New team to focus on council housing residents

The new officers are working in Brighton & Hove City Council's housing team

A new team of neighbourhood officers has been established in Brighton & Hove to help to improve council housing and nearby communities.

The eight officers working in Brighton & Hove City Council's housing team focus on casework from residents in their homes and on estates.

They will support the work of housing teams to maintain tenancy conditions and ensure homes and estates are pleasant places to live.

The council said one of their key functions will be supporting new safety responsibilities for council homes.

This includes introducing Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPS) for residents in 47 council-owned high-rise blocks, who would have difficulties evacuating a building by themselves in the event of a fire.

Councillor Gill Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "Residents' safety is our key priority and this will be a big focus of the team, alongside being out and about in our neighbourhoods."