Our Business Plan

We have recently developed our own business and delivery plan stating our aims and objectives over the next 5 years, the issues we must address in meeting these aims, our detailed plans and targets to achieve the aims and how we will resource this:

Our Chair, Harry Burns summarises the aims of the Business Plan below:

I am extremely proud of the progress and improvements First Choice Homes Oldham has made since we set up in 2002. We gained a good 'two star' rating from the Audit Commission in 2003 and as a result accessed £86.4 million of ALMO funding to bring all 15,000 of our homes up to Decent Standards by 2007. Already we have improved more than 4,000 homes.

In addition, we have significantly improved both the way in which we provide services and our performance. These improvements are across the whole range of services we provide and have been achieved in close consultation with our customers, stakeholders and partners. What is particularly satisfying is the extent to which our customers have noticed these improvements. More than 75% of customers are now satisfied with our services compared with 58% two years ago.

Despite these improvements we are not complacent and recognise we need to improve further. Customers are telling us we need to improve neighbourhoods as well as homes. We are working hard with Oldham Council and other partners to find appropriate ways to do this. We also need to improve other aspects such as access to our services, ensuring value for money, the range and type of housing stock we provide to meet modern day aspirations, extending choice in rehousing, improving environmental services and support to an increasingly vulnerable customer base. We aim to achieve all of these improvements over the next two years.

This Business Plan is the first time First Choice Homes Oldham has developed its own plans separately from the Oldham Council Housing Strategy and HRA Business Plan. It shows how we aim to help Oldham achieve its wider strategic vision and aims. The Business Plan makes clear our mission over the next seven years and our key objectives. It outlines the challenges and risks we face in achieving these objectives, details how we will attain them and the resources we will need.

Although our initial contract with Oldham Council finishes in 2007, this Business Plan projects our vision and future up to 2012. This is so we can demonstrate to our customers, stakeholders and partners our intentions if the contract is renewed. Already we have started planning with Oldham Council and our customers a review of the progress and achievements of First Choice Homes Oldham and of the future of the housing service post 2007. We are very confident that the future is bright for our customers and First Choice Homes Oldham.

By working together with customers and partners we will achieve our vision of high quality sustainable homes and communities where people from all backgrounds wish to live.

Yours Truly

Harry Burns

Chair of First Choice Homes Oldham.

First Choice Homes Oldham

Our Business Plan

0161 770 3576