Agenda item

Report Ref: BHP021 and CAB3264

RECOMMENDATIONS:

It is recommended that the Policy Committee comment on the priorities and principles of the HRA Asset Management Strategy:

a)    The Asset Management Strategy’s overall outcomes (Section 11.3)

b)    The criteria for disposals and acquisition. Where an asset is identified in the first instance as being surplus to requirements that it be appraised through an options appraisal and an asset is assessed for purchase using the acquisition eligibility criteria. (Section 16.4)

c)    The proposal to fund the provision of fire door sets to leasehold properties in the medium rise flats at Winnall (Section 16.2)

(Report Ref BHP021 and CAB3264)

The Corporate Head of Housing introduced the report and provided the committee with an overview of the rationale of producing the strategy and its key aspects. Members were advised that its purpose was to ensure the council made the best use of its housing stock for current and future housing needs. The three big challenges for the council’s housing stock were summarised as the safety of homes, reducing carbon emissions of homes, and increasing the supply of local, affordable homes. The Corporate Head of Housing advised that the strategy would be presented to Cabinet in 2022 and officers sought the committee's views regarding the priorities and principles of the HRA Asset Management Strategy and specifically

a)    The Asset Management Strategy’s overall outcomes (section 11.3 of the report)

b)    The criteria for disposals and acquisitions. Where an asset was identified in the first instance as being surplus to requirements that it be appraised through an options appraisal and an asset was assessed for purchase using the acquisition eligibility criteria. (section 16.4 of the report)

c)    The proposal to fund the provision of fire door sets to leasehold properties in the medium-rise flats at Winnall (section 16.2 of the report)

The committee asked questions on a range of subjects including:

·         whether there was adequate provision to meet the costs for retrofit of energy efficiency & carbon reduction measures. 

·         clarifying the policy regarding the needs of older persons and accessible bathrooms.  

·         concern over the ability to acquire and/or develop sites in rural areas. 

·         liaising with South Down National Park Authority (SDNPA) concerning the availability of land. 

·         creating green and open spaces to form part of this strategy. 

·         consideration to be given to buying land to assist with nitrate mitigation. 

·         did the strategy make specific reference to climate change challenges?

·         demand levels increasing above expected numbers following the next intake of students with the University of Southampton.

·         within the disposal criteria, what action would we take on a property that we were disposing of because of the costs to improve its carbon efficiency were too great?

·         within the disposal criteria, the criteria that refers to “unsuitable for future needs of the council” – could this be amended to also say “and also couldn’t be made suitable for future needs of the council”? 

·         whether in rural areas that housing allocation and local demand be closer aligned to local need.

·         awareness of schemes and models that had the potential for external partners to forward fund carbon reduction measures within new build properties.

·         balancing the requests for adaptations that may give rise to cases of under occupancy.

·         the current housing provision and support for older residents with mental health issues.

On the specific proposal regarding fire doors at Winnall, the following questions and comments were made:

·         what are the obligations of leaseholders?

·         is this approach being undertaken elsewhere in the district?

·         why is WCC prioritising the medium rise blocks at Winnall?

·         what is the value of the door?

·         what are the disadvantages of an updated lease - could the benefits of the updated lease be added to the cabinet paper?

·         could the door be changed even if an invitation to vary the lease was declined?

The questions were responded to by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Service Quality and officers accordingly.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the Cabinet Member and officers note the comments of the committee

b)    that the overall outcomes of the strategy were noted, and specific reference was made to the importance and challenges of the retrofit programme and how this could kickstart activity in the private sector

c)    that the criteria for disposals and acquisition were noted with specific reference being made to the importance of bathroom replacements

d)    that the committee had general support for the proposal to fund fire doors as outlined in the report