Hull in print

A big thank you from HURAT

Hurat Hull United Residents' and Tenants' Federation (HURAT) would like to thank all their Tenants' and Residents' Associations (TARAs) and individual members for their support over the last year.
Particular thanks go to those members who took part in the federation's information video.
The video shows prospective TARAs how they can develop their association and what can be accomplished with partnership working.
HURAT as an organisation has:
held regular monthly meetings
been involved with two Housing Service Tenant Inspections – 'Tenancy and Estate Management' and 'Housing Income Revenue'
produced a quarterly newsletter
helped organise the successful conference 'The Influence Tenants Have on Their Landlords' at the Octagon, resulting in the production of a DVD and report
linked up to regional organisations, such as the Yorkshire and Humber Tenants Federation and Humber Tenants Forward.
in conjunction with the Bricknell Estate Residents' Group and the Governance Team organised a three day training course at Trafford Hall for Area Housing Board (AHB) members with follow-up workshops, during which tenant and independent board members made recommendations to the AHB Terms of Reference
seconded a worker from HANA to research and write a report about community cohesion with TARAs
hosted WEA Training Courses 'Interpersonal Skills' and 'Communication Skills' tutored by Justina Oraka.
If you would like more information about HURAT or about starting a tenants' and residents' association in your area, please contact HURAT or our support worker Rosemary Turner on 331312/13 or email ian.pearson@hurat.org.uk or alan.brown@hurat.org.uk our development workers.

tenant news in brief

Tenants' Forum

The next Tenants' Forum meeting is at the Guildhall, Alfred Gelder Street, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on July 31.
Guest speaker will be strategy manager, Lesley Alderson-Speight who will talk about the Housing Strategy 2008 - 2011.
Call 300300 to book your place.
New members welcome.

Searching for HomeSearch

A new link on the home page of Hull City Council's website takes visitors wanting to rent a council house directly to the HomeSearch pages.
To search for a property on-line or get a copy of the application form, visit www.hullcc.gov.uk and click on Hull HomeSearch.

Appeal for volunteers

If you are interested in how the Council manages its rent and rent arrears and want to be involved, call the tenant participation team on 300300 to volunteer for the Rent Management Service Improvement Group.

Area Housing Board elections

In November, the election of up to nine new Area Housing Board tenant members is planned.
For more information about the Area Housing Boards and the elections visit www.hullcc.gov.uk/housing

100th Academy graduate

Could you be the 100th graduate stepping through the doors of the Housing Academy? The next 13-week course starts in September and covers topics such as housing law, antisocial behaviour, equalities and customer service.
The Academy aims to help local tenants and residents participate more fully in local and city-wide decision making.
"The Housing Academy surprised me by its broad range of information.
It has been a rewarding, intense course, showing the diverse nature of the Council's Housing Service," says Enid Savill, a recent course participant.
If you are interested in joining the Academy please contact the Tenant Participation Team on 300300.

TARA notice board

Garden Village memories

East Hull residents marked the centenary of Garden Village by publishing a commemorative book containing people's stories.
Compiled by the Garden Village Society Centenary Steering Group, the book will be delivered free to every home in Garden Village during July.
Copies of the book will also be available from Waterstone's in Jameson Street, Hull city centre.
The steering group have also organised a series of events leading up to the official centenary celebration over the July 26 and 27 weekend.
For more information visit www.gardenvillagehull.co.uk

Did you know?

That if you are part of the black box recycling scheme and you regularly put your box out on collection day you can request additional black boxes by ringing 300300.

Getting smart over crime

Science is fighting crime on Hull's estates to outsmart burglars, with crime-busting kits of SmartWater.

SmartWater is an invisible property marker, which gives your personal belongings their own DNA-style fingerprint.
Community wardens and Probe are working with Humberside Police and CitySafe to supply kits free to tenants and residents on some estates in Hull using available funding.
"Initially when we first started the SmartWater project, the community wardens marked people's property," says Martin Davies, northern Hull community warden manager.
"But we decided it would be more useful to show the customer how to use the water to mark their own items.
Now we mark one item and leave the kit, which includes an instruction manual, with the customer."
SmartWater contains millions of microscopic particles that make up an individual property identification code, just like a fingerprint.
It marks your property with a quick drying, safe, non-toxic clear liquid.
Invisible to the naked eye, it is virtually impossible to remove from property.
Once your unique bottle's reference number is logged onto a national register, it will identify your address, so don't lend your bottle to anyone else.
"I think the SmartWater kit is a really good idea," says Paul Norris from Orchard Park (pictured above with Petra Coates), whose son told him about the scheme.
"I've marked my electrical goods and some of my ornaments.
I've even marked my DIY tools.
You've got to protect your property.
"It's like a clear nail varnish and only shows up under ultraviolet light," Paul continued.
"Once the warden had explained and shown me how to use the Smartwater, all I had to do was put everything I marked on a list."
Residents on estates where the SmartWater has been used, display signs in their windows and in their neighbourhood.
This informs everyone that properties on those streets are protected with SmartWater.
This can be enough to put would-be thieves off breaking into a home.
If stolen SmartWater marked property is recovered, the unique forensic code provides the police with a link back to the rightful owner.
Second-hand dealers and scrapmetal merchants are working with police and have been given scanners to scan property being offered to them.

For more information or answers to any questions about SmartWater visit www.smartwater.com or contact your local community warden team, Probe or CitySafe on 300300.


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