Existing RSL Partnership Agreement Performance 
 
The benefits of the partnership agreement have been very positive in Northampton and have generated a better working relationship with RSL partners.  The following is a summary of some of the key achievements the 
partnership has provided to date1: 
 
Summary 
 
- 
261 dwellings put through Choice Based Lettings, of which 215 were 
new affordable homes developed; 
- 
Support with the Mortgage Rescue scheme to help people remain in 
their own homes; 
- 
Implemented Neighbourhood Management initiatives such as 
CASPAR+, which is helping the communities in Spring Boroughs  
- 
Partnership working with NHS reprovision project to help 31 clients 
with severe learning disabilities in existing care homes; 
- 
Development of a community engagement strategy for residents; and  
- 
Building the first code for sustainable homes level 6 in England; 
- 
Financial support for the Northampton Credit Union by providing them 
with funding to raise their profile amongst the residents of Northampton; 
- 
Signed up to promoting the Horizons scheme to provide financial and 
agency support for disadvantaged single parent families; 
- 
Signed up to the Sanctuary scheme to provide safe rooms within 
properties for customers experiencing domestic violence; and 
- 
Launch of a Supported Lodgings service to provide host families and 
support for 16-25 year olds who are homeless or threatened with 
homeless. 
 
East Midlands Housing Association 
 
- Up to September 2009, put 142 dwellings through CBL 
- Developed 35 shared ownership units and 23 social rented units 
- New Neighbourhood Liaison Officer appointed to encourage annual 
estate walkabouts with residents and the police  
 
Metropolitan Housing Partnership 
 
- 21 dwellings put through CBL system, and prior to CBL worked in 
partnership with Northampton Borough Council on Upton Mill Scheme and Bloomsbury to pilot CBL. 
 
 
- Affordable Homes delivered include 12 rented units and 13 shared 
ownership units on Upton Mill site and 24 rented units, 17 shared ownership and 25 First Time Buyer Initiative dwellings on Bloomsbury House. 
- Within the above affordable dwellings, developed the first dwellings in 
the country at Code for Sustainable Homes level 6 at Upton, which means zero carbon levels emitted. 
- Work closely with residents at Upton, and hold resident meetings on a 
frequent basis.  This includes starter visits to new tenants, to check everything is ok, and subsequent visits there after. 
- Regular estate inspections and estate walkabouts with the local PCSO 
 
LHA - Asra Housing Association 
 
- Advertised 16 dwellings through CBL system and prior to this held a 
standard nominations agreement with the Council 
- Contributed £5,750 along with CASPAR towards the expansion of 
Credit Union memberships in the Castle area. 
- Work closely with CASPAR+ initiative to engage youth workers and 
community liaison staff to look at neighbourhood management strategies for the area. 
- Have an active resident training programme that links specific training 
to the various roles that residents play in the governance structure 
 
Orbit Heart of England 
 
- Completed 6 affordable homes since April 2008. - Advertised 29 properties through the CBL system since July 2008. 
- Developed a Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan which prioritises 
a number of key actions in relation to the prevention of homelessness, 
especially joint working. 
- Developed a local residents involvement strategy around community 
engagement, to allow residents to influence service delivery Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association 
 
- Advertised 29 homes through the Northampton CBL scheme since July 
2008, and continue to offer advice to the Council through the CBL review group. 
- Taking part in the Mortgage Rescue scheme in Northampton and have 
already completed one sale with a further 22 cases being considered. 
- Operate a money advice team that offer welfare, benefit and debt 
advice to all residents. 
- Have a Family intervention officer that work with challenging families to 
help modify their behaviour in order to prevent homelessness through breach of their tenancies. 


- Entered into a management agreement with Aldwyck to manage the 
completed development of 29 flats at St Pauls, Semilong Road. 
- Have a dedicated Employment Support Co-ordinator who offers 
information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) with the aim of getting people back into employment. 
- Framework agreement that committed to using local labour force in the 
construction of new developments. 
- New development in Great Billing, is using the Ecodan air source heat 
pump system to provide each property with their heat and hot water. This will provide a more sustainable solution for low cost, low carbon domestic heating and hot water. 
- Introduced a scheme called Cash 4 communities, where residents and 
community groups can bid for money to support the community. 
- Currently developing 7 affordable homes in Billing area and involved 
with the County Council to transfer 8 care homes to BPHA to refurbish and create self contained flats and shared accommodation for 31 clients who have severe learning disabilities as part of the NHS reprovision project in Northamptonshire. 
 
Servite Houses 
 
- Advertised 24 dwellings through the CBL system since July 2008 
- Developed 24 new affordable dwellings at Upton since April 2008 
- Work closely with support providers, to ensure vulnerable clients have 
the right amount of support to sustain their tenancies. 
- Starting to role out an Estate Champion Scheme 
 
Home Housing Group 
 
- In Northampton, have a dedicated Housing Income Management 
Officer who helps maximise people's income by providing assistance with Housing Benefit Claims and welfare benefit enquiries. 
- Stonham are part of the Home Group that offer support and advice to 
vulnerable clients in Northampton.   
- Home are supportive of the Council's own initiatives around prevention 
and attended the Council's 'recession day', where Stonham held a stall. 
- Stonham are currently assisting the Community Law services, CAB and 
the Credit Union in their applications to access additional financial resources from Home's £250,000 'Supporting Communities' Grant Fund.  The CAB bid has been successful and will part fund a Volunteer Support Worker for 3 years.  This person will be responsible for recruiting 5 additional volunteers per year, which would assist in helping 900 new clients per year. 
- Provided Northampton Credit Union with £5,000 for 2009/10 to raise 
the Credit Unions profile amongst the residents of Northampton through leaflet campaigns. 
- Signed up to promoting the Horizons Scheme, which aims to provide 
financial support for disadvantaged single parent families.  The scheme has three strands, Money, Budgeting and Education and work, and is geared towards helping parents make the transition out of debt and poverty. 
- Part of the Sanctuary Scheme to provide safe rooms within properties 
for customers experiencing domestic violence. 
- Recently set up a persistent prolific offenders service in-conjunction 
with probation, police, the prison service and CAN. 
- Involved with a supported lodgings service which was operational on 
the 5th October 2009, to provide host families and support for 16-25 
year olds in direct response to the finding that one 16/17 year old a week was identified as losing their tenancy. 
- Help homelessness prevention agenda with structured SMART support 
plans for all of our Stonham clients. 
- Signed up to the Northampton Data Sharing Protocol, providing the 
police with key information regarding ASB. 
- Introduced Starter Tenancies in 5 of our largest schemes in 
Northampton and where possible refer customers to mediation services to assist in sustaining their tenancy. 
- Through Stoneham's SMILE (Stonham makes independent living 
easier) programme, a group of clients meet on a monthly basis to provide feedback to Supporting People, Stonham and other agencies