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Issue details

Housing Update

 

 

The report updates Councillors on a range of operational housing issues, and what actions are being taken to rectify each problem identified. This includes sharing that Council tenants’ rent has been incorrectly set at a higher level than is allowed under national rules for both 2021/22 and for many but not all, also in 2022/23, which will therefore need to be refunded to tenants (and to the Department of Work and Pensions for the share of any rents paid during that period by Housing Benefit). The report also details unacceptable standards uncovered in the handling of damp and mould issues, and the return to the Government required on this subject.

The report also provides an update on key health and safety indicator performance, and also some limited commentary on broader repairs and maintenance performance. Finally, the report advises Members of particular corrective measures identified as being necessary for Reynolds Court sheltered housing unit, in Newport.

 

The report explicitly requests Member approval to spend up to £500,000 (plus VAT) to commission an urgent Stock Condition Survey (and associated costs) for the whole of the authority’s council housing, to start as soon as possible in 2023, and ideally to be complete within three months.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure or Savings > £100,000;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Notice of proposed decision first published: 04/01/2023

This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.

Reason for urgency:
Special Urgency measures were applied to the consideration of an urgent decision at the Cabinet meeting held on 22nd December 2022, regarding financial provision for the letting of a contract to begin a stock condition survey of the authority’s 2,800 council homes, starting in January 2022. The reason for urgency related to the timing required of all councils which are a housing landlord to comply with a requirement of the Regulator of Social Housing. The Regulator required a response from all such authorities by Monday 19th December setting out their handling of damp and mould issues. Uttlesford District Council carried out urgent and extensive work to prepare for that response by the 19th December, and as a result, identified that a number of follow up pieces of work were required, including a stock condition survey. To allow for the stock condition survey work to begin in January, such approval was sought and gained from Cabinet on 22nd December.

Anticipated restriction: Part exempt  - View reasons

Decisions

Agenda items