Issue - items at meetings - Sheltered housing stock review

Report of the Executive Director for Environment Development & Housing (copy attached).

(1)      That it be agreed in principal to convert up to 235 studios into one bedroom flats, wherever possible, subject to the required budget approvals, at the same time meeting the Lifetime Homes standard as far as possible. This proposal is included in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Investment programme2015-2018 proposals also presented to this Committee.

(2)      That the principle of de-commissioning (closing) a small number of sheltered schemes which cannot be made fit for purpose be agreed, re-designating them for alternative clients groups, or agreeing to redevelop the sites (subject to 2.3).

(3)      That it is noted that business case reports will be brought to Housing Committee on a case by case basis, where recommendations will be made on specific schemes which should be de-commissioned.  Each report will include plans for tenant consultation and for the sensitive rehousing of tenants, requesting Housing committee’s agreement for officers to consult the affected tenants. The results of the consultation will be fed back to a subsequent housing committee for a decision on the future of the scheme.

(4)      That it be noted that a 10 year cyclical programme for upgrading internal communal and external decoration will be created from 2015/16.

(5)    That it is noted that a budget to address access issues in communal areas (e.g. ramps and stair lifts) is created.

59.1   The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director  Environment, Development and Housing which reported on the outcome of the Sheltered Housing Stock Review and made property based recommendations to ensure the council’s sheltered housing remains fit for purpose into the future and continued to support the City housing strategy in meeting the housing needs of older people.  The report was presented by the Housing Stock Review Manager.

59.2   Councillor Mears stated that she wanted to highlight conversations that had taken place in the defunct Adult Social Care Committee around the conversion of 30 sheltered housing units to extra care units. This cost 1.6m in the first year and 4K in the second year, totalling 2m.  This was a deficit within Adult Social Care carried forward as the work was not carried out.  Councillor Mears felt that the current report was trying to address the deficit in Adult Social Care.

59.3   Councillor Meadows suggested that recommendation 2.1 be amended to say agreed in principle.  She was concerned about what agreement would mean at a later date, for example in June 2015.  Councillor Meadows agreed and supported the comments of tenants expressed in section 6 of the report.

59.4   RESOLVED - (1) That it be agreed in principle to convert up to 235 studios into one bedroom flats, wherever possible, subject to the required budget approvals, at the same time meeting the Lifetime Homes standard as far as possible. This proposal is included in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Investment programme 2015-2018 proposals also presented to this Committee.

(2)      That the principle of de-commissioning (closing) a small number of sheltered schemes which cannot be made fit for purpose be agreed, re-designating them for alternative clients groups, or agreeing to redevelop the sites (subject to 2.3).

(3)      That it is noted that business case reports will be brought to Housing Committee on a case by case basis, where recommendations will be made on specific schemes which should be de-commissioned.  Each report will include plans for tenant consultation and for the sensitive rehousing of tenants, requesting Housing Committee’s agreement for officers to consult the affected tenants. The results of the consultation will be fed back to a subsequent Housing Committee for a decision on the future of the scheme.

(4)      That it be noted that a 10 year cyclical programme for upgrading internal communal and external decoration will be created from 2015/16.

(5)    That it is noted that a budget to address access issues in communal areas (e.g. ramps and stair lifts) is created.