Issue - meetings

Report of the Deputy Leader of the Council on the South Kesteven District Council Tenancy Agreement.

Decision:

1.    The Cabinet approves the proposed Tenancy Agreement, as appended (Appendix 1) to the report, and for it to be sent as a ‘notice of variation’ to all tenants of South Kesteven District Council (‘the Council’) in accordance with Section 103 of the Housing Act 1985.

2.    To delegate authority to the Deputy Leader in consultation with the Interim Strategic Director, Growth to make any minor changes to the final document.

Reasons for decision:

1.    The report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Deputy Leader of the Council on the Council’s Tenancy Agreement

2.    The current Tenancy Agreement no longer reflects the current needs of the housing services or the context in which social housing now operates

3.    The new agreement uses references from the current Tenancy Agreement as well as other examples of good practice from various Local Authorities and Registered Providers

4.    The consequence of the Cabinet not approving the varied tenancy agreement impacts on the Council’s ability to effectively enforce the tenancy agreement conditions

5.    Comments of the Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Other options considered and rejected:

1.    The alternative option would be to not update the current tenancy agreement.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Deputy Leader advised Cabinet Members that the current Tenancy Agreement adopted in 2002 no longer reflected the needs of the housing services or the context in which social housing now operated.   The new Tenancy Agreement proposed would replace the current agreement and the main changes were outlined in the report.   He reported that the new agreement had been subject to consultation with tenants and 440 responses had been received as well as comments from the Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The feedback received had been reviewed and incorporated into the agreement where relevant and practical.  However it was considered that further minor amendments may be needed to reflect good practice and current arrangements and therefore a delegation to himself in consultation with the Interim Strategic Director of Growth was requested as an additional recommendation.

Clarification was requested as to the meaning of ‘immoral’ mentioned in the agreement. The Interim Strategic Director for Growth responded that some further thought was needed for an appropriate form of wording to reflect this.

The Leader thanked all those who had contributed to the agreement especially the Deputy Leader.

The recommendation in the report together with the delegation proposed by the Deputy Leader were proposed, seconded and AGREED:

1.    The Cabinet approves the proposed Tenancy Agreement, as appended (Appendix 1) to the report, and for it to be sent as a ‘notice of variation’ to all tenants of South Kesteven District Council (‘the Council’) in accordance with Section 103 of the Housing Act 1985.

2.    To delegate authority to the Deputy Leader in consultation with the Interim Strategic Director, Growth to make any minor changes to the final document.