Issue - meetings

(Report Ref SC047)

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that scrutiny committee comment on the proposals within the attached cabinet report, ref CAB3308 which is to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on the 21 July 2021.

Scrutiny report reference: SC047

Cabinet report reference: CAB3308

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management and the Strategic Director provided the committee with an overview of the contents of the report. Mr Botham also confirmed that the report had been presented in detail to TACT where several questions had been raised and that he had informally met with most members of the committee recently to discuss this report and that the notes of that meeting would be included with these minutes.

The committee asked several questions concerning; tenant consultation during the pandemic, the use of digital surveys, overcoming issues of digital exclusion, void property trends, private rental property availability, welfare fund funding arrangements, bathroom and kitchen replacement policy, external envelope works budget and the Barton Farm extra care scheme. The questions were responded to by officers and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management.

RESOLVED:

The committee agreed to the following:

·         that the comments of the committee be noted by cabinet

·         that the committee request that the City Council continue to be a party to the discussions with CALA and Hampshire County Council regarding the extra care scheme within the Kings Barton development

that in the first instance officers consider how an assessment could be undertaken into the availability of private rented accommodation and its impact on residents.

1.      That the provisional HRA Outturn figures for 2020/21 be noted, these are provisional subject to audit as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report CAB3308;

2.      That the carry forward of £0.044m of HRA revenue funding from 2020/21 be approved as detailed in Paragraph 11.4 of report CAB3308;

3.      That the Housing capital programme outturn for Major Works and New Build developments be approved as detailed in Paragraphs 11.5 to 11.8 and Appendices 3 & 4 of report CAB3308;

4.      That the funding of the 2020/21 HRA capital programme be approved as detailed in Paragraph 11.9 & 11.10 and Appendix 5 of report CAB3308;

5.      That the re-forecast capital programme budget of £28.402m for 2021/22 be approved as detailed in Paragraphs 11.12 & 11.13 and Appendix 6 & 7 of report CAB3308 that takes account of potential programme slippage;

6.      That the drawdown of £0.412m of the agreed £0.500m HRA reserve balances set aside to fund the specific welfare support initiatives be approved as identified in paragraph 12 of report CAB3308 over the next two years. Which was agreed by full Council to provide additional targeted support for tenants during this difficult period. This includes the appointment of two temporary full time tenancy sustainment officers and one temporary admin support for a period of up to 24 months to provide the needed additional capacity to deliver these support measures.

Councillor Learney introduced the report and stated that David Light (Chair of TACT) had raised a number of points at Scrutiny Committee on 19 July 2021, including the matter also raised by Monica Gill earlier in the Cabinet meeting and responded to by the Strategic Director.  Councillor Learney also responded to the request made by Mr Light that conventional council houses be prioritised within the new homes building programme.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Horrill addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Emphasised the importance of the report being considered in detail at a future Scrutiny Committee and asked a number of detailed questions relating to the housing service provided by the HRA.  These included possible staffing shortfalls, delays in the expenditure of the disabled adaptations grant and the proposed response to the County Council’s budget consultation.

Councillor Learney and the Strategic Director responded to the comments made including confirming that the report would be submitted to a future Scrutiny Committee.  The Leader also stated that she had responded on behalf of the Council to the County Council consultation and would make a copy of the response available to all Members.

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

RESOLVED:

1.            That the provisional HRA Outturn figures for 2020/21 be noted, these are provisional subject to audit as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report CAB3308;

2.            That the carry forward of £0.044m of HRA revenue funding from 2020/21 be approved as detailed in Paragraph 11.4 of report CAB3308;

3.            That the Housing capital programme outturn for Major Works and New Build developments be approved as detailed in Paragraphs 11.5 to 11.8 and Appendices 3 & 4 of report CAB3308;

4.            That the funding of the 2020/21 HRA capital programme be approved as detailed in Paragraph 11.9 & 11.10 and Appendix 5 of report CAB3308;

5.            That the re-forecast capital programme budget of £28.402m for 2021/22 be approved as detailed in Paragraphs 11.12 & 11.13 and Appendix 6 & 7 of report CAB3308 that takes account of potential programme slippage;

6.            That the drawdown of £0.412m of the agreed £0.500m HRA reserve balances set aside to fund the specific welfare support initiatives be approved as identified in paragraph 12 of report CAB3308 over the next two years. Which was agreed by full Council to provide additional targeted support for tenants during this difficult period. This includes the appointment of two temporary full time tenancy sustainment officers and one temporary admin support for a period of up to 24 months to provide the needed additional capacity to deliver these support measures.