2011 has been an eventful year and a demanding year for many of us in WPH. There were many positive achievements:
• at the start of the year we achieved 98% of all of our homes meeting the Decent Homes target set by government for the end of 2010
• we launched our new 2020 Vision Corporate Plan with our plans to build 400 new homes which were approved by the Government's Homes and Communities Agency as we gained developer status in our own right
• we set up the new Contact Centre bringing our call answering services and estate and neighbourhood management teams together in Dock Road
• our performance improved across all services
• we started to build a sound reputation as to how we deal with ASB cases having brought the service in house from WBC
• our tenant scrutiny arrangements were recognised as being at the forefront in the sector
• the TSA assessed us being a viable and well managed business
• we have got our high rise programme off the ground and we are starting to see major changes to both the skyline and the fabric of our sustainable blocks
• we were in for a number of awards - we retained the Telecare Standard, met the Centre for Housing Support code of practice, received a certificate of merit in the Home Office Tilley awards for our ASB work, our ICT were a finalist in the Housing Heroes Awards  and our high rise team were shortlisted for the Builder magazine awards
There were some sad points during the year:
• the tragic loss of Anne Marie Cleary, a supervisor from our Contact Centre
• Murdo McDonald, a supportive board director, who sadly died in December
As 2011 is coming to an end we need to start to look forward.  I have no doubt that 2012 will be a very challenging year for us all.  The world and national economy will affect us all as individuals and the work of WPH. 
The key external challenges will be:
• reductions in the level of public expenditure and the Government's range of welfare benefit reforms which will affect many of you and therefore our income management over the next few years
• the Government's housing strategy introducing flexible tenancies which will affect how we manage our homes
• the Government's focus on value for money and cost reduction
• the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 and the expectation that we develop the 'Big Society' in liaison with yourselves
• the rise of consumer standards decided at a local level with more scrutiny of our services by yourselves
Add to these our own challenges within WPH:
• delivering the new build programme on time and on budget
• delivering environmental and low rise block improvements
• completing the high rise programme
• improvements in our computer systems so that we can offer you better services
• the use of new social media in our communication with you
• increasing involvement and engagement to ensure we get to hard to reach groups such as young people
• proving that we do provide quality services by applying for accreditations such as the Customer Service Excellence award
We hope to respond to the challenges ahead and build upon our successes so far and to help to work with residents so that we can all share an equally successful 2012.
 

Best wishes
 
Brian