Agenda item

To inform Cabinet of the requirements and timeline of Awaab’s Law and how the Housing Landlord Service is changing to meet the phase 1 of the legislation (report of the Assistant Director – Housing enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Housing which was to inform Cabinet of the requirements and timeline of  Awaab’s Law and how the Housing Landlord Service was changing to meet Phase 1 of the legislation. 

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing introduced the report summarising the Council’s Phase 1 implementation of Awaab’s Law, which addressed issues of damp, mould, and emergency repairs in council homes.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing identified the key actions which had been undertaken by the Housing Landlord Service, including:

·                     Updating internal procedures;

·                     Completing formal training on hazard identification;

·                     Scheduling briefings for staff and contractors;

·                     Planning a tenant awareness campaign, and

·                     Bringing previously contracted work in-house to improve oversight and achieve cost savings.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing advised that existing policies, namely the Damp Condensation and Mould Policy and the Housing Repairs and Fitness for Habitation Policy had been revised to reflect those changes. Although the timing of the revisions meant they were not presented to the Policy Development Panel, the Chair had been consulted informally.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing added that the service was well-prepared to meet the new statutory duties coming into effect from October and aimed to implement changes ahead of the deadline.

Cllr Woolf referred to the response times for emergency hazards which listed attendance within 4 hours outside office hours and within 8 hours during office hours which he found counterintuitive. He noted that he had raised this issue on several occasions and had received explanations regarding staff availability.

Cllr Woolf advised that he appreciated that efforts were being made to review and potentially realign these timeframes to ensure safety, and expressed hope for improvement in the near future.

The Leader confirmed that Cllr Woolf’s concerns were fully noted and agreed that the current arrangements did seem unusual. It was acknowledged that a broader review of response timeframes was already being considered.

DECISIONS:

1)    Following Cabinet’s consideration of the Housing Landlord Service’s preparations to respond to Awaab’s Law (Phase 1), that further reports will be brought forward to update on the implementation progress of Phase 1, as well as development of Phase 2 and 3, be noted.

2)    That the revised Housing Repairs and Fitness for Habitation Policy (Appendix A), be adopted.

3)    That the revised Damp Condensation and Mould Policy (Appendix B), be adopted.

4)    That minor operational changes and any legislative amendments to the Housing Repairs and Fitness for Habitation Policy be delegated to the Assistant Director – Housing in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing.

5)    That minor operational changes and any legislative amendments to the Damp Condensation and Mould Policy be delegated to the Assistant Director – Housing in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing.

(Other options considered:

·           Do nothing. To not receive assurance on the Council’s preparedness to respond to emergency hazards. This option is not recommended

Reasons for decision:

·           The purpose of this report is to provide assurance and confidence to Members that tenants are living in safe homes and that arrangements for responding to emergency hazards and damp, condensation and mould are robust, with regular reviews and improvements implemented).