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 the 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 introduced the report and highlighted the following points:

• Since receiving a C2 grading following the Regulator of Social Housing’s inspection earlier this year, several key actions had been undertaken:
  • Development of a Regulatory Improvement Plan
  • Continued delivery of the Housing Transformation Programme
  • Further analysis of last year’s Tenant Satisfaction Measures
  • Introduction of a new initiative promoting the impact of tenant engagement activity.
• The team remained focused on transparency, accountability and continuous improvement, with quarterly reports presented to track progress towards achieving a C1 grading.

Members considered the report and raised the following points:

• The Leader commented that some of the focus groups had low attendance and asked whether there was a plan in place to increase the attendance.
  • The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing responded that it was a case of quality over quantity, but the team were trying every approach possible to engage more tenants in the process. A lot of feedback had been received from tenants to say that they were happy so felt they didn’t have anything to add to the conversation but gradually they were getting on board with the tenant forum.
• Members requested that local ward members be made aware of when the team were out and about in their wards.
  • The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing noted this request.
• Members noted the increases in satisfaction and commended the hard work of the team.

DECISION:

1)    That the Regulatory Improvement Plan be approved and the progress made in addressing areas of weakness identified in the regulator of Social Housings C2 judgement of the Council against the Consumer Standards as part of its proactive regulatory inspection regime be noted.

2)    That the feedback from the Performance Monitoring Panel regarding the tenant Satisfaction Measure (TSM) Analysis scrutinised on 15 October 2025 be noted.

3)    That the Tenant Engagement Impact Assessment report 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 is not considered to be appropriate as the Regulator of Social Housing is clear that Councillors are responsible for ensuring that the Council, in its role as a registered provider, is meeting the regulatory standards.

Reasons for decision:

·         To provide oversight, awareness, and assurance of the Councils compliance with regulatory requirements as a Social Landlord.)