Chorley

June 2022

You said: Residents expressed concerns about the security of the building and had experienced problems with fly-tipping.

We did: CCTV had been suggested as a means of identifying perpetrators of crime and anti-social behaviour, but the installation and upkeep of CCTV has an impact on residents' service charges. We consulted with customers to outline the costs and benefits to determine whether they were in favour of installing CCTV.

March 2020

You said: Residents would like more involvement in monitoring the performance of our grounds maintenance contractors. 

We did: Accent is working in partnership with grounds maintenance provider, Greenfingers, to deliver the Green Inspector scheme. The aim is to make sure that residents receive the service they are paying for. The Green Inspector is a resident volunteer who will:

• Provide regular feedback on grounds maintenance by taking part in online surveys
• Take part in regular inspections accompanied by a representative from Greenfingers to assess the quality of work
• Attend meetings with other residents, representatives from Accent and representatives from Greenfingers to discuss performance.

We hope that this scheme will help to make sure the estate is maintained as it should be and that all residents can benefit from a safe and attractive living environment.

April 2022

You said: Residents are paying high charges for security.

We did: The estate is currently serviced by on-site security each night. As with everything, the cost of providing this service has risen recently. We recover the costs of providing this service through residents' service charges. Residents and staff have worked hard to tackle the anti-social behaviour problems previously seen on this estate and, as such, there have been fewer incidents over the last year. For these reasons, we are consulting with customers to determine whether this service is still required.

August 2021

You said: Residents take a great deal of pride in the appearance of their estate, and would like grounds maintenance contractors to spend more time on-site.

We did: We consulted with residents about proposals to increase the duration of visits from the grounds maintenance contractor by 30 minutes throughout the summer months; allowing them more time to pick up litter, tend to shrubs and edge the beds. We explained how this would affect our service charges and gave every household the chance to vote for their preference.

August 2019

You said: Residents would like to be recognised for the care and attention they pay to maintaining an attractive living environment.

We did: We facilitated an inter-scheme gardening competition for all Independent Living schemes in the region. We awarded prizes (and trophies) for 'Best Garden', 'Most Improved & Inspiring Garden' and 'Engagement & Inclusion'.

November 2019

You said: Residents would like more involvement with the wider community.

We did: On the 30th anniversary on the completion of Richmond House, the Mayor of Chorley visited to celebrate with residents. The Scheme Manager has created a social hub at Richmond House and works with local charities and organisations such as Lancashire Adult Learning and University of the Third Age to promote engagement with the wider community. At the event, members of the local 'Knit and Natter' group raised money for the local children's ward.

August 2020

You said: In 2020, we took the decision to close communal lounges in all schemes across the country. The aim was to minimise contact between residents and to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading. As the country began to emerge from lockdown, some residents wanted the communal lounges to reopen.

We did: We consulted with residents to determine whether they would be in favour of reopening the communal lounge and what safety measures they would like to see in place if the communal lounge were to reopen.

August 2021

You said: Residents take a great deal of pride in the appearance of their estate, and would like grounds maintenance contractors to spend more time on-site.

We did: We consulted with residents about proposals to increase the duration of visits from the grounds maintenance contractor by 30 minutes throughout the summer months; allowing them more time to pick up litter, tend to shrubs and edge the beds. We explained how this would affect our service charges and gave every household the chance to vote for their preference.

June 2022

You said: Residents would like to see more colour and creativity in their outdoor communal areas.

We did: We invited all residents to join the on-site gardening club. Members will help to make sure the outdoor areas are looking their best, and those who are less green-fingered can get involved by painting plant pots. The gardening club helps residents to remain socially included, physical active and express their creativity. 

June 2022

You said: Residents would like more interaction with one another, the staff who deliver their services and the local community.

We did: We helped to arrange a party to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Residents enjoyed afternoon tea and organised a raffle to raise money for St Catherine's Hospice and Derrian House Children's Hospice. Prizes were donated by local stores and businesses. They managed to raise £710 which was shared between the two charities.

June 2022

You said: Residents expressed disappointment with the grounds maintenance service.

We did: We held a meeting with residents to explain exactly what is covered by their service charges and what standard of service they should expect from our grounds maintenance contractor. We asked them to continue to bring to our attention when work is not carried out to specification so that we could follow this up.