Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 21 - 31) as delivered and summarised by Interim Community Services Manager, together with the supplementary agenda update (at page 1), which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Interim Community Services Manager directed Members’ attention to particularly significant and noteworthy sections and paragraphs contained in the report. With reference to voids at paragraph 4 (at page 23), he added that a weekly-review process had been implemented to monitor the same and an update report detailing a comprehensive assessment of property voids was to brought to the next meeting of this Committee on 22 March 2016.

With reference to future development and purchase opportunities at paragraph 11 (at page 26), the Chair opined that it was not advisable to enter into competition with the local Housing Association (HA) in terms of a “bidding war” for the provision of social and affordable housing. He welcomed the possibility of development and, or, purchase opportunities at Station Road, Wigston and Canal Street, South Wigston and suggested that a feasibility study be undertaken to assess the latter option.

With reference to the Housing Related Advice (HRA) services at paragraph 12 (at page 27), Councillor D M Carter enquired as to whether it was possible to distinguish between those providers that operated inside vis-a-vis outside the Borough.

The Interim Community Services Manager advised that of the nine known providers, Age UK, Christians Against Poverty, Helping Hands (HH), the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and the Red Cross had facilities accessible from within the Borough whereas Shelter, Housing Aid, The Bridge, Research Projects and the Saffron Resource Centre operated from Leicester City. He stated that the joint-initiative to use HH and the CAB would ensure the improved delivery of advisory services to Borough residents.

With reference to the Choice-Based Lettings (CBL) statutory consultation at paragraph 13 (at page 27), Councillor J W Boyce sought to clarify that the ‘Resident Forums’ referred to the Housing Resident Forum and not the three, Community Resident Forums.

With reference to voids at paragraph 4 (at page 23), Councillor J W Boyce questioned the “average” lengh of the void turnaround time (i.e. excluding the major works exceptions) and requested that greater clarity was needed.

The Interim Community Services Manager stated that the subject of clarity was, in part, a reporting issue inasmuch as lengthy void periods (for the reasons aforementioned) counted against any meaningful average. He added that the facility did exist statistically exclude the same and that the Housing Options Team had been tasked to improve this reporting mechanism. He noted that the turnaround times were greater than ideally anticipated and that new initiatives were to be implemented (viz. quicker maintenance, earlier advertisement during completion of works etc.) in order to substantially reduce this. He further stated that the implications stemming from a low-demand for sheltered accommodation were to be addressed through the multiple-offer provisions(s) as allowed by the CBL scheme.

With reference to gas safety at paragraph 5 (at page 24), Councillor J W Boyce reiterated the a 100% compliance rate was the only acceptable figure and that more pro-active steps ought to be taken as soon as reasonably practicable to minimise any prolonged periods where such is not the case. The Member agreed with the Chair insofar avoiding competition with the local HA. He noted that any proposed redevelopment at Canal Street entertained significant risk given the building’s approximate 30-year vacancy, suggesting that it may well be prudent to reopen the process to identify any third-parties interested in redeveloping the site in order mitigate the implications thereof as may be otherwise assumed by the Council.

With reference to HRA services, the Member further requested that a quantum of need vis-a-vis provision required mapping. With reference to Disabled Facility Grants (DFG’s) at paragraph 14 (at page 27), he emphasised the need to be clear in respect of reporting back from the Lightbulb Project and under which defined circumstances. With reference to warden services at paragraph 16 (page 28), the Member stated that ongoing assessments ought to be undertaken to continually re/evaluate and address the ever-changing vulnerabilities faced by those residents affected.

The Interim Community Services Manager reported that he and the Chief Executive were to meet imminently with HH and CAB in order to establish a needs-analysis for advisory services within the Borough, together with a performance-assessment matrix and a method to record footfall. It was said that a process would be undertaken to identify any potential third-party developers for Canal Street.

Councillor L A Bentley agreed with the Chair and Councillor J W Boyce with regards to the means to provide more social and affordable housing within the Borough and endorsed the equity-sharing arrangements incorporated therein in order to better stimulate home ownership. The Member further enquired as to whether a Council-backed bond under any Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) indemnifying any later identified land propitiator of Canal Street site was financially-viable.

The Interim Community Services Manager advised that he was mindful of this implication and that the same would feature in the feasibility study to be conducted.

Councillor K J Loydall emphasised the importance of multi-agency partnership work as part of any advisory services framework so to better signpost service-users within the Borough.

Councillor Ms A R Bond enquired as to the frequency and location of the proposed drop-in surgeries for residents affected by Housing Related Support (HRS) remodel and whether Members were entitled to attend residents’ advice sessions. She further requested that Members be informed as to the surgery dates once scheduled.

The Interim Community Services Manager reported that one-weekly surgery session was to be hosted at William Peardon Court, Wigston, and Chartwell and Marriott Houses, Oadby respectively, with an open invitation extended to those tenants living in dispersed bungalows. It was advised that residents and Members alike would be informed accordingly once the logistical arrangements were finalised, the responsible Housing Support Officers had received the appropriate training and their obtaining job descriptions revised and approved.

The Chair advised that Members would strictly be entitled to attend residents’ advice sessions subject to the discretion of individual residents.

Councillor Ms A R Bond enquired as to the future development and purchase opportunity at Chartwell House, Oadby at paragraph 11 (at page 26).

The Interim Community Services Manager advised that a number of sites were currently being investigated, including Chartwell House and the possibility for the opening-up of a green-field site from the demolition of the garages sited thereat.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The report be noted by Members.