Agenda for Housing Cabinet Member Meeting on Wednesday, 20th October, 2010, 4.00pm

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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Caroline De Marco, Democratic Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

48.

Procedural Business

    (a)   Declarations of Interest by all Members present of any personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

     

    (b)   Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.

     

     

    NOTE:  Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading either that it is confidential or the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.

     

    A list and description of the categories of exempt information is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.

    Minutes:

    48(a)    Declarations of Interests

     

    48.1    There were none.

     

    48(b)   Exclusion of Press and Public

     

    48.2   In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972  (“the Act”), the Cabinet Member considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I(I) of the Act). 

     

    48.3    RESOLVED - That the press and public be not excluded from the meeting.

     

49.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 103 KB

    Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 September 2010 (copy attached).

    Minutes:

    49.1    Bevendean Community Garden Proposal - The Cabinet Member reported that a site had been agreed and that council officers were working with residents to get the project up and running.

     

    49.2    Private Rented Sector Letting Agents – The Cabinet Member reported that a scrutiny report was being produced on this issue.  

     

    49.3    RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Housing Cabinet Member Meeting held on 8 September 2010 be agreed and signed by the Cabinet Member.

     

     

50.

Cabinet Member's Communications

    Minutes:

                Ainsworth House

     

    50.1    The Cabinet Member reported that a site visit had been attended by officers and tenants’ representatives a week ago.  There would be an update on the development at the next Housing Management Consultative Committee.            

     

                Comprehensive Spending Review

     

    50.2    The Cabinet Member reported that she was optimistic for housing in the light of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.  The reduction in the Supporting People grant was not as bad as expected.  There had been no reduction in the Homelessness Grant.  Eric Pickles had highlighted the good work being carried out in combating homelessness.  There would be a further briefing at the next Cabinet Member Meeting.  

51.

Items reserved for discussion

    (a)   Items reserved by the Cabinet Member

     

    (b)   Items reserved by the Opposition Spokespersons

     

    (c)    Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member.

     

    NOTE: Public Questions, Written Questions from Councillors, Petitions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically.

    Minutes:

    51.1    RESOLVED – All items were reserved for discussion.

     

52.

Petitions

    No petitions have been received by the date of publication.

    Minutes:

    52.1    There were none.

     

53.

Public Questions

    (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 13 October 2010)

     

    No public questions have been received by the date of publication.

    Minutes:

    53.1    There were none.

     

54.

Deputations

    (The closing date for receipt of deputations is 12 noon on 13 October 2010)

     

    No deputations have been received by the date of publication.

    Minutes:

    54.1    There were none.

     

55.

Letters from Councillors

    No letters have been received.

    Minutes:

    55.1    There were none.

     

56.

Written Questions from Councillors

    No written questions have been received.

    Minutes:

    56.1    There were none.

     

57.

Notices of Motions

    No Notices of Motion have been referred.

    Minutes:

    57.1    There were none.

     

58.

Customer Access Phase 2

    Additional documents:

    Decision:

    (1)       That the following proposals that are being considered by phase 2 of the Customer Access Review be agreed. 

     

                (i) A single point of contact is established for all Tenancy Management telephone calls, emails and written enquiries.

     

    (ii) That one free phone and one local number is introduced for Repairs and Tenancy management and telecoms technology is utilised to route calls to the correct destinations.

     

    (iii) That some Children & Young People’s Trust services are provided from the Lavender Street Housing Office as part of a co-location arrangement with  local housing area staff continuing to be based at that housing office. 

     

    (iv) That work continues on looking at providing access to housing management services through ‘Community Contact Points’ in libraries.

     

    Minutes:

    58.1    The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Acting Director of Housing which provided an update on the review of customer access arrangements for the Housing Management Service and presented a number of proposals for consideration.  The Housing Management Consultative Committee was consulted on the proposals at the meeting held on 27 September 2010. 

    58.2    The Cabinet Member explained that the report had been widely supported by  tenants and Members at the Housing Management Consultative Committee.  There would be an update report to a future meeting.

    58.3    RESOLVED – Having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member made the following decision:

     

    (1)       That the following proposals that are being considered by phase 2 of the Customer Access Review be agreed. 

     

                (i) A single point of contact is established for all Tenancy Management telephone calls, emails and written enquiries.

     

    (ii) That one free phone and one local number is introduced for Repairs and Tenancy management and telecoms technology is utilised to route calls to the correct destinations.

     

    (iii) That some Children & Young People’s Trust services are provided from the Lavender Street Housing Office as part of a co-location arrangement with  local housing area staff continuing to be based at that housing office. 

     

    (iv) That work continues on looking at providing access to housing management services through ‘Community Contact Points’ in libraries.

     

 


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