Issue - items at meetings - Housing Committee Workplan Progress Update and Housing Performance Report Quarter 4 and end of year 2021/22

RESOLVED:

2.1       That Housing Committee notes the report.

11.1    The Assistant Director Housing Management introduced the report to the committee.

Answers to Committee Member Questions

11.2    Councillor Fowler was informed by the Chair that under the Severe Weather Emergency Protocols (SWEP) the Severe Weather Shelter would be open this winter, the incentivisation programme for moving to smaller homes formed part of the workprogramme, which would be reported back to the committee and bulk ordering of lift parts was being undertaken to supply lift repairs.

11.3    Councillor Meadows was informed by the Chair that the Star survey was not a rating of the service and was a council comparison survey. The emergency accommodation lower target is for the short term only. Under Seaside Homes, the council guarantees a percentage of the rent. The Assistant Director of Housing Management noted that

repairs continued throughout the pandemic. It was agreed that there was room for improvement, however, 95% of repairs were completed on time. The timings of re-lets has been improved with levels higher than before the pandemic. Good progress has been made and timings are being improved. Further information will be supplied to Area Housing Panels on the letting of more homes. Private sector housing will receive more funding. The cost of the high turnover in temporary and emergency accommodation is being looked at, including ways to improve the service. The council do not want to evict residents and are looking at supporting those who are struggling. Gas Safety certificates are dealt with by landlords not the council. It was noted that homes were let to those in need and were allocations policy compliant.

11.4    Councillor Evans was informed by the Chair that the lodger’s scheme was for those with rooms not being used and there would be a report to the next committee. The Executive Director - Housing Neighbourhoods & Communities noted that the use of properties, such as AirBnB, was a Planning matter not a Housing committee issue.

11.5    Councillor Williams commented that some rent arears may be due to Universal Credit taking a long time to process a request and residents of Seaside Homes suffer from the benefits cap.

11.6    Councillor Osborne noted that the number of days a AirBnB is used cannot be limited, however, the Planning enforcement team can be more active. The TECC committee will have a paper on this matter in September. The councillor supported the lodger’s scheme and considered it worked well and considered that those lodging students

should receive a Council Tax reduction. The Assistant Director of Housing Management stated that the Social Housing White Paper is awaited from the government and timescales for housing standards would be improved.

11.7    The Chair supported the lodger scheme and considered that more rooms were available now than ever before. It was also noted that the number of households in emergency and temporary accommodation had fallen over the last year.

Vote

11.8    A vote was taken, and the committee unanimously agreed the recommendations. (Councillor Clare had left the meeting and took not part in the decision making process or the vote).

11.9    RESOLVED:

2.1      That Housing Committee notes the report.