09 03 2005

The Mayor (Councillor Edwards)(ex-officio) (P), Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board (Councillor Hook)(ex-officio) (P), Councillors Burgess (P), Carter (P), Mrs Champion (P), Mrs Cully (P), Davis (P), Foster (P), Gill (P), Philpott (P), Rigg (P) and Mrs Wright (P).

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Board meetings held on 12 January 2005 and 20 January 2005 be approved and signed by the Chairman as true and correct records.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Services Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix ‘A’), which advised Members of the requirement for a formally adopted Housing Renewal Policy in order to implement changes to the home improvement grant system.

 

Members were advised that the 2005–06 Housing Renewal Policy would enable the private sector team to perform the key functions of their roles and that approving additions to the policy would develop the areas in the private sector towards Government objectives. The Government had made it clear that it acknowledged the importance of private sector housing and its effect on the health of the nation, and who should bear responsibility for repairs in that sector.

 

RESOLVED:

 

a)

that Housing Board approve the new draft Housing Renewal Policy for 2005-06;

 

 

b)

that Housing Board recommend to Policy and Organisation Board that the Housing Renewal Policy be formally adopted; and

 

 

c)

that Housing Board delegate to the Housing Services Manager the following items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Services Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix ‘B’), which sought Housing Board approval to dispose of the property known as 21 Ann’s Hill Road from the Housing Stock following a detailed survey of the property and analysis of the Decent Homes standard.

 

Members were advised that the costs of bringing this property up to the Decent Homes Standard (estimated at £55,850) were considered to be prohibitive, however, should the Council place the property on the open market, it would realise an additional capital income which could be used in the provision of social housing elsewhere in the Borough.

 

 

RESOLVED:  That a recommendation be made to the next available meeting of the Policy and Organisation Board that the Housing Services Manager make arrangements, in consultation with the Borough Solicitor and the Head of Property Services, for the disposal of 21 Ann’s Hill Road on the open market.

 

 

CHOICE BASED LETTINGS

 

 

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Services Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix ‘C’), which asked the Board to consider a number of recommendations by the Choice Based Lettings (CBL) Officer Working Group. The recommendations related to the provision of information technology (IT), staffing resources at the final critical stage of the project and closer Member involvement.

 

Members were advised that the introduction of Choice Based Lettings required IT support to enable it to operate effectively. The procurement of the CBL module from IBS, who currently provided the Council’s Housing Management Information System, would have the significant advantage of compatibility with that system. As part of the evaluation process this system had been viewed in operation at two other local authorities that had introduced CBL as part of pilot schemes and had been found to be operating effectively.

 

Members were advised that the Council was seeking reasonable contributions (£7,000) from its four Registered Social Landlord (RSL) partners who would clearly expect, and need to be confident of, robust project management delivery from the Council. The RSLs were currently at various stages of their Board approval processes with regard to contributions. Members were concerned should any of the RSLs not be prepared to commit to the required contributions by the required date. It was agreed that any RSL which did not make the necessary financial contributions by the end of the 2005-06 financial year would be excluded from the Joint Housing Register.

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

a)

the appointment of IBS Ltd. for the supply and installation of a Choice Based Lettings Module to form part of the Housing Management Information System be approved;

 

 

b)

the temporary additional staffing resources to deliver CBL by the target date of April 2006, in accordance with paragraphs 4.9 & 6.0 of the Housing Services Manager’s report, be approved;

 

 

c)

delegated authority to the Housing Services Manager, in consultation with the Housing Board Chairman and Group Housing Spokespersons, to take whatever steps are needed to implement Choice Based Lettings be approved; and

 

 

d)

Registered Social Landlords who do not make the required financial commitment towards Choice Based Lettings by the end of the 2005-06 financial year be excluded from the Joint Housing Register.

 

 

 

 

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Services Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix ‘D’), which set out, and sought approval of, the proposed 2005-06 Housing Repairs Programme.

 

Members were advised that the proposed budget addressed many of the known areas of works required to maintain the housing stock on a day-to-day basis and also brought up the level of non-decent homes stock to the Decent Homes Standard.

 

Members expressed the view that adequate safeguards should be in place to prevent substantial departure from the approved programme and agreed that the 2005-06 Housing Repairs Programme should be subject to the guiding principles laid down by Housing Board at its meeting on 13 March 2002.

 

 

RESOLVED:  That the 2005-06 Housing Repairs Programme be approved subject to the following guiding principles:

 

a)

That Officers be required to seek Board approval to vary the Housing Repairs Programme where work within an identified element of the approved Housing Repairs Programme cannot take place;

 

 

b)

That where urgent works are identified after approval of the Housing Repairs Programme, for which there is no identified provision, Officers in consultation with the Chairman of the Housing Board be permitted to vary the programme for works up to a value of £60,000;

 

 

c)

That where urgent works are identified after approval of the Housing Repairs Programme, for which there is no identified provision, Officers in consultation with the Chairman and other Group Spokespersons be permitted to vary the programme for works between £60,000-£100,000;

 

 

d)

That Officers be required to seek Board approval to vary the approved Housing Repairs Programme where urgent works are identified after approval of the Programme, for which there is no identified provision and the value of these works exceeds £100,000;

 

 

e)

That Officers be required to seek Board approval where work within an identified element of the approved Housing Repairs Programme is going to under or over spend by more than £100,000

 

 

f)

That Members be informed of significant variations to the Programme, as outlined in (a) – (e) above, which are relevant to their Ward.

 

The Chairman expressed his thanks to Members and officers for their work during the 2004-05 Municipal Year.

 

The meeting commenced at 6.00 p.m. and concluded at 6.38 p.m.