Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The report provided an update on the compliance related activities delivered within the City Services Compliance Team, including a summary on gas, electrical, fire, lifts, legionella and asbestos.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

      i.         Noted the progress of the compliance related work detailed within the 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 Delivery Manager.

The Strategic Delivery Manager and the Assistant Director for Housing and Homelessness said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         Noted the concerns raised regarding timescales for action / responses by the Council included within the Damp Condensation and Mould (DCM) Policy and advised would look into whether these were realistic and achievable. Noted concerns which had been raised by a Tenant Representative that these had not been achieved when a concern had been raised by them.

    ii.         Commented as a social landlord there was a requirement to promote ways in which tenants could complain if they were not happy with the way the council delivered services. It was noted that there was an internal complaints system Compliments, complaints and suggestions - Cambridge City Council and also complaints could be made to the Housing Ombudsman Home | Housing Ombudsman Service (housing-ombudsman.org.uk).

   iii.         Further data regarding DCM issues had started to be collated by officers and would be included within future reports. This included information regarding why DCM had arisen, the seriousness of it and the effectiveness of measures taken to remove it.

  iv.         Confirmed that ‘live’ figures for DCM and how the cases were being dealt with would be included in future reports.

    v.         Confirmed that responsive repairs would continue to be undertaken for any cases of DCM reported for Ekin Road properties.

The Executive Councillor for Housing advised in response to a question about whether the DCM Team was appropriately resourced that officers had advised that the Team covering this area of work was appropriately resourced at the current time. 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.