Decision details

RESOLVED:

That the draft Housing Landlord Strategy be approved for public consultation.

KEY DECISION:

Yes

PORTFOLIO:

Housing and Homelessness

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in the report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

None

DISCUSSION:

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness introduced the report welcoming the draft Housing Landlord Strategy to help the Council in meeting the regulator’s consumer standards and addressing the regulatory changes in the housing sector.  The Portfolio Holder recognised the consultation that had taken place on the strategy, in particular with the Tenant Involvement Group (TIG), ensuring tenants had a voice and the value of the tenant representative on the Housing and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

The Assistant Director – Housing reported that the Housing Landlord Strategy was not a legal requirement for the Council.  However, the Strategy encapsulated the ambitions of the housing service to achieve a high compliance score with the housing regulator for the benefit of tenants.  The Strategy also detailed the offer to tenants and stakeholders, which was broader than bricks and mortar, and included partnership working in order to meet the needs of vulnerable tenants.  In addition, the strategy reflected on the HRA and business approach, which was the largest income source for the council, and it was recognised that this income came from tenants’ rents which needed to be spent in a responsible way.  It was essential to improve existing housing and to make homes more energy efficient as well as being able to provide more affordable housing.  The draft strategy had reviewed all the work carried out to date and detailed what the Council would do in the future.

A non-Cabinet member broadly welcomed the Strategy but felt that the reference to the HRA being a long-term capital business should be reviewed due to how it could resonate with tenants.  It was also felt that the requirement for housing to meet a minimum EPC level should be featured within the Strategy.  The engagement exercises were welcomed, in particular in relation to the Hythe area of the district, recognising that this was one of the largest areas of rental accommodation.  It was suggested that the spread of available accommodation be reviewed across the district.

The Strategic Director of Housing and Communities addressed the points raised, recognising that the council had a fiscal responsibility to manage £35m of income and £50m of expenditure on service delivery.  Therefore, the Council must act business like and offer value for money for the service.  Housing tenants were able to hold the council as housing landlord to account.  This approach however, did not take away the empathetic and listening approach through engagement with tenants, the TIG, complaint learning, learning on a day-to-day basis as well as the Tenancy Sustainment Team to support housing tenants. 

The Strategic Director highlighted that the council was working under the Government guidance in relation to the EPC C target by 2030.  Consultation was currently being carried out on the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards within the social housing sector and that this will formalise the legal requirement for all social housing homes to meet EPC C standard. Regarding, accommodation, it highlighted the council had a key strategic aim for the provision of accommodation across all areas the district. In particular, one area has been overlooked as it was felt there was now sufficient accommodation there already.  The forthcoming development at Hythe hospital would provide more accommodation and further accommodation opportunities were arising in the Waterside and the council was bidding for this accommodation.

The Chairman of the Housing and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel further highlighted the tenant representative who had been co-opted onto the Panel and recognised the importance of this member to help engagement with tenants.  This representative had also attended a successful community engagement event recognising that their involvement was greater than that of the Scrutiny Panel and that there had been a good level of engagement with tenants at this event.