Use of smart technology to improve maintenance in Council managed social housing

The request was successful.

Dear Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council,

I am a post graduate student currently undertaking research in to whether the use of internet enabled 'smart' technology can be utilised to improve the efficiency of maintenance in the social housing sector.

Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would therefore be grateful if you could respond to the following questions:

1. Does your authority retain ownership and management of its social housing stock? If not, please could you provide contact details for the Housing Association(s), ALMO's etc., to whom your stock was transferred?

The following questions need only be answered if you continue to own and manage your social housing stock.

2. Does the Council currently use any form of internet enabled smart technology to assist in the maintenance of its properties e.g. smoke alarms linked to a portal so maintenance personnel can identify when the alarm has been disconnected/failed? If so, please could you provide details of the types of devices utilised? Would you be willing to discuss your experience in more detail?

3. If the Council is not currently utilising any such technology, has the issue ever been considered? If so, please could you provide details as to why it was not pursued?

I thank you for your consideration of the above queries and I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours faithfully,

Phil Hiscott

BH Data Protection,

3 Attachments

Thank you for your request for information in relation to Smart
Technology.

Your request was received on:- 24^th January 2020     

 
We are dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act
2000.
 
The reference number is:- FOI 191

 
Your request will be processed as soon as possible, and we will try to
provide the information within 20 working days as required.

The 20 day deadline (allowing for weekends and bank holiday) is:- 21^st
February 2020        

 

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

 

If you have any queries about this email, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number in any future communications.

 

Regards

 

Amanda Dickinson

Performance & Information Assistant

Berneslai Homes

PO Box 627

Barnsley

S70 9FZ

 

[1]facebook  [2]twitter  [3]YouTube

 

*** Barnsley MBC Disclaimer:
This e-mail and any files attached are confidential for the use of the
intended recipient. If you have received this e-mail in error please
notify the sender as soon as possible and delete the communication from
your system without copying, disseminating or distributing the same in any
way by any means. Any views or opinions expressed belong solely to the
author and do not necessarily represent those of the Council. In
particular, the Council will not accept liability for any defamatory
statements made by email communications. Recipients are responsible for
ensuring that all e-mails and files sent are checked for viruses. The
Council will not accept liability for damage caused by any virus
transmitted by this e-mail. No guarantees are offered on the security,
content and accuracy of any e-mails and files received. Be aware that this
e-mail communication may be intercepted for regulatory, quality control,
or crime detection purposes unless otherwise prohibited. The content of
this email and any attachment may be stored for future reference.

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.facebook.com/berneslaihomes.p...
2. http://www.twitter.com/berneslaihomes
3. http://www.youtube.com/user/BerneslaiHomes

BH Data Protection,

3 Attachments

Re: Request for Information – Smart Technology

 

I wish to confirm that Berneslai Homes has now completed its search for
the information which you requested by e-mail on 24^th January 2020.

 

Your questions and my findings are as follows:-

 

1. Does your authority retain ownership and management of its social
housing stock? If not, please could you provide contact details for the
Housing Association(s), ALMO's etc., to whom your stock was transferred?

                                               

Berneslai Homes manages the Housing Stock on behalf of Barnsley
Metropolitan Borough Council

 

The following questions need only be answered if you continue to own and
manage your social housing stock.

 

2. Does the Council currently use any form of internet enabled smart
technology to assist in the maintenance of its properties e.g. smoke
alarms linked to a portal so maintenance personnel can identify when the
alarm has been disconnected/failed? If so, please could you provide
details of the types of devices utilised? Would you be willing to discuss
your experience in more detail?

 

                                                No

 

3. If the Council is not currently utilising any such technology, has the
issue ever been considered? If so, please could you provide details as to
why it was not pursued?

 

Berneslai Homes has looked at smart\connected components for commercial
boiler plant servicing heat networks which supply social housing. We are
progressing a scheme. So far this has been with some of the boiler
manufacturers, whereby their heating appliance is internet connected and
can relay issues for attention via a portal. With some of the new IT
systems we are looking at there will be more scope for this to be
developed further.

 

If you are unhappy with the way Berneslai Homes has handled your request,
you may ask for an internal review. Please clearly mark your
correspondence ‘Complaint’ and address it to:

 

Performance and Information Manager

Berneslai Homes

PO Box 627

Barnsley

S70 9FZ

Email: [1][email address]

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at :-

 

Customer Services Team

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

website address: hhtp://www.ico.gov.uk

 

If you have any queries about this email, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

 

Regards

 

Amanda Dickinson

Performance & Information Assistant

Berneslai Homes

PO Box 627

Barnsley

S70 9FZ

 

[2]facebook  [3]twitter  [4]YouTube

 

(©)  Berneslai Homes Ltd. This information is a relevant copyright work
for the purposes of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. It is
owned solely by Berneslai Homes Ltd but you are able to use and re-use it
freely and flexibly without charge, including for commercial purposes, in
accordance with the terms of the Open Government License found at The
National Archives Website
([5]http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...
You can also write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives,
Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU.

When re- using the information please ensure that you:

Acknowledge the copyright and source of the information by including the
following statement: "Contains Berneslai Homes Ltd information (©)
Berneslai Homes Ltd. Licensed under the Open Government Licence."

Include the same acknowledgement in any sub-licences you grant, and a
requirement that any further sub-licences do the same.

Do not use the information in a way that suggests that the Company
endorses you or your use of the information.

The information is licensed "as is". The Company is not liable for any
errors or omissions in the information and shall not be liable for any
loss, injury or damage of any kind caused by its use.

 

*** Barnsley MBC Disclaimer:
This e-mail and any files attached are confidential for the use of the
intended recipient. If you have received this e-mail in error please
notify the sender as soon as possible and delete the communication from
your system without copying, disseminating or distributing the same in any
way by any means. Any views or opinions expressed belong solely to the
author and do not necessarily represent those of the Council. In
particular, the Council will not accept liability for any defamatory
statements made by email communications. Recipients are responsible for
ensuring that all e-mails and files sent are checked for viruses. The
Council will not accept liability for damage caused by any virus
transmitted by this e-mail. No guarantees are offered on the security,
content and accuracy of any e-mails and files received. Be aware that this
e-mail communication may be intercepted for regulatory, quality control,
or crime detection purposes unless otherwise prohibited. The content of
this email and any attachment may be stored for future reference.

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.facebook.com/berneslaihomes.p...
3. http://www.twitter.com/berneslaihomes
4. http://www.youtube.com/user/BerneslaiHomes
5. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...