Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) celebrated the launch of its new Customer Involvement Agreement at the top of Blackpool’s iconic Tower this week.

The new Agreement signals the end to over 18 months of dedication and development by the Tenant Liaison Forum, Blackpool Council and BCH to revolutionise how customers are involved in scrutinising and shaping how their homes are managed.

Peter Jefferson, Chief Executive of BCH, stated: “The launch of our new agreement illustrates our commitment to providing our customers with the opportunity to work with us in developing services, to scrutinise our performance and to hold us to account if we fail meet our promises. This Agreement will ensure that our customers really are placed at the heart of everything we do.”

Blackpool Council and BCH’s previous involvement structures had been in place for over 10 years and needed to be reviewed in light of the changes to social housing regulation and to better reflect new approaches to involving customers.

The Tenant Liaison Forum, Blackpool’s main consultative body for over 10 years, officially concluded its activities with the launch of the new Agreement.

A new Community Partner Scheme has been developed for local community groups who want to work in partnership with BCH and customers are already being recruited to sit on the new Blackpool Tenants & Leaseholders Assembly.

Maurice Christian, outgoing Chair of the Tenant Liaison Forum commented: “It is fitting that the last act of the Tenant Liaison Forum has been to develop and agree these new structures that are the foundations for the next 10 years of involvement. The Tenant Liaison Forum has been at the forefront of championing tenants views for over 10 years and I would like to thank everyone who has been apart of the TLF in that time.”

Tenants of Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) properties have got dog mess in the bag thanks to a successful bid for funding by BSafe Blackpool.

BSafe Blackpool has been successful in securing £5010 from the BCH Tenants Project Fund. The fund supports projects that genuinely make a difference to the lives of Blackpool Coastal Housing customers and the neighbourhoods in which they live.

The money will be spent by BSafe Blackpool, the partnership organisation that brings other agencies together to tackle anti social behaviour and crime, to support a “Bag it and Bin it” campaign aimed at promoting and encouraging the responsible disposal of dog waste.  The issue of dog fouling is a complaint regularly raised by residents at public forums such as Police and Community Together (PACT) meetings. Dog fouling is also a common complaint received by Blackpool Council.

The money will pay for additional dog waste bins to be located in areas which have been identified as problematic. Regular dog enforcement / education days and events held throughout the year will provide additional opportunities for the promotion of responsible dog ownership advice.

Paolo Pertica, Head of BSafe Blackpool, said: “Although the majority of dog owners are responsible, there are a small minority who are not. This funding will allow us to target that minority and hopefully persuade them to change their habit.

PC Neil Cooper, community beat manager for the Grange Park area, said: “Dog fouling is an issue that is raised by residents at our PACT meetings time and time again. These bins will provide owners with a place to dispose of their pet’s waste in a safe manner.”

As well as the visible improvements to their environment which will result from a reduction of dog foul found in public places, there are also health benefits in relation to the minimisation of harm caused when dog faeces is accidentally handled.

Paolo Pertica says that removing dog mess it will trigger a sense of pride in an area that will cause local residents to take charge of maintaining improvements in the long term. He says: “Irresponsible waste disposal such as dog fouling, littering and fly tipping are “signal crimes” which when prevalent make areas look unclean, increase people’s fear of crime and negatively influence their feelings of safety. That leaves them unmotivated to take ownership of their surroundings and can make the situation worse. This will help make it better.”

“This is one of many ongoing projects that BSafe Blackpool is involved with that aims to create a clean and safe environment in Blackpool to benefit residents and visitors alike.”

Peter Jefferson, Chief Executive of Blackpool Coastal Housing, explains: “Blackpool Coastal Housing is committed to improving not just the homes of our customers but also their quality of life. The Tenants Project Fund supports projects that genuinely make a difference to the lives of our customers and the neighbourhoods in which they live.”

The fund is a pot of £100,000 that Blackpool Coastal Housing has made available for Council tenants so they can decide how it is spent to improve their communities and the services they receive. A panel of tenant representatives decide which projects got funding in a move to help them have control over their quality of life issues.