Housing in Castle Vale Examples of HAT Housing initiatives: The HAT has: Embarked on an ambitious clearance programme (Example: over 700 households [8 tower blocks] were decanted within only 18 months in 1996/97 to make way for the building of over 350 new low rise homes). Streamlined policies and procedures with the Tenants and Residents Alliance (TRA) and CVCHA to ensure compatibility between other estate landlords and Birmingham City Council. HAT Mobile Warden signs up resident to the 'Eskimo Life Pak' scheme Introduced a Mobile Warden and the 'Eskimo initiative' designed to help vulnerable residents in emergency situations, and set up an Exercise for Older People Scheme. Established a service level agreement between the HAT and CVCHA. Developed Leaseholder Policy. Set up 'ValeWatch', a partnership with the Police, other landlords and schools to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. A Community Safety Forum has also been established and the HAT is pressing the government to increase the powers of HATs and RSLs to deal with anti-social behaviour e.g. through the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. Undertaken a benchmarking exercise involving comparing Castle Vale HAT housing management services to other similar sized landlords and introduced a tenant compact. Introduced Carbon Monoxide alarms in tenanted homes with gas appliances - the first landlord to do so in the UK. Fresh Start Decorators In partnership with Mercian Housing Association, CVCHA and Merlin Venture set up a 'Tenant Decorators' Scheme. Fresh Start Decorators provide a free decorating service to elderly and disabled tenants. The scheme won the NHF Midlands Regeneration Award for economic development. For details contact The Merlin Venture on 0121 776 8880.