19 September 2005
DAVID HANSON VISITS OAKLEE HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Social Development Minister David Hanson today visited the Oaklee Housing Association housing scheme at Braniel Square in the Braniel Estate.
The scheme was provided following consultations with local representatives, residents and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive over the use of the site. The 12 bungalows were constructed with the help of a grant from the Department for Social Development.
The Minister met residents and was invited to see around one of their homes.
He said: "Oaklee is to be congratulated on transforming, in consultation with the residents and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, what was once a problem area with no amenity value to a development that is a credit to the Association, the tenants and the wider community."
The Minister then visited Oaklee's Headquarters offices at May Street where he launched the new Oaklee Services Centre, established to provide frontline services to tenants, customers and stakeholders.
Prior to the launch of the Services Centre all calls were dealt with by one receptionist on a telephone switchboard and passed to the relevant department. Over 70% of all calls are now answered and resolved at first point of contact and the remaining calls that require more specialist attention are allocated to a housing or property specialist within an agreed target period.
The Minister said: "Service to the tenants is paramount in your business. I am impressed at the speed with which calls are now being answered.
"Communication lies at the centre of any organisation and the involvement in the project team of tenant forum members to share ideas and provide feedback is to be commended."
The Minister paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the implementation of the Service Centre, which allows tenants concerns to be attended to speedily while at the same time freeing housing officers to address more complex issues.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Oaklee is one of 39 registered Housing Associations in Northern Ireland and is in the top three Associations in terms of number of properties with a total of over 3500 units. It is also the largest partnering organisation within the housing sector with over 27 current partnerships, providing a wide range of care and support services.
Braniel Square was previously an undeveloped area within the existing Northern Ireland Housing Executive Braniel Estate. It was identified as a potential infill site. It was surrounded on all four sides by flats and maisonettes and was considered a problem area by the Braniel residents. It was used for example as a bonfire site and had no visual or amenity value.
Click here to print this press release.
