Issue - meetings

The Chairman of the Social Housing Task and Finish Group submitted a report that provided the basis for a discussion by the Committee for shaping the Terms of Reference and Membership of a Task and Finish Group to better understand the issues and challenges faced by residents and housing associations.

The Interim Scrutiny Officer said that the intention was that a scrutiny day or half day events could be set up to consider these issues and challenges.  He stated that key lines of enquiry could include input from a residents’ forum or a tenants’ representative group to pick up any concerns.

Members were advised that the Task and Finish Group could consider how the Council could work with providers to assist residents.  Members should consider appropriate representatives to invite and the Task and Finish Group would need to work with the Head of Housing and Health in respect of the intended lines of enquiry.

The Committee was advised that an interim report would be submitted in February with a final report submitted by the end of the 2019/20 civic year.  Councillor M Goldspink said that 2 events could be considered with 1 held in Hertford and the other in Bishop’s Stortford.  Members were advised that way forward could be a single provider event which would receive the input from 2 residents’ events.

Councillor J Wyllie proposed and Councillor J Frecknall seconded, a motion that the Task and Finish Group would be formed of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillors M Goldspink, M Brady and N Symonds.  The Group would explore how the Authority and Councillors could support tenants and improve service standards.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the Task and Finish Group would be formed of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillors M Goldspink, M Brady and N Symonds; and

(B)   the Task and Finish Group would explore how the Authority and Councillors could support tenants and improve service standards.