To receive an update on the management action that is being undertaken to improve the Housing Repairs service.

The Committee considered a report providing an update on the delivery against the recommendations in the Audit Report on the Housing Repairs service, including clarity around actions still outstanding and the current position.  Initial governance arrangements to tackle the areas highlighted in the audit report included setting up a Repairs Task & Finish Group, which used the key themes from the recommendations to establish five workstreams to oversee improvement.  The Task & Finish Group reported to the Repairs Oversight Board to monitor the key performance indicators and receive updates from each workstream.

The report described progress against the 14 Audit recommendations, the majority of which had now been completed.  The latest status and commentary for each recommendation was set out in an updated extract from the audit tracker attached at Appendix 1 to the report, showing significant progress had been made to address the concerns raised by the Audit.  Where there were outstanding actions, a thorough plan had been documented and was in progress.  It was agreed in December 2024 that the Task & Finish Group would move into a Continuous Improvement Programme, reporting to the Oversight Board quarterly.  The Continuous Improvement Plan was being drafted and would be finalised and signed off following the arrival of the new Interim Head of Property Services. This process would cover the ongoing procurement activities and the policies and procedure review outstanding from the audit recommendations alongside additional improvements required across the service to deliver better performance and outcomes for residents.

Resolved:      That the progress made to address the recommendations in the Audit Report on the Housing Repairs service, including clarity around actions still outstanding and the current position, as set out in the report and Appendix 1, be noted.