Agenda item - Chairs Communications

75.1    The Chair stated the following:

“It’s been a busy time for the housing service. I was very pleased with the performance in the aftermath of the “beast from the east weather situation.” K&T Heating attended all 1214 emergency repair visits within the Government Right to Repair time of 24hrs. Mears answered 2,243 calls over 3 days with an average wait time of only 2 minutes 5 seconds. This performance far exceeds many of the private sector companies and our tenants have been very pleased with the service they have received.

I am pleased also to announce that work will shortly be completed on the Stonehurst Court development. This is a conversion of 19 studio flats into ten, 2 bedroom semi-detached houses with private gardens. These houses have excellent space standards and high levels of energy efficiency. The first tenants are due to move in on 1 May.

As many of you will be aware the new Homeless Reduction Act legislation comes into force on 1 April. This is the largest change to homelessness legislation in a generation, and follows the excellent work this council has done through the trailblazer work. As a result we are in a positive place to be able to respond to the challenges and opportunities this new legislation brings. My officers will be working with applicants at a much earlier stage to prevent homelessness and ensure that the right level of support and assistance is provided at every stage. 

Finally, we have been working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who are very pleased with our approach to fire safety checks following the Grenfell tragedy. This work includes the support we have given in relation to privately owned high rise blocks in the area. As many of you will know, this council has an excellent record of installing sprinklers into our own blocks of flats and I am pleased to announce that one of our Emergency Temporary Accommodation blocks – Percival Terrace is shortly to have sprinklers fitted. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have agreed to match fund the provider.”