Agenda item - Issues Raised by Members

To consider the following matters raised by Members:

 

(a)           Written Questions:

To consider any written questions

(a)          Written Questions

 

The following questions were received from Members that were either responded to at the meeting or a written reply provided:

 

(1)          Councillor Shanks- Supported Accommodation for Young People Placements

 

How will the council ensure that all placements are within the area of Brighton and Hove?

 

Response from Councillor Daniel:

 

One of my three key missions is to bring kids back into the city for education and care whenever possible and we’re already developing a service at Ireland Lodge that we’re hoping to open in April next year that will bring back severely disabled children to live in their own city.

We’re also looking to develop a crash pad for teens, so they won’t in an emergency with their parents or carers have to be placed elsewhere.

My aim is also to have a new service for teens as well.

We have at the moment a very small number of young people (3) being placed outside the city boundaries. It is sometimes necessary from a child protection perspective for young people to be placed outside of the city due to exploitation risks.   

We work with 9 supported accommodation providers in the city and commission 2 block contracts unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people who have supported accommodation needs.

For the very small cohort who are not housed in the city, this is to protect them, essentially.

 

(2)          Councillor Davis- Parking Review Update

 

What was the cost of the external consultants?

 

Response from Councillor Muten:

 

£60k for the Parking Strategy Review and £5k for the further Parking Machine Study (excl VAT). This is the first review of citywide parking since the first Control Parking Zone (CPZ) was set up 23 years ago. It is shocking that previous administrations – notably over the past 5 years - implemented major policy decisions including imposing financially unsustainable price hikes on residents, businesses and visitors without a clear plan. This was irresponsible. If you fail to plan you plan to fail. We are an evidence and data-led administration. Professional fees enable the first data-informed strategic plan for parking for over 2 decades. The value of this informed approach will serve our city well. Better for our residents, for businesses, for visitors and for our city’s environment.

 

 

(3)          Councillor Davis- Parking Review Update

 

What are the procurement costs of bringing back pay and display machine?

 

Response from Councillor Muten:

 

The ongoing parking meter trial is at the cost of the provider. Future procurement costs are not yet known and will be subject to the number of pay & display machines required. On the 31st March 2023, the previous Green administration announced the scrapping of all pay and display parking machines – an indiscriminate policy without any assessment of how it impacted on some of the most vulnerable. No consideration of those digitally excluded - many elderly - by this decision. Our parking meter trial has been well received. We are a listening council with an Accessible City Strategy and will respond well to the consultation associated with this trial.

 

(4)          Councillor Meadows- General fund budget planning and resource update 2025-26

 

When can we expect an increase in our budget from central government?  What level of uplift is expected?

 

Response from Councillor Taylor

 

An Autumn Statement announcement is expected on 30 October. We have no detail of the likely change to Core Spending Power, Council Tax levels or any possible precepts.

However, the government has publicly indicated a £22 billion gap in public finances and has given warnings of difficult spending choices ahead. It is clearly difficult to predict how this may impact future local government settlements.???

 

(5)          Councillor McNair- Parking Review Update

 

What do you mean by ‘increase accessibility of 3rd party reporting for enforcement’?  Appendix 3.

 

Response from Councillor Muten:

 

What this means is that we want to make it easier for residents and businesses to report illegal parking. Where we are notified that a vehicle is parked illegally, our Parking Enforcement team can be directed there. This is all part of making this clearer for residents, businesses, and visitors on how to report parking contraventions to us.  This is all part of providing a better parking service for the city that our residents rightly expect.

 

 

(6)          Councillor McNair- Parking Review Update

 

Where are new red routes planned? (appendix 1)

 

Response from Councillor Muten:

 

No decision has been yet taken on proposals for further red routes as it requires discussions with Network Management and Transport Projects on the overall strategy and proper engagement with the local communities and local businesses. The public consultation on Red Routes on Lewes Road, London Road and Preston Road is ongoing until 30th September. |As a listening council, the outcome from public feedback on these routes will inform our view of potential future red routes.

 

(7)          Councillor McNair- Parking Review Update

 

The council receives almost £46m from parking.  How much income from motorists is the council aiming to achieve in the next 5 years?

 

Response from Councillor Muten:

 

Decisions on any budget pressures will be identified and taken forward as part of the annual corporate fees & charges budget process and the Parking Review will be used to inform this process. The policy from previous administrations of treating motorists as “cash cows” has proven to be an ill-conceived failure – a financially unsustainable policy. Our Parking Review sets a new course that will work well for our city.

 

(8)          Councillor McNair- Parking Review Update

 

How much did the consultants Mott MacDonald cost the council for their parking review?

 

Response from Councillor Muten:

 

£60k for the Parking Strategy Review and £5k for the further Parking Machine Study (excl VAT). A robust, data informed professional assessment to reset citywide parking better for residents, businesses, for visitors and our city environment

 

(9)          Councillor McNair- Parking Review Update

 

If residents reject any plans in the consultation will residents’ decision stand?

 

Response from Councillor Muten:

 

Not all elements of the Parking Review require consultation. However, as we are a listening council and very much welcome feedback from residents and business on our Parking Review and citywide strategy. Implementation of changes to parking within zones will, where required, involve initial and detailed consultation and / or a formal consultation through the advertisement of Traffic Regulation Orders. Residents will have the opportunity to support, comment or object to each proposal under the current Council procedure. Some actions may be undertaken as trials to review the effectiveness of short-term changes with public feedback used to shape the way forward.  

 

(10)       Councillor Meadows- Supported accommodation for young people placements

 

What is the ethnic makeup as percentages of those seeking mental health support services?

 

Response from Councillor Daniel

 

We produce data on the breakdown on ethnicities of young people accessing mental health support through the Schools Mental Health Service on a quarterly basis. We are not able to comment on those accessing CAMHS or Community Wellbeing as these services are commissioned through NHS Sussex 

 

The data we hold shows that the Black and Global Majority young people currently accessing schools' mental health services is not in line with the school population.  30% of the school population are Black and Global Majority but only c14% of young people accessing our services are.   

 

To support access to our services we 

·         have recruited a Family Support Worker, who specifically works with Black and Global Majority, refugee and asylum-seeking families;

·         are working with a secondary school to understand the challenges for Black and Global majority young people in accessing mental health services ?

 

(11)       Councillor Meadows- Supported accommodation for young people placements

 

What percentage of young people in care/supported accommodation enter mental health support services?

 

Response from Councillor Daniel:

 

We do not currently hold this data and are looking into how we can record it going forward in that format.  

All young people in supported accommodation provided by children's social work services will have a named social worker or Personal Advisor who will assist them in accessing services, including mental health services, as required. ??

 

 

(12)       Councillor Meadows- Cleaning Services

 

Are there any cleaning services provided to private tenants and homeowners?  Is this something that we could offer to create an income stream thereby supporting families who don't receive adult social care?

 

Response from Councillor Burden:

 

Most people in the city purchase their own cleaning services from a variety of different companies or private cleaners and it is not the intention to create an in-house cleaning service for use by private tenants, but commission it from an experienced supplier. Our own cleaning services have plenty of homes to clean across all of our housing stock! We’re not seeking to enter the market as a supplier of cleaning services to private tenants anytime soon.

With regards to income, where people are financially assessed as able to contribute, they are asked to pay for all or some of the cost of their cleaning service, as is the case with many of the adult care services we provide.

 

(13)       Councillor Hill- Cleaning Services

 

10% of total quality score is given on grounds of sustainability and social value framework respectively. What is the remaining 80% of the total quality score?

 

Response from Councillor Burden:

 

The remaining 80% assesses bidders on how they will meet the requirements of the service specification, for example: 

 

·         The response time targets 

·         How they will supply high quality cleaning services to people with a variety of different support needs 

·         How they recruit, train and support staff  

 

(14)       Councillor Hill- Cleaning Services

 

Will the procurement consider if the company itself is locally owned and run, as opposed to simply just that it employs local people which is implied in the papers in point 12.3?

 

Response from Councillor Burden:

 

Whilst we would prefer that a company is locally owned and run, we cannot take into account the specific location of ownership of a company. We will however prioritise engagement with local SMEs encourage them to take part in the process. ?

 

 

(15)       Councillor Hill- Mental Health Support Services for Adults

 

Point 6.1 states that ‘if public health funding were to cease or reduce in the future within the duration of the contract, then the outstanding contractual obligations link to the programme could then fall on the BHCC general fund. This would result in an unplanned expenditure, which could affect the overall expenditure of BHCC’

The NHS is going to experience cuts as part of austerity measures implemented by the new Labour government as part of what Kier Starmer has stated is their ‘reform or die’ agenda for the NHS. How do we ensure that nationally imposed cuts to the NHS are not going to lead to additional costs being put onto the Council to support vital mental health support services?

 

Response from Councillor Burden:

 

Thanks for the question, Cllr, Hill, but I’d say the NHS has experienced 14 years of devastating cuts from the Tories and is limping along trying to deliver a standard of health and care that its current structures and systems can’t adequately handle - we’ve inherited a broken system

Contracts can be varied to take account of funding changes, and the council would not be contractually expected to pick up ICB cuts.  If there were to be a reduction in ICB funding, commissioners would look to mitigate potential impacts on communities through detailed equality impact assessments.  Throughout the life of the contract, the council and the ICB will monitor value for money, impact on outcomes and inequalities and work with the provider who wins the contract to maximize these. ??

 

(16)       Councillor Hill- Mental Health Support Services for Adults

 

‘3.4.4 The annual budget for the new Brighton and Hove MHS service will be £1.837m which represents a reduction in funding of approximately 15%. Both the ICB and the council are reducing their contribution. The annual BHCC contribution will be £0.27m per annum funded from the Public Health ring fenced grant (see Table 1 below). This equates to a BHCC expenditure of £1.89m over the lifetime of the seven-year contract.’

Given the rise of mental health issues in our city, is it wise for the Council and ICB to be cutting back costs on mental health services?

 

Response from Councillor Burden:

 

The majority of mental health services are commissioned by the Integrated Care Board and include, for example, inpatient services, secondary Mental Health community services, urgent care and others.  Funding levels for these are set annually by local NHS Sussex bodies and the council has no direct influence over those decisions. For the community support services described in this cabinet paper, both the council and the NHS have reduced budgets.  But we are a partnership - through working in a more integrated way with primary care and secondary mental health services, the service can provide a more targeted and joined up offer, reduce potential duplication and get the best outcomes for people in need.???

 

(17)       Councillor Goldsmith- Parking Review Update

 

I’ve had residents in parking zones with waitlists get in touch because they have missed their reminder email and re-applied slightly too late (sometimes by just a few days), only to find they have to go right to the back of the wait list, which can be a year plus. Will the administration consider a) sending out more reminders to people in these zones, and b) giving a longer grace period for people within these zones to re-apply for their parking permit without having to go right to the back of the waiting list?

 

Response from Councillor Muten:

 

Customers have six weeks to re-apply for their permits. If the permit was issued through "My Account," they will receive a reminder six weeks before the renewal date. The back of the permit also includes information about renewing, When we came into administration, we found a number of shortfalls in the reminder process which we worked hard to resolve last summer. We have recently experienced a reduction in the levels of service due to staff vacancies and leave which we are focused on fully resolving presently. While it is ultimately the responsibility of the customer to renew their permit, we are looking to improve our communication to make this clearer as well as ways to provide more flexibility and help prevent missed renewals.  The Parking Review sets out to improve our parking service to residents, businesses and visitors.

 

 

(18)       Councillor Sykes- General Fund Budget Planning and Resource Update

 

The GF budget planning timeline allows for consultation, and general detail of planned stakeholder engagement is set out in s12 of Item 64. However the promised Star Chamber process is not included in the outline budget timeline and it not clear when line-by-line draft budget proposals will be made available for public and member review. Can the Cabinet Member for Finance please indicate when we can expect Star Chamber meetings to occur and when initial draft budget proposals will be made public?

 

Response from Councillor Taylor:

 

I always think that it’s important to learn from previous process and indeed previous people who have sat in my seat as Finance Lead so I really welcome his input on this process. Indeed, somebody asked me the other day about some technical question on the i360 and I went back and looked at some of the papers. The decision obviously was agreed by the committee and then went through the Budget process and lo and behold the Finance Lead who took that budget process through Council was Councillor Sykes. So, it’ll be really important to get his feedback into this budget process and perhaps some reflections on how disastrously wrong that capital decision went, perhaps he could write an op-ed about how disastrously that process went.

In terms of our process ton answer the questions, the star chamber doesn’t exist in statute, it’s not defined anywhere. Star chamber is really a senior group of Members or officers that review budget proposals and that will be happening throughout the budget process.

In terms of when the line by line will be public that is an entirely fair question, we haven’t yet put that out there. My honest answer to him is that I want that to come as early as possible and earlier than last year. As he’ll remember from last year, we got the settlement really late in the year so it was very difficult to put together a budget and make it public, but my honest answer is I’d like it to be as early as possible so that people can engage with it.

 

(19)       Councillor Sykes- General Fund Budget Planning and Resource Update

 

Options to address budget shortfalls (s3.14) include reviewing the capital programme to reduce associated revenue commitments. Additional capital financing cost pressures in 2025/26 are already greater than £5m for 2025/6 (s5, table) and recent capital project financing decisions have added to the capital financing cost pressure. Would the Cabinet Member for Finance agree this deteriorating position chosen by the administration feels like somewhat of a gamble with perilous council finances?

 

Response from Councillor Taylor:

 

Gambling, what a word to use in the context of the Green Party’s record on the capital programme. I like a flutter sometimes on the football or the cricket, but Councillor Sykes would be a Las Vegas high roller for gambling as they did with the money on the i360. I mean, one of the great gambles in local government history that has spectacularly not paid off. Again, keen to hear the Green Party’s reflections on that in this budget setting process.

To answer his question, no I don’t really agree, and we did cover this in a previous Cabinet meeting. Which is to say, yes, the King Alfred and Madeira Terraces are large capital projects, including in some cases increases in budget but they are the capital projects the city wants to see. They want to see those terraces restored and they want to see a King Alfred on the existing site. So, it’s really important to we are investing in things that are assets for the city that the public want to see and perhaps not giant spikes that go up in the air and cost the city millions for years to come.

 

(20)       Councillor Sykes- General Fund Budget Planning and Resource Update

 

Please can the Cabinet Member for Finance provide the build-up for ‘All other pressures across council services’, £6.605m, in s5, Table?

 

Response from Councillor Taylor:

 

Unfortunately, this covers too many areas to describe or list here and includes a wide range of above-inflation cost pressures across many of our statutory and essential services together with losses of specific grant support, for example for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. Additional cost pressures include the increased cost of transport network maintenance, bulky waste collections and retendering supported bus routes, as well as the doubling of external audit fees and significant increases in the cost of computer system and software licensing to name just a few items.

However, these are best estimates at present and we will be continually reviewing these estimates as latest information becomes available and will continue to look for options to try and reduce or mitigate these pressures in the current year to try and alleviate pressure on the budget both this year and next.???

 

(21)       Councillor Sykes- General Fund Budget Planning and Resource Update

 

Please can the Cabinet Member for Finance inform us of the three key areas of advocacy he is pursuing with Treasury and MHCLG with respect to the financial pressures BHCC and other LAs are experiencing?

 

Response from Councillor Taylor:

We're pursuing a number of advocacy points across a wide range of policy areas, both via the LGA and directly with ministers. In terms of local government finance, I'd highlight:

·         Requests for medium-term settlements to facilitate longer term budget planning and investment.

·         Increases in core funding, perhaps linked to high-pressure areas (adult social care, homelessness (TA), children's services).

·         Increased options for revenue raising. 

(22)      Councillor McLeay- Housing Strategy

 

We have heard for a long time about the backlog of routine housing repairs. Is there a target date or timeframe for when this might be resolved?

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

We have appointed two contractors to assist with reducing the backlog of routine repairs. The backlog of routine repairs is expected to be clear by the end of this financial year.

 

(23)      Councillor McLeay- Housing Strategy

 

Great to see in Appendix 2 that BHCC will explore the opportunity to bid for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund – making the most of external funding? Can you confirm if the housing team have started preparing their application for Wave 3? The guidance in May was to start preparing.

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

We have begun preparing to bid for Social Housing Decarbonisation Funding alongside a potential delivery partner. We are at the stage of reviewing data on potentially eligible properties and measures that could be delivered through the funding in anticipation of applications opening soon. We have also provisionally ring-fenced some capital budget to act as match funding for this scheme in the financial year 2025-26. We will provide further detail in due course. ?

 

(24)      Councillor McLeay- Housing Strategy

 

Has the refresh of Homelessness and Rough Sleeping partnership arrangements been done? The strategy suggests it would be by Sep 2024. Could we receive an update on this?

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

Work on the new Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy commenced in September, initiating with the data sources which will utilised to support this strategy. Once analysed, this will be the basis for wider engagement with stakeholders, with the final version of the strategy due for approval in July 2025. 

 

(25)       Councillor McLeay- Housing Strategy

 

There are three examples I’ve come across in my ward since May 2023, where limited housing options have meant survivors are placed in unsuitable accommodation. How will this be addressed differently going forward, if lack of supply continues the be the key challenge?

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

Making sure appropriate measures are put in place to safeguard survivors is one of my highest priorities.  Preventing homelessness and meeting housing need is a key priority in our Housing Strategy.  Our action plan includes development of joined up approaches for those most at risk of harm or where there is greater impact if they become homeless.  Key areas for delivery in Year One of the Housing Strategy Action Plan include to: provide support and safe accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse; develop Pan Sussex reciprocal arrangements for survivors of domestic abuse; and develop a VAWG resource toolkit for frontline staff. I was very pleased that last month we signed off on the Safe Haven by the Sea report, independently produced by Stonewater, and we will now be implementing the recommendations of this report.   There will be further measures we will be bringing forward to support joint tenants as part of the review of the Allocations Policy.  

 

(26)       Councillor McLeay- Housing Strategy

 

It was a shame to hear about the closing of Leslie Best House in my ward. That low level supported accommodation was housing women who were survivors of domestic abuse. They were very happy there and felt safe and secure. How can BHCC make sure these women are placed in accommodation where they continue to feel secure? I am conscious that low support need can very quickly ramp up to medium or high if people suddenly lose the right level of support. Their low support need should not be taken for granted.

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

Leslie Best House was always commissioned as low support accommodation for women as part of a pathway toward living independently. The council is working with the current residents and the service provider to ensure that suitable accommodation is available to all affected. Leslie Best House will continue to provide supported accommodation, but specifically for single women low level mental health support needs. ???

 

(27)       Councillor McLeay- Housing Strategy

 

At a meeting last week it was suggested that how consultations are currently conducted excludes a lot of people whose perspective the service would really benefit from. They suggested a short form at food banks or sent to homes might be one way to make it more accessible. Is this something BHCC might consider for the next role of housing strategy consultation as well as other non-traditional engagement methods?

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

When undertaking consultation, the council is always keen to ensure that as many of the relevant stakeholders as possible are included in that consultation. In the case of the Housing Strategy, consultation was widely advertised across the city, and residents were invited to attend a number of publicly held events as well as providing responses online or in writing. In the case of the Allocations Policy, every council tenant and household on the housing register was written to and again invited to attend public events and submit responses online or in writing. To assist with this the council uses a network of stakeholders to be engaging with. We would welcome any groups who wish to be added to this network to contact the council. ???

 

(28)       Councillor McLeay- Housing Strategy

 

Improving engagement with residents - the response times from some parts of the housing department is currently not great. Will we increase staff for that department to achieve the ambitions to improve communication and engagement? Is more investment being given to this department to support this additional work?

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

We are always seeking to improve our response times, communication and engagement.

The Housing Performance Report Quarter 1 considered at September Area Housing Panels reported that call answering performance by both our Housing Customer Service Team and Housing Repairs Helpdesk were above target (at 89% and 95% respectively, against a target of 85% of calls answered).

Some parts of the housing service have been undergoing significant change recently. For example, the Homelessness Transformation Programme has resulted in a complete redesign of the Homelessness [Housing Needs] service. The transitioning of this new way of working has unfortunately led to some interim disruption during Quarter 1, which has meant the service has not been as responsive as I would have hoped. However, these changes are embedded and we are seeing improvements to customer service during Quarter 3. If there are specific parts of the service being referred to, could these please be raised with me, so I can investigate further.

 

(29)       Councillor McLeay- Housing Strategy

 

HS28 - take a resident centered approach to developing future options for the regeneration of LPS blocks. Residents, particularly leaseholders, don’t sound too happy about the approach so far. There is concern about how news on LPS blocks and possible demolition has impacted the value of their property. If BHCC are able to purchase these properties, will BHCC commit to paying what the value of the property was before the BBC reported news of demolition on July 25, 2024?

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

With regard to our resident led approach.  We are currently undertaking enhanced tenancy visits to all residents of the 8 LPS blocks. As of week ending 20th September 2024, we had undertaken 477 enhanced tenancy visits, covering 89% of occupied homes, across the 558 dwellings. This includes visits to leaseholders living in the blocks.

Our enhanced tenancy visits have been well received and in general feedback we have had from residents on the level of contact remains positive, with specific feedback that residents have valued communication being open, honest and transparent.  The first resident newsletters have been sent and we plan for a series of drop in meetings.  

We are committed to maintaining positive and proactive communication as we start to navigate next steps. 

No decisions have been made at this time about the future of the 8 LPS blocks.  We will take a resident-led approach on the future options for each of the blocks, including consideration of refurbishment or regeneration. 

There have been no changes to our Home Purchase Policy with regard to buying back homes in the LPS blocks. ?

??

(30)       Councillor McLeay- Improving Housing Services: Response to the Regulator of Social Housing Ruling

 

(3.8) Providing a clear timeline for completing lower-risk actions. Will these clear timelines be published or shared with residents – and how?

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

We will be providing regular updates to residents on progress towards reaching compliance on all areas of health and safety in council homes. We will be providing regular updates to Area Panel meetings, we are considering how we use social media, the council web pages and through established tenant groups. We will also report progress in the quarterly edition of Homing in and are planning some tenant engagement events, including at City Wide Tenant Conference on 23rd October. ???

 

(31)       Councillor McLeay- Improving Housing Services: Response to the Regulator of Social Housing Ruling

 

(3.14) Additional contractor capacity is being deployed to work alongside Council teams to undertake these remediation actions and the financial implications forecast an overspend. How much is that overspend and how do you plan to mitigate and bring the HRA back into balance?

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

The 2024/25 HRA budget includes a revenue budget of £2.689m and capital budget of £14.714m specifically relating to the Health & Safety works.   

As part of our monitoring of these budgets an overspend is currently forecast which is being kept under review.  To manage the revenue overspend, regular progress monitoring and forecasting takes place.  This will be included within the month 5 Targeted Budget Monitoring (TBM) report to Cabinet in October 2024. If the overspend cannot be managed in year then it will require a contribution from reserves to bring the budget back into balance.  In respect of the capital overspend this will form the overall borrowing requirements for the HRA at the end of the financial year. An increased level of borrowing will result in higher financing costs during 2025/26 for which the budget will be approved in February 2025. ???

 

(32)       Councillor McLeay- Improving Housing Services: Response to the Regulator of Social Housing Ruling

 

Appendix B – the letter – there is only one method of contact given to raise safety concerns, a phone number. In the event that this phone number doesn’t get through to an officer, could an email address not be provided also? The ways in which residents can reports needs to be clear and accessible

 

Response from Councillor Williams:

 

Thank you for your comments.  We will add the contact email address to the letter.