Issue - items at meetings - Housing & Social Inclusion Performance report (Quarter 1)

Report of the Head of Housing & Social Inclusion (copy attached).

40.1    The Committee considered a report of the Head of Housing & Social Inclusion which set out the first quarter (April to June) performance report for Housing & Social Inclusion for the financial year 2011-2012.  It adopted a new format for presenting information more clearly than before, and also reported on the service pledge commitments agreed for service areas.

40.2    The Head of Customer Access & Business Improvement presented the report and highlighted some of the achievements. 

40.3    Councillor Peltzer Dunn welcomed the new way of reporting.  He referred to paragraph 3.1.1 in the report.  The % of rechargeable repair debt collected was 4.52%.  However the target was 20%.  He asked why this figure was so poor.  The Head of Customer Access & Business Improvement explained that debt arose when some residents moved out of properties leaving damage and unauthorised works.  Officers were trying to put different measures in place to stop people who had caused damage from moving out of properties.  The money was difficult to collect from people on housing benefits.  Officers were trying to stop the damage happening in the first place.  Meanwhile, it was stressed that the figures were for the first quarter and officers were working hard to prevent a build up of debt.    

40.4    Councillor Peltzer Dunn accepted the explanation and suggested that the figure should say “not year end”.

40.5    Councillor Mears remarked that she could not see any reference to asbestos removal.  She also noted that the report did not have detail about rent collection across the city. 

40.6    The Chair confirmed that asbestos removal would be added to the next performance report.  

40.7    Stewart Gover reported that performance had been discussed at a meeting with Mears Ltd this morning (26/9/11).   The only matter that he argued about was the satisfaction rate.  A 95% satisfaction rate was recorded from a response of 25%.   It could be said that 70% were not satisfied.  He had asked for this matter to be sorted out.

40.8    Ted Harman referred to tenant satisfaction with repairs in paragraph 3.3.0 of the report.  He stressed that not all tenants were satisfied.  The report did not state how many people were surveyed.  The same applied to percentage of repairs completed right first time. 

40.9    The Chair suggested that raw figures should be put in an appendix in the future.

40.10  RESOLVED – (1) That the report and the above comments be noted.