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CLANMIL IN BLOOM 2011 WINNERS

The annual Clanmil in Bloom competition encourages a sense of pride in the green spaces at Clanmil schemes by rewarding and celebrating the hard work and enthusiasm of tenants whose gardens are well cared for.

Each year our judges complete a whistle stop tour of Northern Ireland, appreciating and assessing gardens, patios and window boxes at Clanmil schemes the length and breadth of the country. They were very impressed by the standard of the schemes that entered in 2011 and the winners of the Clanmil in Bloom 2011 competition are -

Best overall independent living/housing with care scheme  - Blessington Court, Belfast.

Best overall family development or single persons scheme – Sinton Court, Cookstown.


Best kept individual garden in a general housing scheme – Miss Kim Sloan, Clendinning Way, Portadown.


Best kept individual garden in a independent living scheme – Mr Walter Prenter, Henderson Court, Belfast.


Most improved independent living scheme – Barbour Court, Enniskillen.

Congratulations to all of the winners!

We are very grateful to all of the tenants and staff who work hard to make sure that your schemes look their very best.

LORDS OPPOSE GOVERNMENT'S 'BEDROOM TAX'

Last night, a cross-party coalition of Peers voted against the Government’s under-occupation proposals, but the fight continues.

Last night, Peers voted against Government plans to slash the housing benefit of social tenants deemed to be ‘under-occupying’ their homes. An amendment by Lord Best to exempt from the bedroom tax families with just one additional bedroom who are unable to move to a smaller property was supported by 258 to 190. The National Housing Federation called the result ‘a victory for common sense and fairness’ but vowed to continue the campaign to ensure the decision is not reversed in the Commons.

The bedroom tax would see tenants lose up to £26 a week in housing benefit if they are deemed by the Department for Work and Pensions to have ‘extra’ bedrooms, regardless of how they are being used.

Lord Best pointed out that the measure would neither free up larger homes for overcrowded families, nor reduce the housing benefit bill.He was followed by a raft of experts from all parties, whose opposition to the proposals was unequivocal. In the end, the vote was won by a large margin of 68 votes, with every Crossbencher present voting in favour.

Members of the House of Lords raised concerns about how the Government’s proposals would affect families with teenagers of the same sex, foster children, people with disabilities, and informal care and support offered to friends, neighbours and family.

As well as cross-party support, the amendment was supported by nearly 50 charities and campaigning organisations. David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said:

‘This is a victory for fairness. Members of the House of Lords should be congratulated for taking a stand against a proposal which would achieve neither of the Government’s stated objectives of tackling overcrowding and saving money.’

Despite yesterday’s vote, the amendment will still have to be ratified by the House of Commons before the Welfare Reform Bill becomes law. The Federation will be working to persuade the Government to listen to the clear signal sent by Peers and allow this compromise to stand.

A separate amendment, tabled by Labour, which would exempt anyone unable to find suitable accommodation, was also agreed. However, the Government made it clear that it would not be allowed to stand.

The debate turned to disabled people living in adapted homes and families with fostering responsibilities. Welfare Reform Minister, Lord Freud, promised an extra £30m a year for local authorities to give out in discretionary housing payments where benefit cuts would threaten fostering and availability of adapted homes.

David Orr said, ‘We have argued hard for exemptions for these two groups and, although better than nothing, the people involved deserve more than to have to go cap in hand to their local authority each year, never knowing whether this is the year they will be forced to leave their home.’

£24MILLION HOUSING SCHEME OPENS DOORS TO NEW RESIDENTS

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has handed over the keys to residents at one of Northern Ireland’s biggest social housing developments.

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland hands over the key to a new tenant at Clanmil Housing’s Lavinia development on the Ormeau Road, watched by Clare McCarty, Chief Executive of Clanmil. Jacinta Clinton and her one year old daughter, Lily Marie are delighted to be in a brand new house for Christmas.

WINNING NAME REVEALED FOR BASS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

Clanmil Housing Association’s new housing development at the former Bass Brewery site on the Glen Road has been named Caffrey Hill thanks to two creative local school boys.

Caolan McLaughlin, a pupil at St Mary's Grammar School, and Michael Rooney from Holy Child Primary School, who won a competition to name Clanmil Housing's development at the former Bass Brewery site on the Glen Road

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