Issue - meetings

To provide Cabinet with an update on progress made towards meeting the outcomes of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, including revised consumer standards (report of the Assistant Director – Housing enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Housing which provided Cabinet with an update on progress made towards meeting the outcomes of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, including revised consumer standards.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing presented the report.

Members were aware that the Council had been notified by the Regulator of Social Housing on 3 February of a programmed inspection.  While the Housing Transformation Team has focussed most of its time over the last quarter on supporting the service during the inspection, transformation progress included:

·       Implementing a new approach to rent review letters, tailored to tenants’ preferred communication methods.

·       Appointing a Housing Service Insight and Improvement Lead, a Tenant Engagement Lead, and an ASB Lead Officer.

·       Presenting year-end reports on complaints, tenant satisfaction, compliance, repairs, and damp and mould to Scrutiny.

·       Completing over 70% of stock condition surveys and securing £5.7 million funding to improve energy efficiency of HRA properties

·       Drafting and consulting tenants on an ASB Framework.

Quarterly updates would continue, and a further report would be brought to Cabinet following the Regulator’s grading, expected in July. 

Consideration was given to the report and the following issues were raised:

·       Members commented that the information shown within paragraphs 2.6 and 2.7 of the report reflected SHDC in a very good light and congratulated officers for the work that they had undertaken.

DECISION:

That the work underway towards delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards, and the progress made towards aligning services with the new regulatory regime be noted.

(Other options considered:

·       Do nothing – to retain progress updates through operational arrangements with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing.  This option was not considered to be appropriate as the Regulator of Social Housing was clear that Councillors were responsible for ensuring that the Council, in its role as a registered provider, was meeting the regulatory standards set;

Reasons for decision:

·       To provide updated information regarding ongoing work towards meeting the outcomes of the consumer standards).