Agenda item - Public Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by members of the public:

(a)       Petitions: to receive any petitions presented to the full council or at the meeting itself;

(b)      Written Questions: to receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 14 September 2023;

(c)    Deputations: to receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 14 September 2023.

19.1    a) Petitions: There were none for this meeting.

b) Written Questions from Members of the Public: There were six for this agenda:

1.      From: Charles Harrison 

Question:Provision of New Build Council Homes 

Following the Council’s response to my question at the previous (June) Committee meeting, I am pleased to see that the Council is undertaking a review of the housing supply pipeline, to inform the anticipated numbers and confirm whether the supply of 1,000 homes inherited from the previous administration plus the 800 homes pledged by the current administration will be achieved (or hopefully exceeded!) in the period 2023 to 2027? 

Would the Council please state what progress is being made with the pipeline review and when a construction tracker schedule will be made available to the public? 

Response:Thank you for your question. The council continues to review opportunities for new build schemes to come forward to build our longer-term pipeline. Targets for our in-year delivery are available through our quarterly performance report which is available on the council’s website. The next phase in the council’s development programme, New Homes for Neighbourhoods, is outlined in a report being considered at this committee today. It provides details on four new schemes which will deliver c100 new homes. This is alongside previously agreed schemes. As other sites areidentified they will be brought to this committee for consideration. 

Supplementary Question: Please supply a spreadsheet of schedules. Some 4,671 households are waiting to be housed according to the Government.

Response: The chair confirmed that reports on these matters were coming to committee, and they are on course.

2.      Daniel Harris:

Question: As you discuss HMO licensing, I'm deeply concerned about tenants in lower EPC-rated properties (D to G) facing high energy costs and poor living conditions. I'd be interested to know what consultation tenants have received around the introduction of a minimum standard at, say, EPC Rating of C or above. Do we know how much extra in energy bills tenants stuck in the worst energy-efficient homes pay compared to those in C-rated homes? Can you not take the initiative here to explore introducing a minimum EPC rating requirement to protect our community's well-being and net zero targets. The incentive scheme is hardly an incentive for slum landlords. 

Response:Thank you for your question. The Private Sector Housing Team has undertaken a proactive project to enforce conditions under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Amendment) Regulations 2015. These are designed to tackle the least energy-efficient properties in England and Wales – those rated F or G on their Energy Performance Certificate. 740 properties were found to be in breach of the regulations and contact was made with alllandlords. The majority of these properties subsequently met the requirements without the need for formal enforcement. However, where enforcement has been necessary, we have taken action. 5 fines have been levied on G rated properties totaling £23,500 with a further 6 properties due to receive final notices prior to fines totaling £28,200. In addition, final prompt letters have been sent to 25 landlords with F rated properties prior to enforcement action being considered. The government has introduced legislation to ensure social housing meets a C or above rating by 2030 and also completed a consultation on tightening minimum energy efficiency rules in private sector homes. The regulations on this are still pending. As part of our licensing conditions, we continue to ensure that legally required EPC ratings are met and in recognition of the impact of a higher EPC rating (C or above) can have on a property we are proposing a reduction in future licensing fees for landlords who meet this standard. The council’s Warm Safe Homes Grant also provides a further opportunity for private tenants to apply for funding to have energy efficiency measures put into their home to reduce fuel poverty. There is no data available to local authorities to indicate the impact energy efficiency measures in residential accommodation affects energy bills. 

Supplementary Question: The council target for 2030 and the government target are not aligned. Please consult on the matter. Residents should receive £500 in support.

3.      From: Hermione Berendt 

Question: Housing Minister Felicity Buchan is attempting to deregulate multiple occupation (HMO) accommodation for asylum seekers. Specifically, the government is pushing regulations through Parliament to exempt landlords who are renting HMOs to asylum seekers from needing a licence. We know that there is currently limited access to homes in our city for both people seeking asylum and those who have got a positive decision on their asylum claim. Whilst we welcome an influx of new homes for people in the city, we are concerned for the safety and wellbeing of people if HMO licensing is overlooked. 
 
What are BHCC’s plans around increasing housing for people seeking asylum in the city and ensuring this housing has an HMO license and is safe and fit for purpose? 

Response:Thank you for your question. The proposed new regulation would exempt new accommodation occupied by asylum seekers from having to have an HMO license. Existing HMOs are not impacted, so the licence would still remain and would be enforceable. Any new properties, or where the licence has expired, could be exempt. We would expect this to be a small proportion of previously licensable properties, although the extent at this stage is unknown. Accommodation for Asylum Seekers is a responsibility that sits with the national government through the Home Office. This is not a local authority function.However, when a person or household is granted, leave remain, we will work with them in providing housing assistance so that they have appropriate options for accommodation when their Home Office accommodation is terminated.   

4.      From: David Gibson 

Question: The minutes for June Housing committee omit the answers to some of the supplementary questions, for example in response to my supplementary question the chair of housing stated that “bringing seaside homes back in house was a priority for the administration” and yet no words appear in the minutes please can the response to all the supplementary questions from the recording of the meeting be added and the minutes corrected accordingly? 

Response:Thank you for your question. Following the decision of Policy & Resources committee in December 2022, minutes  are agreed to be substantially shorter, and the request goes beyond the bare bones of what was agreed to be necessary. Minutes will include the subject matter description, the names of those who spoke on the matter and the committee resolution.  

Supplementary Question: Please include answers to supplementary questions if possible.  

5.      From: Beata Janik 

Question: What is the standard for suitable housing allocation, does the standard for suitable letting include hot running water, working electrics, a roof that doesn’t leak, heating, and windows that open and close and are not boarded up, and how does the council check that these are the standards are met? 

Response:Thank you for your question. All of the areas listed are covered by the council’s lettable standard. We always check to ensure that all elements are at the required standard when the property becomes empty and is being prepared for letting. Any failure in any of these elements following letting should be reported as a repair and they will be responded to, based on urgency. 

Supplementary Question: Recent example included boarded up windows and running water. How does the council deal with this?

Response: The chair stated the council were working with housing associations. The chair was happy to be contacted after the meeting on this matter.

6.      From: Jo Tomkins 

Question: Where are residents across the city to receive housing support and housing advocacy when living in housing associations, when they don't offer that help and current criteria?and?charities say you must be “imminently homeless”? 

Response:Thank you for your question. Support and housing advocacy will vary depending on what support and advocacy is required, and the individual circumstances. If a person (or household) is homeless or threatened with homelessness, the ‘criteria’ in terms of what assistance is provided is set out in legislation (Housing Act 1996; Homelessness Reduction Act 2017), not by charities or local authorities. If a person (or household) believe they are homeless or threatened with homelessness they can email the council via: dutytorefer@brighton-hove.gov.uk. Housing associations are entirely independent from local authorities. If a tenant of a housing association is not satisfied with the service (including support and advocacy) they are receiving from their social landlord, they can raise the issue through that landlord’s complaint processes. These are usually advertised on their website.

Supplementary Question: For persons with a home there is no support across the city from housing associations.

Response: The Executive Director - Housing Neighbourhoods & Communities stated that council residents are offered help, however, housing associations vary on this matter. It was not possible for the council to influence housing associations. It was noted that there are charities you may be able to help. The chair stated that they would be happy to talk regarding this matter after the meeting.

            c) Deputations: There were none for this meeting.