Agenda item

Councillor Diarmaid Ward, Executive Member for Housing and Development, introduced the quarterly performance report.

The following main points were noted in the discussion:

·         Members were informed of two new indicators to be reported quarterly; the number of affordable homes completed by developers and the total number of affordable homes. Members were advised that the Council is on target of building 1900 new homes by 2022, of which 550 will be Council homes. Members were reminded that the supply of homes is secured through its S106 legal agreements with developers.

·         The Executive Member advised that the first time fixes of 81% was below the 85% target however the Council continues to aim to do better.

·         With regards to the rent arrears of 2.9%, the meeting was advised that this was solely due to the impact of the implementation of the Universal credit.

·         On the issue of homelessness, the meeting was informed that the council is meeting its objective to reduce homelessness through its partnership working and the Trailblazer initiative, however members were reminded that the funding received from central government was limited.  Meeting was advised that insufficient supply of affordable housing and the removal of assured short-hold tenancies in the private sector such as housing associations still remain the reasons for an increase in homelessness and only a change in government policy would result in an improvement.

·         Members were advised that the Homeless Reduction Act has resulted in additional duties and responsibility on local authorities without additional funding support.

·         Members were informed of the success of the multi skill training of the operatives, a positive initiative which well received by both the operatives as a career development and by residents.

·         Meeting was informed that the Council currently has 6 apprentices and 2 new trainee surveyors with emphasis on local residents.
 

·         In response to the Chair request for a detailed report on the 19 % of repair works that required multiple visits by operatives and the reasons, the Executive Member for Housing indicated that he would look into this and report back.

·         In terms of affordable homes, the Executive Member advised that affordable is a statutory definition which the council does not recognise. In terms of the Council’s planning permissions any development planned, of the 50% described as affordable, 35% must be genuinely affordable for social or council rent and the rest intermediate housing such as shared ownership.

·         With regards to concerns about housing associations in the borough disposing their housing assets and using the proceeds to build homes in other parts of the country, the Executive Member Housing reassured members that the council would only dispose assets that were in a serious in a state of disrepair and would expect similar standards but had no control in how they manage their assets. The Executive Member Housing informed that he would be raise this issue with representatives of Clarion Housing and seeking their explanation.

·         On the issue of damp and mould, Councillor Russell mentioned a project that the GLA and a RSL had been involved in to address this issue and would circulate the details to Officers.

·         The meeting was informed that despite reassurances received from the Managing Director of Partners Improvement at the last committee meeting in February, neither him or any of his senior management team attended the leaseholders forum meeting held which was held in March.

RESOLVED:
That the progress to the end of quarter 2 against key performance indicators be noted.