are committed to do so before 2010. These improvements will bring great benefit to our tenants.”

Wokingham District Council