Agenda item - Laundry Review

-       15:25

-       15 Minutes

2.         LAUNDRY REVIEW

5.1 JW delivered a verbal brief on the engagement strategy (there was no item in the agenda).

5.3 ES noted the last review was 2004, JW corrected it was 2009. ES stated their paperwork was from 2004 for Essex Place, queried are disabilities still being considered in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

5.4 JW confirmed that all vulnerabilities, needs and accommodations requested would be included in the process, highlighting that the Equality Act 1999 superseded the 1995 Act would be accounted for.  ES questioned whether the authority would be willing to refit properties to better accommodate personal washing facilities.

5.5 JW & EG confirmed this would be attended to on a case-by-case basis and included in the review outcome.

5.6 RJ queried if the £40k cost was a net cost and if it was queried as to why laundries weren’t being used. EG confirmed it was a net cost and JW confirmed the intention of the review was to look at those using the laundry, further confirmed letters regarding the review would go through all authority property households with contact details.

5.7 RJ proposed inclusion of information for use of laundrette to tenants/residents, ES further confirmed this that lettings was not informing new moves of laundrette. EG confirmed that this would be considered in the review. Craven Vale representatives queried rationale for not charging for laundrette, EG clarified that it was a decision taken in pandemic and not yet reversed, Craven Vale representatives noted to panel that residents were taking advantage of free laundrette. Residents queried if the contracts for seniors and regular laundrette were the same contractor, JW confirmed they were separate.