Issue - meetings

1.      That it be noted that HQN have been commissioned to assess the Landlord Service against the Consumer Standards.

2.      That the Consumer Standards service improvement plan/s be agreed, as set out in Appendix A of the report.

Councillor Reach and the Tenancy Services Manager introduced the report which provided an update following the council’s self-referral to the Social Housing Regulator in April 2025.

Councillor Reach welcomed the two TACT Board members present, Lyn Mellish and Sandra Salter, and it was confirmed the TACT Board has been interviewed as part of the self-referral process and follow up.

The Tenancy Services Manager, Corporate Head and Strategic Director responded to questions and comments raised by councillors as summarised below:

a)    A question was asked concerning the primary barriers remaining that prevented the council from achieving a C1 rating.

b)    Further clarification was sought regarding the specific measurable improvements expected within the next six months.

c)    Information was requested regarding the quality and completeness of property, tenant, and household data.

d)    Further details were sought on the strategy being developed to improve the insight held by the council concerning the occupants of its homes.

e)    A question was asked concerning the data gap identified in relation to stock condition surveys.

f)      Further clarification was sought regarding how the council supported staff morale and managed the pace of change required to meet regulatory standards.

g)    Information was requested regarding the integration of net-zero targets and environmental considerations within the improvement plan.

h)    A question was asked regarding the likely date of the next formal inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing.

i)      Further clarification was sought on whether progress against the improvement plan would be reported in a broader context to the committee and the TACT board.

j)      Information was requested regarding the frequency of future performance reports to be brought before the committee.

Councillor Reach expressed his thanks to Lin Mellish for all her work over previous years as a member of the TACT Board.

The Cabinet Committee agreed the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the report. 

RESOLVED:

1.              That it be noted that HQN have been commissioned to assess the Landlord Service against the Consumer Standards.

2.              That the Consumer Standards service improvement plan/s be agreed, as set out in Appendix A of the report.