Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 18 - 66) as delivered and summarised by the Interim Community Services Manager which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Interim Community Services Manager advised Members to note that the year’s referenced in recommendations 2.1.a, 2.1.b and 2.1.d of the report (at page 18) were to read ‘2016/17’ as opposed to ‘2015/16’.

The Interim Community Services Manager added that the Community Flat at Boulter Crescent, Wigston had now been completed and returned to normal use since Thursday 30 June and that the concrete repairs and external decoration at Chartwell House, Oadby was currently out to tender. He reported that of 58 new homes at Kirkdale Road, South Wigston, 48 were affordable homes for rent and 15 were shared-ownership properties. He confirmed, in addition, that Longhurst Housing Association had since reached an agreement with the site developers at Station Road, Wigston regarding the affordable housing element of the scheme which would provide 8 shared ownership properties and 10 affordable homes for rent. It was said that regular meetings were to be held with the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Helping  Community Trust to monitor their performance in respect of advisory services which would be reported back to Members at a subsequent meeting of this Committee.

The Housing Services Manager reported that homelessness was on the increase within the Borough due to an increasing reduction in the availability of private tenancies and higher private-sector rents. The Homelessness Strategy was said to include a number of initiatives to alleviate homelessness levels and associated costs thereof to the Council. It was said that, if Members were minded to endorse the Strategy, a consultation period would follow with the Council’s partners and that the Strategy would be brought back thereafter to a subsequent meeting of this Committee.

The Chair advised Members that a grievance had been submitted against LCC in respect of its £1.3m top-slicing of the BCF (DFG’s). It was said that only this Council and one other Council had raised an objection. He further raised a concern that LCC could potentially top-slice again the award for 2019-2020 and that this Council was not to set a precedent to progressively top-up significant short-falls.

Councillor K J Loydall requested that information be sought from LCC as to why a top-slicing had occurred, what County-wide projects the remainder sum had been invested in and if the outcome of the investment(s) was directly attributable to the residents of the Borough. The Member further requested Officers to gauge the response of consultees regarding fair rent regulations as part of the Homelessness Strategy consultation process.

The Chair reiterated that it was resolved at a previous meeting of this Committee (or its predecessor) that the Lease for the rooftop telecommunication site at Chartwell House, Oadby was not to be renewed and, consequently, the equipment removed. He further requested that policy work be undertaken to assess the viability of the re-introduction of terrace-house refurbishment grants.

Councillors Miss A R Bond and R H Thakor enquired as to whether communication signals would be affected in the Borough area in the event of the equipment’s removal and if an alternative site had been identified.

The Interim Community Services Manger advised that the Member’s enquiry was of no material consideration to this Council and that health and wellbeing of the Borough’s residents was its primary concern. He stated that, if Members were minded not to extend the Lease, negotiations may well be forthcoming with the Site Operator (EE Limited) to identify an alternative site within the Borough.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris asked whether enquires were made by this Council to ensure that services were provided by Housing Associations (HA’s) from tenant-funded association sink funds.

The Interim Community Services Manager advised that the Council had no jurisdiction over such matters and that HA’s were directly accountable to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Councillor Mrs H E Loydall commended the reductions achieved in tenant arrears and asked whether the reductions were on par with other Leicester/shire District and Borough Councils. She further commended the Homelessness Strategy.

The Interim Community Services Manager advised that benchmarking exercises were consistent for reporting purposes across Leicester/shire’s Councils.

Councillor Mrs H E Loydall moved the recommendations en bloc set out at paragraphs 2.1. to 2.1.f. (at page 18) and moved and amended  the substantive recommendation at paragraph 2.1.g. to not extend the Lease for the rooftop telecommunication site at Chartwell House, Oadby and, consequently, for the telecommunications equipment sited thereon to be removed.

Councillor D M Carter seconded the recommendations as amended.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)           The contents of the report be noted by Members;

(ii)          The current tenant gross arrears target for 2016/17 of 2.5% of the annual rent debit be approved;

(iii)         A former tenant arrears target for 2016/17 of 1.5% of the annual rent debit be approved;

(iv)         The revised Former Tenants Arrears Policy be approved;

(v)          A void turnaround time for 2016/17 of 20 working days be approved;

(vi)         The Homelessness Strategy be approved;

(vii)       the Energy Conservation Strategy and the proposed external wall insulation works arising from the Strategy be approved; and

(viii)      The Lease for the rooftop telecommunication site at Chartwell House, Oadby not be extended and, consequently, for the telecommunications equipment sited thereon to be removed.