Agenda item

The Head of Housing and Health, on behalf of the Social Housing Task and Finish Group, presented a report that made a series of recommendations for how East Herts Council could enhance the way it works with local registered providers of affordable housing to maximise the quality of housing services for those wishing or needing to rent or buy an affordable home or who were already an affordable housing tenant in East Herts.

Members were reminded that the Social Housing Task and Finish Group had been established in November 2019 to investigate the working arrangements between the East Herts Council and registered providers. Members were advised that the aim of the group had been to explore how the working relationship could be enhanced for tenants and those seeking affordable housing in East Herts.

The Head of Housing and Health said that much ground had been covered in a focus group with tenants of Network Homes and Clarion Housing. Meetings with senior representatives of both organisations were also held and Members were advised that the notes of those meetings and focus groups were appended to the report and a number of very specific issues were being followed up by the housing team.

Members were advised that the report presented a series of recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for improved joint working being recommended to the Executive.

The Head of Housing and Health referred to the recommendations and the suggestions of the Task and Finish Group. He said that a key finding of the Task and Finish Group was that Housing Officers should be involved at an earlier stage in the planning process for new housing developments. 

The Head of Housing and Health said that it was for Housing and Planning Officers to determine how best to incorporate the in depth knowledge of Housing Officers regarding East Herts housing need at the crucial pre application stage.

A number of Members expressed thanks to Officers and the Task and Finish Group Members for what was an excellent report.   Councillor Goldspink said that she fully supported all of the recommendations as they would help Councillors and the housing associations to better understand each other and she hoped that the recommendations would benefit tenants.

Councillor Goldspink said that paragraph 5.1 which related to “risks” could be amended to read “that the Scrutiny Committee could choose not to recommend any actions”. She expressed a hope that the recommendations could be implemented as soon possible and before the end of 2021/22.

Councillor Devonshire asked whether an interim report could come before Members before the end of 2021/22. The Chairman said that he understood that the Executive Members would be joining Members of this Committee at meetings more regularly and the Executive Member could update Overview and Scrutiny Committee on progress.

Councillor Frecknall said it would be good to see the early involvement of the Executive Member with the short term actions as part of this ongoing process.

Councillor Curtis said that it would be helpful to have regular updates, perhaps every 6 months. Following a comment from the Chairman about ensuring that Members were able to do justice to agenda items at meetings, Councillor Curtis said that these regular updates could be submitted by email rather than taking up space on agendas of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Head of Housing Health confirmed that the work of the Task and Finish Group had now concluded and the next stage was that, on presentation of the recommendations to Executive, part of the decision to be taken was establishing a timetable for implementing the recommendations.

The Head of Housing and Health said that housing forum meetings would be reintroduced again with housing management concerns being added to their remit. He said that a particular area of focus had been making the bidding process easier, especially regarding the lead in time for new build properties. He mentioned the need to have “welcome visits” for those moving into a new home.

Councillor Goldspink suggested an update every 12 months subject to the ongoing content of the work programme.

Councillor Goldspink proposed and Councillor Devonshire seconded, a motion that the recommendations detailed in the report be supported, subject to more regular updates from the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods being submitted to the Committee by email. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the recommendations for how the Council can enhance its working arrangements with registered providers, as presented at paragraph 2.6, be recommended to the Executive;

(B)        a recommendation be made to the Executive that the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods works with the Head of Housing and Health to implement the recommendations before the end of 2021/22; and

(C)   should the Executive approve the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommended actions, the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods be invited to report on progress to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee towards the end of 2021/22, and more regularly by email to the Members of the Committee.