Issue - meetings

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

Matter for Decision

The report provided an update on the current and proposed future arrangements for communal cleaning services across the Council’s housing stock and bin cleaning services in sheltered housing.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Strategy and External Partnerships

Authorised officers to explore the option of transferring responsibility for the cleaning of the Councils Category 2 Sheltered Housing Schemes back in house to the Council, and to delegate authority to the Strategic Director, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Housing, Chair and Vice Chair of Housing Scrutiny Committee (HSC) and the opposition spokespersons, to make a decision on whether or not this should go ahead.

Following the above decision, to delegate authority to the Strategic Director, in consultation with the Executive Cllr for Housing, Chair and Vice Chair of HSC and the opposition spokespersons, to tender and award a contract for the communal cleaning of the Council’s General Housing, Category 1 sheltered housing and, potentially, category 2 sheltered housing stock.

Approved delegated authority to the Head of Finance to amend both expenditure and income budgets in relation to the provision of communal cleaning services and bin cleaning in sheltered housing schemes in the HRA in line with prices received as part of the recent procurement exercises.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee welcomed the report and noted that resident representatives had already become involved in the next steps.

In response to a point made that cleaning bins at sheltered housing had re-started, the officer advised that there was a budget to re-commence the cleaning but that to fulfil the service going forward there will need to be an increase in the overall budget.

The Committee resolved by 15 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendations.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.