Agenda item

Cabinet Member for Housing to update the Committee.

The Cabinet Member for Housing gave an overview of the matters that had come before the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee since it had been created following the Council Annual General Meeting in May 2023.    Issues that the Committee had covered included:

Policies on Housing Repairs and Maintenance, HRA Disposal and Acquisition, Total Housing Compliance, Private Sector Housing Houses of Multiple Occupation Licensing Policy, Anti-Social Behaviour, Tenancy Management, Estate Management and the Housing Allocations Policy.

Choice Based Lettings had been implemented which allowed tenants to bid on properties that suited them and enabled them to track their bid on line and see where they were placed on the property short list.  The Cabinet Member for Housing stated that it was a really good system which gave tenants a realistic view of where they were when bidding on a property.

The Cabinet Member for Housing stated that at least 380 void properties had been completed during the 12 months that the Committee had been running. 

Twenty-two properties had been purchased which included 21 properties funded from the Local Authority Housing Fund.  Nine properties were currently being purchased, eight of which were funded from the second tranche of Local Authority Housing Fund.  New build schemes were starting at Swinegate, Grantham and Elizabeth Road, Stamford which would deliver 24 more properties.   Planning Permission had been granted for a development scheme at Larch Close, Grantham for 20 properties.  Recent approval had been granted to purchase 36 units over the next three years at Corby Glen.   The total number of properties came to 112, in the previous five years only 47 new units had been purchased or built.

The Cabinet Member for Housing then spoke about the Regulatory Compliance and listed figures for:

·             Asbestos Inspections – 259 – legal requirement

·             Fire Risk Assessments – 147 on blocks and schemes within communal areas – legal requirement

·             Fire Prioritisation tool reports – 147 on the same blocks and schemes within communal areas

·             Compartmentalisation Fire Service – 147 this was in addition to what was required under compliance regulations

The results were informing the Compartmentalisation Programme which was currently being undertaken with 50 schemes programmed for completion later in the year.

The Gas reporting position would be discussed in the Regulatory Compliance agenda item.

Twenty-six lift inspection had been carried out, two inspections per lift, Legionella inspections were on a two year cycle and this was not a reporting year. Thirty-three locations would be tested for Legionella next year.

Clarification was sought in respect of Compartmentalisation to which the Heath, Safety and Compliance Manager responded that it was connected to fire safety and looked at lofts, gaps in doors etc that could be sectioned off to prevent fire spreading and was done in addition to the legal requirements for fire risk assessments.

A question was asked about the number of properties sold under the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme during the past year to which the Director of Housing stated that 25 properties had been sold under the scheme.  A further question was asked about the total number of properties sold under the RTB scheme to which the Director of Housing stated that she would have to look at what figures were held by the Council and report back to the Committee at the next meeting.

One Member asked the Cabinet Member for Housing whether or not she thought that housing was in a good position as he felt that was not the case and made reference to voids, housing repairs and projects currently being undertaken.

The Cabinet Member for Housing stated that the Housing Section was in a better position than it had been and although it was not perfect it was improving to the position that it had been in.  If the Member had a specific query, then he should email her directly.

Another Member made reference to the challenges that had faced the Housing Department due to staff shortages and the lack of a director for a period of time and was encouraged that the department was in a better position than it had been.

The Chairman echoed the comments made and thanked the Officers for the work that they had done on the ground over the last 12 months.