Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to the report (at pages 112 - 114) as delivered and summarised by the Housing Services Manager which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Chair expressed his preference to remain in the current Leicestershire Choice Based Lettings Partnership (LCBLP) and stated that an independent system would potentially create long-term issues and increased overheads. He said that the allocations policy had been previously amended to provide much needed flexibility.

Councillor D M Carter opined that it was preferable to opt for a new or independent in order to reduce ongoing running costs yet sought to clarify with Housing Services Manager his preference.

The Housing Services Manager advised that any given option resolved by Members was workable. He stated that an upgrade to version 8 of the existing software included much sought-after functionality demanded by service-users, of which the upgrade costs were appealing to other partners but entertained higher running costs vis-a-vis the higher start-up costs of a new system entertaining lower running costs.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris enquired as to: how proven the software upgrade to version 8 was; if the upgrade has been rigorously tested by the Council; if Members were minded to resolve an independent system, had a quote been obtained in respect of the migration of system data; and whether there was sufficient budgetary allocation to realise the software transformation and proper implementation timeframes.

The Housing Services Manager advised that significant assurances had been provided by the existing software provider who had soft-marketed the more modern-looking software upgrade to demonstrate its added functionality. It was noted however that it was Officers responsibility to ensure optimum system performance who were keen to move to a smarter-technology solution within a two-year process. He said that a detailed specification and reality-testing of the application would be completed at a later stage and that the move would require robust forward-planning and a dialogue with all partners. The Housing Services Manager advised that the housing register for this Borough was relatively small (430) and that data could either be exported from the system at minimal or no expense or service-users’ asked to simply re-register. The figures detailed in the report were said to be base costs, excluding possible negotiated amendments by the LCBLP which would attract additional overheads. He confirmed that sufficient budgetary allocation did exist.

Councillor Mrs H E Loydall moved and amended the substantive recommendation at paragraph 2.3 of the report (at page 112) to ‘In the event the partnership cannot be maintained or if the timetable cannot be achieved, that the Senior Management Team in conjunction with the Chair and Vice-Chair of this Committee be granted delegated authority to form a smaller partnership or to pursue independent action’ (emphasis added).

Councillor K J Loydall seconded the recommendation as amended.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

In the event the partnership cannot be maintained or if the timetable cannot be achieved, that the Senior Management Team in conjunction with the Chair and Vice-Chair of this Committee be granted delegated authority to form a smaller partnership or to pursue independent action.