Issue - meetings

To seek approval from Cabinet of the adoption of the new Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy which sets the framework for the delivery of the repair service.

Purpose of report

To seek approval from Cabinet of the adoption of the new Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy which sets the framework for the delivery of the repair service.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Approves the adoption of the new Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy.

2.    Delegates authority to the Chief Executive to make minor alterations and amendments to the Policy post adoption as required by changes to regulations and expectations by the Regulator for Social Housing.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Continue without an adequate policy or procedure.

Reasons for decision

The clarity provided by the Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy enabled staff working in the service to make operational decisions efficiently and consistently. This in turn provided greater transparency and understanding for tenants of the standards and activities the repairs and maintenance service would deliver.

The policy was considered and recommended to Cabinet by the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee in July 2023.

The Council was still on the path to improving its housing offer, and this can be seen through the consideration of policies such as this, and the fact that the Regulatory Notice had been lifted after three years in special measures.

Having a Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy that people could look at and understand would make it easier to explain to tenants when and why repairs were being carried out.

The following points were raised during debate:

·       Housing officers would not expect their contractors to be ‘cold-calling’ tenants. Contact with tenants would be picked up through contractor meetings where possible.

·       There were a number of properties where adaptations had been made for families with disabilities. The Aids and Adaptations Policy supported this.

·       Housing Overview & Scrutiny had an upcoming agenda item on issues surrounding the Housing Revenue Account. There had also been a series of workshops for members; the next scheduled workshop was on the issue of repairs.