Issue - meetings

This report:

•        Provides context for the social housing sector and the new standards with which the service is measured;

•        Outlines current performance levels against a range of standards including tenants perception and compliance data; and,

•        Outlines priorities and targets for this year, providing an opportunity for Executive and council house tenants to scrutinise performance.

Resolved –

a)            Notes the current performance levels across the Council’s landlord services and the proactive approach to working alongside the Regulator of Social Housing.

b)            Approves the priorities for 2025-26 as highlighted within the report and summarised in Annex C to the report. Notes the related performance targets, seeking to deliver further improvements to the quality of service provided for council house tenants.

c)             Approves the adoption of a new Responsive Repairs Policy for Tenants of Council Houses included in Annex A to the report.

d)            Approves the 2025-26 capital programme contained in Annex B to the report.

e)            Approves the principles of the Neighbourhood Investment Programme (paragraph 23 to the report), allowing the service to respond more effectively to the priorities of council house tenants. Notes that further details will be included in the Neighbourhood Model report to be considered by Executive this summer.

The Director of Housing and Communities submitted a report which provided the following:

·        The context for the social housing sector and the new standards with which the service was measured;

·        Current performance levels against a range of standards, which included tenants’ perception and compliance data; and

·        Priorities and targets for the year, providing an opportunity for Executive and council house tenants to scrutinise performance.

The following information was appended to the report for members’ information:

-      Responsive Repairs Policy for Tenants of Council Houses

-      2025-26 Capital Investment Programme

-      Summary of Priorities for 2025-26

-      Tenants Satisfaction Survey Results

-      Equalities Impact Assessment.

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to members’ questions and comments:

-      Pauline Stuchfield, Director of Housing and Communities; and

-      Vicky Japes, Head of Housing Strategy and Performance.

Questions and comments were invited and the key areas of discussion were as follows:

·        Reference was made to key performance indicators (KPIs) and the need to include more detailed historic data to assess the level of performance across key areas in relation to tenant satisfaction. Officers advised that the report contained information and data to be submitted to the regulator and that this was the first year a report had been produced for this purpose.  The findings were to be shared with all housing staff and tenants.

·        The Executive Member reported that the report highlighted tangible improvements that had been made in relation to building services and housing management. It was acknowledged that there had been an increased level of scrutiny by the regulator, which was welcomed. Progress had been made in relation to the level of repairs completed on the first visit, time taken to complete repairs, and the turnaround time for empty properties to re-let. Stock condition surveys had assisted with identifying further work that was required.

Resolved (unanimously) –

a)           Noted the current performance levels across the Council’s landlord services and the proactive approach to working alongside the Regulator of Social Housing.

b)           Approved the priorities for 2025-26 as highlighted within the report and summarised in Annex C to the report. Noted the related performance targets, seeking to deliver further improvements to the quality of service provided for council house tenants.

c)           Approved the adoption of a new Responsive Repairs Policy for Tenants of Council Houses included in Annex A to the report.

d)           Approved the 2025-26 capital programme contained in Annex B to the report.

e)           Approved the principles of the Neighbourhood Investment Programme (paragraph 23 to the report), allowing the service to respond more effectively to the priorities of council house tenants. Noted that further details will be included in the Neighbourhood Model report to be considered by Executive this summer.