Issue - meetings

This item was chaired by Councillor Todd-Jones

Matter for Decision

The report provided an update on progress for the Housing Transformation programme. The Housing Transformation programme was reviewing the way we deliver housing services for three major reasons. It is good practice to periodically review the way we do things to ensure that our services were delivering the right outcomes and that resources were targeted towards meeting service and policy objectives; national housing policy and local initiatives had resulted in incremental changes to the service that we now needed to take an overview of; and finally as a result of recent legislation we had to make very significant savings in the Housing Revenue Account. 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

     i.        Endorsed the approach set out in this Officer’s report.

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 Strategic Advisor - Housing and Welfare Reform.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

     i.        Sought clarification regarding the terminology used as savings already achieved were not adequately reflected in the report. Officers stated that this would be addressed in the January 2017 report.

    ii.        Expressed concerns that other issues might be being missed as attention was focused on savings.

   iii.        Expressed concerns about the impact of budget savings for vulnerable tenants.

Committee Members suggested that cuts to the repairs budget could be false economy as tenant DIY repairs could result in a bigger spent at a later date. Officers confirmed that a clearer policy on what was a landlord responsibility and what was the responsibility of the tenant was under consideration.

The Head of Estates and Facilities undertook to investigate what services were available to tenants unable to undertake repairs that were their responsibility. This might include options for the repairs team to undertake the work and then re-charge it to the tenant. The Officer stated that his team were unable to recommend tradespeople.

The Strategic Advisor - Housing and Welfare Reform said the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        It was recognised that vulnerable tenants used more than one service. Currently there were a number of posts which offered support and in the future those services would need to be used in a smarter way. The tenant profile would offer insights into areas of greatest need.

    ii.        Lessons could be learnt from peer organisations.

   iii.        The ‘Pay to Stay’, project group had not yet been established. This could be a joint group with South Cambridgeshire.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.