Community walkabouts

January 2021 – In the current national lockdown community walkabouts are only being carried out by Housing Managers. Once lockdown restrictions are lifted, community walkabouts will take place by invitation only. Once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted community walkabouts will once again be open to all residents.

Community walkabouts build stronger communities where residents can lead on or identify issues that may be cause for concern and so help improve their estates. This will include encouraging and supporting residents to identify areas, including:

minor estate improvements
ASB or crime-related issues
highways concerns including abandoned vehicles
flytipping
parking.

We want you to take pride in your area and to work with your Housing Manager and other residents within the community, to make the area a safe and well maintained place to live. The walkabout will help us to:

target areas of concerns
inform you of our role and how we work with partner agencies to resolve issues of concern and achieve mutual objectives
promote ways for you to become involved in your local area and decision making
identify improvement for the external environment including opportunities to reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB)
provide active engagement for you
develop plans for your community
work in partnership with other services in the borough.

How often community walkabouts happen

Walkabouts take place once a year and include all large block properties managed by SHP and some street properties where there are known issues or concerns. Housing Managers will prepare the community walkabout eight weeks prior to it taking place. They will oversee invites and communicate the purpose of the community walkabout with colleagues and partners who may be invited or required to attend.

Who can attend the community walkabouts

Where there are emerging issues which may have been raised with the Senior Leadership Team, a representative at a more senior level will be invited to attend. The walkabouts will be tailored to address emerging concerns within a particular area, for example, the London Fire Brigade and officers from the Risk and Compliance Team at SHP would be invited to attend where fire safety concerns have been raised by residents.

Front facing staff who actively work on the estate will attend and these will include:

Housing Manager
Caretaker
Ground maintenance
Area Housing Manager
Communal Surveyor

We will also extend an invitation to the following (where appropriate):

all SHP colleagues (to encourage and promote personal development)
board members
SFTRA
Sutton Leaseholders Association
Sutton Council representatives
councillors

What happens after a community walkabout

Housing Managers will develop an action plan and agree timescales with relevant colleagues or partners.

All actions will be reviewed quarterly to ensure that all commitments have been met and if matters have not been progressed, these will be passed to the Area Housing Manager to take further.

If you would like more information or to let us know you are coming to a walkabout you can contact your Housing Manager or call us on 020 8915 2000.

Community walkabout dates 2021/22

Community walkabouts – schedule
Location	Date and Time	Housing Manager
Richmond Green	Thursday 4 February, 10am–12 noon	Khai Nahar
Crownbourne Court	Wednesday 17 February, 2–4pm	Sally-Anne Yeats
Mill Green	Wednesday 3 March, 2–4pm	Sophie Henriques
Clockhouse Estate	Thursday 18 March, 2–4pm	Sarah Holland-Baker
Wentworth Court	Wednesday 31 March, 2–4pm	Maggie Baria
Alexandra Gardens	Thursday 15 April, 2–4pm	Sarah Holland-Baker
Cheshire & Goodson House	Thursday 29 April, 2–4pm	Helen Onanuga
Benhill Estate	Monday 17 May, 10am–12 noon	Lewis Toop
Elm Grove	Monday 17 May, 2–4pm	Lewis Toop
Alcester Court	Friday 9 July, 2–4pm	Margaret Baria
Shanklin Village	Wednesday 15 September, 2–4pm	Hilda Wood
Rosehill Court	Thursday 7 October, 2–4pm	Lorraine Roberts
Sutton Court & Beauclere House	Friday 15 October, 10am–12 noon	Emmanuel Olukotun
Collingwood Estate	Friday 22 October, 10am–12 noon	Sally-Anne Yeats
Denmark Gardens	Wednesday 3 November, 10am–12 noon	Jason Simpson