Planning for the Future

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Derby Homes is currently finalising the 2006/07 update of the combined Delivery and Business Plan. The Plan sets out our long term aims and objectives of Derby Homes for 2006-11. By setting priorities and making choices, it gives a clear direction to all those involved in Derby Homes. We will use it as a live document to stretch our organisation to deliver excellent services.The Plan is updated annually by Derby Homes and formally approved by Derby Homes Board and the Council Cabinet. The Board is responsible for approving the Plan on behalf of the Company and for ensuring that the services are delivered and targets are met.Over the next year we will be concentrating on seven main objectives.

These are:

To maintain the decent homes standard, to deliver value for money and achieve high levels of customer satisfaction by: publicising our revised repair service with clear service standards by September 2006, improving customer satisfaction with repairs, carrying out more repairs in a planned rather than responsive manner.

To improve the popularity of council houses by: cleaner, greener safer neighbourhood teams in place by September 2006, Estates Pride programme on target and on budget by end of March 2007, reduced crime and fear of crime, increased customer satisfaction levels with improved communication during works process.

To be an excellent organisation, helping board members and employees to give their best, encouraging them to work across boundaries and develop their skills by: retaining the Investor in People status through 2006-11, increase staff morale, continue our commitment to Health & Safety and achieve the ROSPA Gold award by 2008 and to employ a workforce that is representative of the community we serve.

To provide excellent cutomer service and to continually improve services: Continuing to review and improve the way we deliver our services, offering new ways of accessing our services, introducing a systematic process of learning from complaints and feedback by December 2006, Promote the Homespride+ scheme and attract 2000 members by March 2007, carry out at least 80% of all responsive repairs by appointment by March 2007.

To provide excellent services by embedding a culture of value for money throughout the organisation to ensure that we meet the needs of all of our customers by: acquiring all of our goods and services (contracts) through modern processes, publicise more information on costs and publicise to board members, staff, tenants and leaseholders by April 2007, develop new benchmarking techniques and introduce comparison with external partners during 2006.

Promote equal opportunities and valuing diversity by: introducing equalities monitoring and impact assessments across all services by September 2006, eliminating backlogs in aids and adaptations by September 2007, hold comprehensive profiling information on 80% of our tenants by March 2007, 12.5% of all new tenancies to BME population by December 2006 and 15% by December 2007.

Ensure the long term future of Derby Homes by:
Re-negotiating our management agreement by December 2006, having a new build programme on site by December 2008, increasing our business in the private sector and with housing associations by achieving 100 new customers a year through 2006-11, and improving overall satisfaction with the services we provide in status surveys through 2006-11.