Executive’s ‘strong agenda’ for district

Referring specifically to the Housing Executive’s investment in the Banbridge District Council area, Comghal McQuillan, South Region Deputy Manager, said: “The Housing Executive has enjoyed an excellent relationship with Banbridge District Council, both councillors and officers, working in partnership to deliver services to the people of the district.

“We have strong agenda for Banbridge. During 2014/15, we will support the delivery of new social housing as well as investing £3.44million upgrading and maintaining tenants’ homes, supporting people to live independently, increasing the energy efficiency of homes and providing grant aid in the private sector.”

Turning to Regional Services, Comghal McQuillan continued: “Through our Regional Services we will help meet social housing need through support to the social development programme.

During 2014/15 we aim to start 19 new units of accommodation in two schemes.

“We support the most vulnerable through the Supporting People Programme with £0.945million for housing support services for 2014/15. We currently fund 17 sheltered and supported housing schemes in the Banbridge District as well as one floating support service.

“In addition we will provide assistance to help adapt homes in the private sector.”

He concluded: “Our local team continues to provide a dedicated housing service to the Banbridge District Council area.

“They work alongside our Customer Services Unit, Accounts and Housing Benefit teams to provide our tenants and the wider community with an effective and efficient service.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the councillors and officers of the Banbridge District Council for their support to the Housing Executive over the past year.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the new shadow council on issues of mutual interest in the coming year.”

Trevor McCartney, the Housing Executive’s Director of Corporate Services said: “The Housing Executive has always prided itself in having a close working relationship with local councils and it is important this continues with the new and much enlarged new councils.

“The coming year is a period of transition for the new councils and in many ways that can also be said for the Housing Executive.