Every child gets the best start Taking responsibility and making informed choices Promoting independence and quality of life for older adults Creating an environment for all people to flourish. Our sets out East Northamptonshire Council’s vision of ‘Working with our communities to sustain a thriving district’ and contains a number of relevant key priorities: Sustainable development – aim to accommodate sensible levels of growth while preserving the character of our historic towns and villages. Regeneration and economic development – work with the private sector to bring investment into the area and to reverse the decline of some of our towns, working with local communities to achieve their aspirations for their local area. Customer-focused services – we will also work even more closely with our partners to meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community. The Council’s and expand on the council’s vision and prioritise enabling the delivery of sustainable job growth that will make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life for residents, whilst enhancing the quality of place and securing prosperity in the local economy. The East Northants Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is the partnership body overseeing the work to reduce crime and disorder across the district. The CSP influences the day-to-day management of cases and complaints relating to Anit-Social Behaviour (ASB), domestic abuse and hate crime. It recognises that homelessness can be a key factor in both its priority areas and in the work to manage cases by the council and its partners. Its current priorities are: tackling gang-related crime and preventing young people becoming involved in gangs tackling the street drinking and criminal activities in town centres supporting targeted interventions that tackle youth-related ASB tackling drug-taking and substance misuse in targeted areas. The Council has adopted comprehensive Safeguarding Policies and Procedures to ensure instances or suspicions of abuse and neglect are dealt with effectively, in relation to both and . The Council recognises the importance of tackling a child’s or family’s problems as early as possible. Its sets out a framework to identify and provide the right type of help early on.
Energy efficiency - alongside the other councils in the county we are part of the Northamptonshire Warm Homes Group. This group works together to improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty and jointly bid for any funding that is available to assist in these aims. Previous schemes have included the installation of external wall insulation, boiler replacements and dealing with hard to heat properties. Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) – we have a detailed which explains the DFG process and conditions. DFGs are a means tested grant available to those who need an adaptation to live independently and safely in their home. It is available across all tenures subject to the owners permission. The majority of DFGs are installed in owner occupied properties with level access showers and stairlifts being the most common type of grant. Affordable housing the council’s Housing Allocation Policy has been completely reviewed during 2017 to ensure it continues to provide a fair and transparent framework for the allocation of the available affordable housing. It now incorporates a joint assessment process for DFG and housing applications to ensure best use is made of available housing stock and grant resources our Service Level Agreement with Registered Providers advertising properties through the council’s Choice Based Lettings Scheme ensures that applicants are considered fairly and that nominations to properties are appropriate and provided in a timely manner Registered Providers are encouraged to deliver housing which meets the needs identified in the district and assists with the discharge of the council’s homelessness duties remains affordable by ensuring that rents are kept within the Local Housing Allowance provides security of tenure by providing tenancies for a minimum of 5 years. Future action We will: Ensure properties rented out through the private sector meet the required standards in terms of repair, energy efficiency, smoke and CO2 monitors Investigate ways of working with private landlords to encourage them to assist us with our housing duties Provide all owner occupiers and tenants with a signposting location for the energy efficiency grants and loans available Continue to reduce the number of long term empty properties in the district through negotiation, support and, where necessary, enforcement Continue to provide Disabled Facilities Grants to those eligible across the district to ensure people can remain at home living independently for longer Ensure that where an adapted property is needed by an applicant on the waiting list that all options are explored to prevent needless or incompatible adaptations from being implemented