Issue - meetings

Housing Update and Programme of Works to Council Housing Stock 2021/22

Meeting: 10/03/2021 - Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee (Item 15)

15 Housing Update and Programme of Works to Council Housing Stock 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 611 KB

This report highlights key achievements of the Housing Service over the over the past financial year and sets out the work programme for the Council’s housing stock for the next financial year

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report which highlighted key achievements of the Housing Service over the over the past financial year and set out the work programme for the Council’s housing stock for the next financial year.  The following documents were appended to the report:

Appendix 1: Wards where programmes of work had been carried out in 20/21;

Appendix 2: Wards that were included in the programme for 21/22.

The report stated that over the past year, the achievements of the Service had included:

·      Everyone In – the provision of accommodation and food for people rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping during the first lockdown;

·      The provision of additional accommodation for people who had previously been sleeping rough, plus a successful bid to MHCLG for £2.279m for the provision of 24-hour support to assist with rebuilding the lives of these vulnerable individuals;

·      Maintaining the position where no homeless families were placed in shared Bed and Breakfast accommodation;

·      Continued support and debt advice to tenants;

·      Development and adoption of the Council’s Housing and Homelessness Strategies which set out the Council’s vision and priorities for the next five years;

·      Works to provide additional accommodation via both conversions and new build;

·      Start on site for the community centre as part of the Dee Park Regeneration;

·      Refurbishment of properties including replacement of heating, water, windows and replacement and installation of fire alarm and sprinkler systems.

The report also updated the Committee on the results of the Tenant Satisfaction Survey which had been carried out during April and May 2020, which found that although satisfaction levels were still generally high, there had been a reduction some areas.

The report explained that Housing Property Services had a responsibility to ensure that the housing stock was well maintained in accordance with the Decent Homes Standard and that Council homes were safe and healthy places to live, including the improvement of the thermal efficiency of its stock in line with the Council’s Climate Change ambitions ensuring homes could be heated efficiently and cost effectively, thus reducing their carbon footprint and reducing fuel poverty.  The service also worked to improve the wider environment on housing estates to meet the needs and aspirations of both the Council and the tenants.  Tables 1 and 2 attached to the report set out details of the works to be carried out and the associated costs.

Resolved -

(1)      That the key achievements of the Housing Service in the past financial year and the planned programme of works to Council stock for 2021/22 be noted;

(2)      That the Assistant Director of Housing & Communities in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Housing be authorised to tender for and enter into all necessary contracts for individual schemes within the 21/22 work programme as set out in Tables 1 and 2 of the report, subject to sufficient funding being available in the approved Budget to meet the cost of the schemes.