Decision details

To approve the draft Housing Portfolio Plan 2014/15.

Matter for Decision:  

The report covered the Housing Portfolio Plan 2014-15, which sets out the strategic objectives for the portfolio for the year ahead, describes the context in which the portfolio was being delivered and details the activities required to deliver the outcomes and the vision.  Performance measures and risks were also shown for each strategic objective.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing:

The Executive Councillor resolved:

     i.        To approve the Housing Portfolio Plan 2014-15

Reason for the Decision:

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations:

The committee received a report from the Executive Councillor for Housing.

In response to comments and questions from the Committee, the Executive Councillor confirmed:

     i.        The Portfolio Plan was a high level, forward thinking document and that detailed performance indicators were included at an operational level.

    ii.        Whilst non vulnerable, youth homelessness was not a statutory obligation, a strategy was being developed to address emerging issues.

   iii.        Housing Officers had the skills required to pick up potential mental health issues and would refer their concerns to specialist services.

The Director of Customer and Community Services stated that the current focus for vulnerable groups was tenancy sustainment. Linkages with other agencies and commissioning of specialise services was being developed.

The Committee requested further information on Discretionary Housing Payment and how other social housing providers were meeting the challenges of the current situation. This would be supplied outside the meeting.

The Committee Manager undertook to circulate a report received by Strategy and Resource Committee concerning Discretionary Housing Payment.

It was suggested that the details in Strategic Objective HSO1 lacked clarity on timeframes and that something needed to be added to clarify when the objective would be delivered. The Executive Councillor stated this was a long term plan, with too many variables, and that she was not willing to specify timeframes at this point.

The Scrutiny Committee considered and endorsed the recommendation by 4 votes to 0.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

Not applicable.