Agenda item

This report provides an update on the Housing Neighbourhood Improvement Programme (NIP) and seeks approval to engage members and communities in proposals for spending NIP annual funding, and approval of NIP HRA funded projects and expenditure as outlined in the report.

Resolved: That the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities:

i.      Approved the approach for engaging members and communities in proposals for spending NIP (Housing Neighbourhood Improvement Programme) annual funding.

ii.     Approved the NIP HRA (Housing Revenue Account) funded projects and expenditure as follows:

·       £10k initial funding to the Groves Residents Association in relation to the Groves Community Plan, resulting proposals to inform future NIP funding proposals;

·       £250k for Walmgate Proposals priorities;

·       To delegate the procurement of a condition survey of all housing communal areas to Director of Housing & Communities (to maximum contribution of £32k)

·       £30k contribution to an additional E-van for Communities team environment officers,

·       £40k Fund for Communities team environment officers/Neighbourhood Caretakers for community involvement equipment and to undertake repairs arising from walkabouts.

·       £40k contingency for off-programme ad hoc proposals delegated to Director of Housing & Communities in consultation the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities documented by published officer decision.

iii.   Delegated authority to the Director of Housing and Communities, in consultation with Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Governance:

·       To commence procurement from the market via an open, fair and transparent competitive process and evaluation criteria in compliance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules under Appendix 11 of the Council’s Constitution (the “Council’s CPRs”) and (where applicable) the Procurement Act 2023 or the Public Contract Regulations 2015:

o   the condition survey of all housing communal areas;

o   an additional E-van for Communities Team environment officers; and

o   any community involvement equipment for Communities Team Environment Officers and Community Caretakers and any required repair works arising from walkabouts,

·       and to determine the provisions of any contracts, and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto.

iv.   Approved that the Council would enter into a grant funding agreement with the Groves Residents Association on the terms set out in the Report, and to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Governance, to determine the provisions of the grant funding agreement, and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto, to ensure compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, the Council’s Financial Regulations under Appendix 10a of the Council’s Constitution (the “Council’s Financial Regs”) and the Council’s CPRs.

v.    Delegated authority to the Director of Housing & Communities, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Governance, and subject to consultation with and approval by the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities, to commission and determine the provisions of any grant funding agreements and/or supply, services and/or works contracts relating to any off programme ad hoc proposals and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto, to ensure compliance with the relevant public procurement or subsidy control law (as applicable) and the Council’s CPRs and Financial Regs, to be documented by published officer decision.

Reasons:

i.      To ensure transparency and clear decision making around the NIP budget priorities and use of HRA expenditure for the benefit of council tenants.

ii.     To ensure all grant funding arrangements are in compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, the Council’s Financial Regs and the Council’s CPRs.