Agenda item - Residents Question Time

Responses to items raised at the Tenant Only Meeting (copy attached as ‘blue pages’).

32.1    (Item 1 – Homing In) Barry Hughes noted that he was satisfied with the response and has spoken to the Head of Income Involvement & Improvement who had decided to discuss it in further detail at a meeting in March 2016. He noted that Homing In could be improved, made more cost efficient and distributed further.

32.2    In response to Charles Penrose, the Head of Income Involvement & Improvement explained that there would be an opportunity for further discussion on Homing In on an individual basis as it was going to be reviewed and consulted on as part of the Resident Involvement Review. It was added that residents, who do not receive Homing In, would be consulted to determine whether there was a demand to publish more.

32.3    The Chair proposed that it should be discussed at the next Area Housing Panel on 27 July 2016 when noting the Resident Involvement Review. The Panel agreed.

32.4    (Item 2 - Spacing of Resident Only meetings) Resident Involvement Manager explained to the Panel that the proposal was to reschedule the Area Housing Panel meetings held in January to March in affect from 2017. It was noted that two Area Housing Panels had agreed to the proposal. The Panel agreed to the change of dates.

32.5    (Item 1 - Setting start and end dates for repairs and improvements) Barry Hughes commented that from his personal experience, calling the repair helpdesk at Brighton & Hove City Council often results in the work being completed sooner. Tony Worsfold noted that he understood why repairs were delayed; however, he believed it was a reasonable request to keep residents informed and discuss a timeframe with them. Ann Ewings stated that the repairs process would run smoother if there was more communication between residents and the Repairs Team.

32.6    The Head of Income Involvement & Improvement thanked the residents for the feedback, apologised that the Council were not giving enough information about repairs or consulting before work takes place and she agreed to feedback to the relevant Officers.

32.7    (Item 2 – Scaffolding) In response to Tomm Nyhuus the Housing Asset Strategy Manager explained that Mears and Brighton & Hove City Council were in a partnership and the council audited Mears. Ian Stone, Mears representative, added that the majority of the scaffolding was erected by Mears rather than Brighton & Hove City Council. He explained that there was not an additional cost when leaving scaffolding on a property; however, Mears was working with the subcontractors to try and prevent it from happening.