Agenda item

To note the update on council housing maintenance and regulatory compliance.

The Chair introduced the report and welcomed the Interim Director, Housing, Health and Communities to the meeting.

The Chief Executive outlined the current situation as detailed in Paragraphs 10 – 18 of the report and particularly highlighted arrangements in place to manage reported cases of damp and mould, where the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities had asked for reports back within three weeks.

In response to various comments and questions, officers:

·        Explained the role that would be played by the new contract manager and the fact that he would have access to the full system which would enable every complaint to be looked at.

·        Considered that the likelihood of a Regulatory Improvement Notice being served on the Council was probably below 50%. The Council had commissioned Penningtons, experts in this area, to validate all data and the Regulator had requested a copy of the report when available.

·        Said that in respect of damp and mould cases, the data was being scrutinised but that this area had not previously been an indicator. The work being undertaken would establish historical cases and timescales.

·        Said that a Complaints Management Policy was being developed.

·        Asked Members to provide any information in respect of known cases of damp and mould.

·        Clarified the role of Environmental Health in cases where private landlords had issues of damp and mould and where enforcement action could be taken or utilising the Housing Options route. Action could even be taken through the Proceeds of Crime Act.

·        Said that they were looking to engage with all tenants through a new Communications Strategy to encourage tenants to report damp and mould in their home

·       Said that the issue of stock condition surveys, which should be carried out on a rolling five-year programme, had been taken up with UNSL, who had indicated that they were looking to catch up on the backlog.

Members noted the report.

The meeting closed at 8.30 pm.