Key to the success of PSEMB has been the efficiency of the local Repair & Maintenance service. Among the positives have been beating city council repair times, providing a quick response to graffiti and damage on the estate along with prompt removal of rubbish. Routine and timely maintenance work is cost effective and ensures a smarter, cleaner and safer environment for all.
The maintenance team also serve a secondary function as community wardens by informing the office of crisis situations and being available to carry out small scale useful tasks such as installing a shelf or changing a light bulb for an elderly resident.
Overall satisfaction with this service is confirmed by the low level of void properties on the Pembroke Street Estate - a further measure of the cost effectiveness of a locally based service. The local repair team have no backlog of repairs and have a high satisfaction rating. Effective repair and maintenance ensures the appearance of the Estate is kept in good condition and helps to prevent crime and vandalism. The local Police Team have told us that crime on the Estate is the lowest across the ward.
The aim to widen the service beyond Pembroke Street was originally requested by residents from nearby estates who could see the difference a local service could make to the quality of life. One way of achieving this in the wider area was by securing additional maintenance contracts, while at the same time rolling out a range of training opportunities for local young people and adults.
Following an application and extensive discussion with the New Deal for Communities Programme (NDC) Pembroke EMB were awarded funds to develop parts of the service across the Devonport area. This resulted in a range of work being carried out, mainly smaller building and refurbishment projects, which provided training opportunities for local people. The longer-term aim was for the Team to secure maintenance contracts from other landlords – especially Housing Associations - who had invested in new build housing across the area following wide scale demolition of city council housing stock. In addition the former Ministry of Defence site at South Yard is currently being developed largely for housing, providing further opportunities. Due to the recession the pace has been slower than originally anticipated so therefore the number of contracts won by PSEMB has been smaller than originally expected.
Despite this, we have secured a range of contracts with partner organizations including carrying out work for Sovereign Housing Association (HA), Sanctuary HA and Sarsen HA. Most notable of these is the work with Sovereign, which is a grounds maintenance and cleaning contract at their new King William Heights development in Devonport. PSEMB re-tendered for this service in 2009 and secured a further 4 year extension to the contract, following a survey of residents, which recorded high levels of satisfaction with the service.
PSEMB also has contracts for cleaning with Redrow Housing, Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership and Real Ideas Organisation , who are all based in Devonport.
The many landscaped areas on the Estate provide plenty of opportunity for trainees to learn about maintaining planted areas
A locally responsive repair service on the Estate ensures that repairs are dealt with quickly and efficiently
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The maintenance team also serve a secondary function as community wardens by informing the office of crisis situations and being available to carry out small scale useful tasks such as installing a shelf or changing a light bulb for an elderly resident.
