Issue - meetings

To consider the Council’s Housing Landlord Strategy 2024-2026 (report of the Assistant Director - Housing enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Housing, which asked members to consider the Council’s Housing Landlord Strategy 2024-2026.

The Assistant Director – Housing and the Housing Transformation Manager were in attendance for the item.

The Housing Transformation Manager introduced the report which set out the approach the Council intended to take with delivery of its Landlord Services over the next two years. The following documents were appended to the report:

• Appendix A was the Housing Landlord Strategy 2024-2026;
• Appendix B was the Housing Landlord Transformation and Improvement Programme Mandate;
• Consultation Responses were detailed at Appendix C; and
• The Equality Impact Assessment was at Appendix D.

The Assistant Director – Housing endorsed the strategy and stated that it supported the transition from being a reactive to a pro-active landlord.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members noted that a number of Housing policies would be coming forward in the next two years as a result of the new legislation, and that these were being prioritised according to need, and queried:
  • The allocated budget for this process; and
  • The timescale for completion of the HRA Business Plan.
    • The Housing Transformation Manager responded that:
      • A budget was currently in place for staffing only;
      • Where work was recommended to the Transformation Board, approval would be sought for an associated budget; and
      • Quotations for the HRA Business Plan had been requested.

• Members asked how the strategy contributed to the Council’s ‘green’ agenda.
  • The Housing Transformation Manager stated that:
    • The strategy and mandate included reference to:
      • Commitment of the council to improve the energy efficiency and performance of properties;
      • Green Home Grants that had been awarded from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUC) to improve the condition of properties; and
      • Minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standard for all council housing stock.

• Members queried the action that would be taken if residents were reluctant to accept required improvements to the building, for example, removal of coal fires for greener alternatives.
  • The Housing Transformation Manager responded that:
    • Work would be undertaken with residents to understand the reasons for resistance to the changes, for example, where residents preferred electric to gas appliances for medical reasons, a move could look to be facilitated to a property that could accommodate this; and
    • Ultimately, where a reasonable approach was not forthcoming, the council had the power to enforce changes so that the property met the legal standards;
  • The Assistant Director – Housing stated that:
    • The council’s ongoing Decent Homes Programme had reduced the amount of goal fired/solid fuel heating systems in council owned properties and further reductions would be seen when systems were due to be replaced;
    • A whole house retro-fit approach was taken in respect of improvements for the green agenda. In these cases, a Tenant Liaison Officer worked with tenants to understand concerns and assist with the transition and implementation of the legislative measures; and
    • The council had not yet needed to take ‘last resort’ enforcement action in order  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49