Issue - items at meetings - Housing & Social Inclusion Performance Report Quarter 1 2012/13

Report of the Strategic Director, Place

25.1 The Sub Committee considered the Housing and Social Inclusion Performance report for Quarter 1 for the financial year 2012-13.

25.2 Councillor Shanks thanked officers for the report and was very pleased to note the impressive statistics. Councillor Shanks asked how the authority compared with other authorities. The Sub Committee was informed that officers were looking to provided bench mark information for the next year end report.

25.3 Councillor Mears referred to paragraph 3.3 and noted that the target for rent collection was 98.75% and suggested that the target should be 100%. Officers agreed that the aspiration should be to collect 100% of rent, but accepted that that would never be possible. Rent collection was excellent and the target was set at 98.75% in order to give staff a manageable figure to achieve. 

25.4 Councillor Mears referred to appendix 1 to the report, and noted that there was one property in Hangleton and Knoll which had been empty for 630 days and asked why it had not been transferred to the Local Delivery Vehicle. Officers advised that the property required substantial repairs and had not been suitable for transfer to Seaside Homes.

25.5 Mr Crowhurst referred to paragraph 3.5 and for clarification on whether the percentage of appointments kept, were those kept by Mears or by tenants. Officers confirmed it was the percentage of appointments kept by Mears.

25.6 Councillor Robins noted that the tables in the report had a column for ‘Service Pledge’, and asked what that referred to. Officers advised that following consultation with tenants a few years ago, the authority had made a pledge that certain things would be undertaken. It was agree that a list of those pledges would be circulated to members of the Sub Committee.

25.7 Mr Kent referred to the level of rent collected and asked how quickly tenants are advised if they were in arrears. Officers advised that an initial letter would be sent when two weeks after monies were due, and then a follow up letter after four weeks.

25.8  RESOLVED

That the Housing Management Consultative Sub Committee note the report.