WERA Asks
WERA Asks….Dave McEvoy
Aug 26th
Please can you introduce yourself, and explain what your role involves.
I am Dave, Elected Chair of WERA and have been in post for the association for 3 terms (3 years nearly) since I moved from Dulwich in 2007. My role is quite varied and can be extremely challenging from meetings with housing, Lambeth and external bodies such as the local police. I also take charge of our monthly meetings and ensure the actions and issues raised are dealt with, again this can be anything from resident issues to repairs.
What motivates you to do this role?
My motivation is simple, to improve our community and make it a better place to live for those living on Weir Estate and myself.
What do you most enjoy about representing the residents of Weir Estate?
It’s the satisfaction of knowing your making a difference to people’s way of living and quality of life. I most enjoy seeing the efforts that I put into what I do and making things happen and what I hope our positive results.
Do you think Lambeth council and Lambeth Living engage with residents and the association enough?
I think they do a pretty good job in engaging with us as an association as one of the main things I have tried to establish is good relations and communication between Lambeth, Lambeth Living and all our other community partners. Part of this is also maintaining those relations. More can always be done to engage and work together but Weir Estate doesn’t do too badly. As for one on one, yes I am sure many residents would like to at least feel there is more communication and sharing of information, thankfully this is where WERA comes in.
WERA Asks…Peter Mokogwu
Aug 13th
Can you please tell us who you are and what you do?
My name is Peter Mokogwu, and I am the Area Services Manager responsible for Brixton and Clapham Area.
Can you give a brief description of what your role involves?
My role is to manage the delivery of Housing Management function to Council tenants and leaseholders in the two areas. This will include tenancy matters such as transfers, assignment and successions, nuisance and antisocial behaviour, Estate Cleaning and Ground maintenance.
How long have you been doing this role?
I have been in post doing similar role since May 2008
What does community mean to you?
A place where we support and cherish the goodness in each other.
WERA Asks…Keith Hardy
Jul 30th
Keith, Can you please tell our readers briefly what your job is?
I am the Major Works Manager for Lambeth Living.
How long have you been doing this job?
I have been doing this job for six years
What are the positives of the role you do?
Delivering Decent Homes improvement works for Lambeth’s tenants and leaseholders to ensure their homes are wind and weathertight, have reasonably modern facilities and are thermally efficient.
If you could choose any other department within Lambeth Living, what one would you choose and why?
Although not strictly Lambeth Living, with my construction and surveying background I feel that I could make a positive contribution to the Children and Young Peoples’ Services Department of Lambeth Council and the Building Schools for the Future Programme.
WERA Asks…Allan Drew
Jul 16th
Please introduce yourself
My name Is Allan Drew and I have been involved with Customer Service for the past 30 years. I have spent the last 5 years in Lambeth, which was my first public sector role. Previously I have worked for BT and also run my own small business providing consultancy on customer service
Can you explain what your role is?
In Lambeth I run the parts of the council responsible for resident contact. So the call centre and the walk-in customer centres in Brixton and Streatham are part of my operation, where we handle about 2m contacts/year with Lambeth residents. I also have responsibility for facilities management which involves the smooth running of the council’s 15 major office buildings.
What do you find is the most challenging part of your job?
Working successfully across other departments in the council to produce the best result for the customer. Not because colleagues do not want to help, but rather that every part of the council has a significant improvement activity to be getting on with and ensuring it all fits together and everything gets done is quite a challenge
More >
WERA Asks…Cedric Boston
Jul 2nd
Can you please tell us who you are and what you do?
Cedric Boston, Director of Housing Management at Lambeth Living. Responsible for providing a housing service to 31,000 Lambeth Council tenants and leaseholders.
Can you give a brief description of what your role involves?
Managing staff, resources and performance to achieve the best result possible in the circumstances
How long have you been doing this role?
Nine months
How do you think Lambeth Living is changing, and do you think your role has had an impact on this?
We are improving performance in managing resources and most of the key business targets are being met. The organisation is continuing to improve and will focus more on the customer facing services in 2010/11.
What were you doing prior to joining Lambeth Living?
Working for Wandle Housing Association as Assistant Director of Housing Management and Leasehold Services
Who or what inspires you and why?
Achieving against the odds
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Remaining committed and motivated despite the palpable hostility of residents representatives to the ALMO
Do you think enough is being done with the turn-around of ‘voids’ in the borough?
At the present time yes. The only impediment at the moment is the lack of revenue as it costs money to repair a void property and the long it has been vacant the more it costs. The Council does not have the money it needs to repair its void properties hence many will remain empty for this reason.
Lambeth Living’s Tenancy Services Team operate from various Housing Offices, are there any plans for housing offices to be relocated?
The Council has imposed 20% cuts on Lambeth Living since inception and a further 10% cut is planned for 2010/11. In this situation it is impossible to give any promises about housing offices
Do you ever manage to visit estates, meet residents, and hear their concerns?
Yes. Often. Especially when invited
As a residents association, the main problem we hear of with Tenancy Services is communication – In what ways do you think communication could be improved?
The Customer Service Center is run by the Council. We should get another provider if the service does not improve
What role do you think residents have in shaping Lambeth as a Borough?
Residents can have a major role in helping us to plan the service for the future and monitoring performance and delivery of services in the current. However this is only possible if there is a constructive relationship between resident representatives and Lambeth Living
What was your first job?
Storeman in a Jewish supermarket when I was 15.
What does community mean to you?
Working together for the advantage of all
What role do Leaseholder Services play?
Leaseholders are 33% of our customers so their role is crucial
What would you most like to achieve from your role within 10 years? Top quartile performing housing service, 90% customer satisfaction, 95% decent homes, national recognition for the quality of the service we provide.
What are the key areas of your role, as Director of Housing Management?
Managing staff and resources. Raising motivation and skills. Achieving efficiencies and continuous improvement.
What aspect of your role do you most enjoy, and why?
Achieving performance targets because it shows we are moving in the right direction
Describe yourself in three words. Pragmatic and driven
How and when should residents contact you?
During normal working hours, preferably by email feedback@lambethliving.org.uk, made for the attention of Cedric Boston.
