Woking Borough Council Corporate Strategy - Thriving communities

Our objective: Invest in our council homes to ensure they are safe and well-maintained in a way that is financially sustainable and responsive to tenants.

We will achieve this through:

• delivering fire safety remedial works and management actions
• completing stock condition surveys to inform the medium-term investment strategy for the council’s housing stock
• delivering prioritised improvements to Council homes through the implementation of capital investment plans
• implementing a comprehensive Housing Improvement Programme that aims to improve systems, data, and processes across the service
• developing and implementing a Sheerwater strategy to refurbish retained homes within the regeneration area
• setting a sustainable Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 30-year business plan

Outcomes:

• safer homes through compliance with fire risk assessment recommendations
• completion of key work to the fabric of homes, upgraded heating systems, kitchens, and bathrooms
• clear strategy enabling prioritisation of effort and associated works
• internal resources upskilled/qualified
• HRA business plan to allow sustainable investment in the housing stock

Success measures:

• compliance with Decent Homes Standard
• improved tenant satisfaction measures as part of an annual survey
• approved action plan that ensures adequate resources (staff, skills, and ICT systems)
• a viable 30-year HRA business plan approved
• reduction in Sheerwater void rental losses

Our objective: working to prevent homelessness and address its root causes.

We will achieve this through:

• delivery of the Bed and Breakfast Elimination Plan
• retaining and refurbishing approx. 100 homes in the Sheerwater Regeneration area, making use of the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF)
• reducing the time it takes to re-let Council homes to minimise voids
• taking account of the Borough’s housing needs through the Local Plan review

Outcomes:

• homeless households will spend shorter time in emergency accommodation
• reduction in families being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation
• reduction in bed and breakfast dependency and associated costs
• council owned housing stock being used as effectively as possible
• additional affordable housing unlocked through the review of the Local Plan and effective partnerships

Success measures:

• no families with children in bed & breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks.
• long term empty homes in Sheerwater are brought back into use and available to households in need.
• occupation of at least 13 additional temporary accommodation units through the use of the Government’s LAHF grant.
• reduction in the average number of days taken to re-let properties.
• increased delivery of affordable housing.

Our objective: Support our most vulnerable residents to access key services, as cost effectively as possible, and in conjunction with partners.

We will achieve this through:

• ensuring that Careline and Community Meals discretionary services operate on a self-funding basis
• working with the North West Surrey Alliance to develop and strengthen the support available to vulnerable people in Woking neighbourhoods
• adapting properties through the Disabled Facility Grant (DFG) scheme
• working with the voluntary sector and sign-posting support provided by partners to maintain and/or expand services available to residents

Outcomes:

• elderly and vulnerable residents supported to be independent in their own homes, reducing the need for care
• wrap-around support provided to vulnerable residents in 'Woking Neighbourhoods' through the North West Surrey Alliance
• DFG adaptions enabling residents to remain as independent as possible

Success measures:

• accurate financial information to evidence discretionary services covering costs
• KPI's and outcomes produced by the North West Surrey Alliance to demonstrate partnership effectiveness
• home adaption targets are met

Our objective: Promote sustainability and continue to invest in green spaces and clean streets.

We will achieve this through:

• implementing and promoting the 2024 Climate Change Strategy
• mobilising and embedding the new grounds maintenance and street cleaning contract
• implementing improvements to parks and play areas with the use of UK Shared Prosperity Funding
• working with voluntary and community groups through the Community Asset Transfer process to explore opportunities for external investment in sports fields and green spaces

Outcomes:

• better informed staff and residents in relation to climate change.
• delivering value for money through the new grounds maintenance contract.
• attractive, safe, clean, and well maintained parks and play areas.
• outdoor recreation to support health and wellbeing for residents.
• investment in sports fields/green spaces maximised to maintain standards whilst reducing costs to the Council.

Success measures:

• reduction in the Council’s carbon footprint
• mobilisation of grounds maintenance contract in March 2025
• detailed monitoring of the contract against predefined performance indicators
• extended life expectancy of refurbished play areas/features across the borough
• sports fields and green spaces continue to be fit for purpose and remain well used by community groups across the borough