Issue - meetings

This item was Chaired by Diana Minns (Vice-Chair)

Matter for Decision

This report presented the following Cambridge City Council (CCC) policies which had been updated for the Housing Scrutiny Committee’s approval: Tenancy Policy (2020-23), Rechargeable Works Policy (2020), Hoarding Policy (2020).

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

      i.         Approved the Tenancy Policy (2020-23), Rechargeable Works Policy (2020) and Hoarding Policy (2020) as attached to the 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 Policy and Performance Officer (Housing Services).

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

      i.         The Committee welcomed the clear policy on Hoarding, and noted the involvement and advice received from Lulu Agate (Tenant rep) in compiling this report.

    ii.         Asked when an enforced clearance would arise under the Hoarding Policy and whether this was few and far between.

   iii.         Asked what training an officer who made assessments under the Hoarding Policy had and if referrals were done with the individual’s consent.

  iv.         Tenant representatives confirmed that there was training available regarding hoarding as they had attended some training on hoarding.

    v.         Asked whether there was any discretion regarding the rechargeable works policy as tenants might consider some works to be urgent and request an urgent call out and incur costs but the council may not consider the works to be urgent.

  vi.         Asked whether the policies would be publicised if they were approved.

The Policy and Performance Officer (Housing Services) and the Head of Housing said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         Under the Hoarding Policy if the tenant was not high risk then officers would work with the tenant for a 6-month period. There was a level of officer discretion before enforcement action was undertaken. If however there were health and safety concerns then there would be a multi-agency intervention and officers would then start enforcement. 

    ii.         A referral under the Hoarding Policy was usually done at the same time as a safeguarding referral. Criteria for assessments were set out in a County Council protocol and this protocol was widely used by other local authorities. 

   iii.         There would be screening / triaging of emergency works before works were undertaken.

  iv.         Confirmed that if the policies were approved then these would be publicised including in the ‘Open Door’ magazine.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.