Dear Phoenix Member,

First of all, I’d like to welcome you to Phoenix, and please do think about becoming a full shareholding member. That way, you can have a real say in how we do things. Contact our Resident Empowerment Team landline: 0800 0285 700 or mobile: 0844 264 2844.

 

You told us about your main priorities for change:

You also told us that 30 years ago there was ‘a good communal garden service, so land that was owned by the council was well maintained’. Proposals for local decision will be coming to your Panel meetings soon. You also said “our properties have gone to ‘rack and ruin’ - no one cares”. Well, Phoenix does care; on pages 4 and 5 of our latest newsletter we have an introduction from Matthew Drake of our Improvements Team about investment works to be carried out over the next five years - starting in April.

Your Phoenix repairs service has been dealing with a huge volume of calls since we ‘went live’, especially in the run-up to Christmas. Our staff are working flat out to make sure we keep our promises.

In many cases we are still dealing with the backlog from Lewisham. if you reported a repair to them that still has not been done, we would ask you, please, get in touch with us to let us know about it. The Repairs Line is landline: 0800 0285 700 or mobile: 0844 264 2844.

We have negotiated an arrangement with our phone line supplier to keep your call costs down. If you use a BT landline you will only be charged 1p a minute + VAT (making it 1.17p a minute). Mobiles and other landline suppliers will apply their own charges, and these you would have to check with your supplier. We’d like to make it clear that as a non-for-profit organization Phoenix will not be getting any financial benefit from your calls.

The Phoenix priority is to help build a real, thriving community, to carry out our promises, and to respect our residents. From day one, we hope you have noticed changes. If we make a mistake, tell us about it and we will put it right as quickly as possible. If we do something well, let us know too - we’d like to make sure our staff do know when they are appreciated.

Leaseholders as well as tenants are an important part of the Phoenix Community. If you are a leaseholder, we would like to hear from you - we are setting up a group to represent your interests. The leaseholder on the Phoenix Board, Dennis Costello, can be contacted by calling our Resident Empowerment Team on landline: 0208 290 2817 or mobile: 0844 264 2844.

If you would like to volunteer for the leaseholder group, please call us on the same number. ‘Launch Week’ at the end of April will have events for everyone, leading up to Phoenix Day on May 3rd, Bank Holiday weekend. Here is your chance to join in. We’d like to hear from anyone, or any local organization with something to show. So, if you have a band, an arts or performance group, would like to show of your talents in any way, please get in touch! (You don’t have to be a Phoenix member, just local).

Let’s hope it becomes the first of many Phoenix events to showcase genuine local talent. The working Party has started meeting; if you’d like to join in call Ruth on: 020 8461 9213. I hope to meet you there!

Jim Ripley
Phoenix Chief Executive