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Cross Keys' five glorious years
Peterborough's biggest housing association Cross Keys Homes, is celebrating its fifth birthday.
Peterborough's biggest housing association Cross Keys Homes, is celebrating its fifth birthday. Cross Keys Homes, which took over the Peterborough City Council's 10,000-strong housing stock on October 4, 2004, is marking its anniversary with various celebrations for residents, stakeholders and staff over the coming weeks.
The celebrations kicked off in September at the residents' conference at The Fleet, in Fletton, where more than 200 tenants attended. The event was a great success, and one in which five residents received a good neighbour award for their efforts in their communities.
Then on Tuesday, September 29, employees celebrated at the organisation's annual staff conference at the Kingsgate Centre, Parnwell. The day included a number of presentations from the executive team and guest speaker Dr Graeme Codrington, who is an award-winning presenter on the topic of different generations. The event focused on recognising the achievements of staff over the past five years.
Finally, for stakeholders, Cross Keys Homes hosted a birthday conference at The Key Theatre last Thursday.
Since its launch, Cross Keys Homes has transformed the lives of its tenants and their communities with the delivery of a 100 million home improvement programme which it will complete a year-and-a-half ahead of schedule in March 2010.
In addition, the organisation has invested nearly 5 million on increased car parking, extra street lighting and improving open spaces on its estates. Its award-winning approach has focused on tenants deciding where and how the money is most effectively spent through Cross Keys Homes' four resident-led area panels.
Joan Benton (85), of Malvern Road, Gunthorpe, was one of the first residents to receive a home makeover with a new kitchen and central heating system being fitted by Cross Keys Homes' contractor Mears in 2005.
Mrs Benton said: "The new kitchen was like a dream come true and has completely transformed the way I live. I am very happy and my kitchen is still my dream kitchen with its easy-to-clean worktops. Cross Keys Homes has just been marvellous."
Cross Keys Homes' success has been highlighted by a year-on-year satisfaction increase from its tenants, with the latest survey reaching highs of 93 per cent for general needs' residents and 96 per cent for sheltered housing making the organisation the best in the region.
From day one, Cross Keys Homes set up a dedicated anti-social behaviour team with the aim of dealing with those people who want to make life difficult for their neighbours. This approach has now been developed to also create positive opportunities by delivering and supporting initiatives that promote health, employment and the engagement of young people.
As a key community player, the organisation is represented on a number of decision-making and delivery bodies such as Opportunity Peterborough, Greater Peterborough Partnership Safer Peterborough Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce. Cross Keys Homes is fully committed to helping the city to achieve its aim of becoming bigger and better and supports Peterborough's environmental capital aspirations and itself has seen a 42 per cent reduction in its carbon footprint through the delivery of the improvement programme to the homes it owns.
Cross Keys Homes also sponsors a large number of community and voluntary groups including the Peterborough Phantoms.
Chief executive Mick Leggett said: "When we signed the transfer document I knew that delivering on the all important promises was a challenge but one that we would rise to.
"Our aim has always been to deliver in a way that has excellent customer service at its heart."
He added: "I am most proud of the way in which Cross Keys Homes has started to make people feel proud of the homes they live in and their neighbourhoods are places that they love."
Chairman Dr Angus Kennedy, added: "I have been enormously impressed with the dedication of the staff team and the commitment of so many residents to work for the benefit of Cross Keys and the communities in which they live. I believe Peterborough is a better place thanks to this."
Board member Cllr John Holdich, who was cabinet member for housing at the time of the transfer and played a leading role, said: "I am absolutely delighted with the progress of Cross Keys Homes.
"The organisation has delivered all the promises which the council set to secure the tenants' transfer vote and as one of the key members involved in setting up the transfer process I am now proud to be a board member."
As well as improving existing homes, Cross Keys Homes has developed 300 new homes providing 240 properties for those on the housing waiting list and 59 for the shared ownership scheme which allows people to part buy, part rent.
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