Agenda and minutes

The chair opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. Apologies were received from Felicity Kelsall and John Ranshaw.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2017 be confirmed.

Please note that, in accordance with the LTP Code of Conduct, when declaring interests LTP members must disclose the existence and nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable or personal interests.

RESOLVED there were no conflicts of interest raised.

There were two sections to Quarterly Question Time on this occasion. The first was led by Councillor Peter West, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Bob Ledger, Director of Housing and Regeneration.

Q1) Would you agree when the new tenant signs the tenancy agreement, there is a space including the electrical register, so they could be signed at the same time?

 A) Due to Individual Electoral Registration, the government is pushing more and more people to register themselves online in order that information can be verified via the Department for Works and Pensions. In view of this, we no longer provide hard copies of application forms. We undertake a canvas every year to confirm who is living at every property in the city (householder enquiry form), with invitations to register sent out to those who return  the initial household enquiry form should they not already be registered. In answer to the question therefore, due to the requirements of individual electoral registration I would not be able to provide a form that they could complete at the same time as singing up to their tenancy. I could, however provide a letter with a link to the government’s registration website or a contact number for ourselves (we can also process applications over the phone). Alternatively, we have some bookmarks that we use for the University which has the governments register to vote web address on it which we could include in tenancy welcomes packs if that would be helpful.

Q2)Because sometimes it takes between two to ten weeks to complete some of the work carried out, is this caused by the lack of personnel employed by the council and if that is the case do we need to employ more?

A) We split the work between day to day repair and planned works. The former is done by ourselves and the latter by Kier (and their subcontractors). For the day to day work last financial year, taking the average from the 30,000 plus repair jobs, we did repairs in an average of five days.

Q3)Because there is a concern of the quality of the work regarding the contractors, is it possible it could be more scrutinised, before they receive payment?

A) If there are specific concerns about work by Kier and their contractors members of LTP and other tenants need to share the specifics of the concern as the issue arises and we’ll look into it. In my experience the Kier criticism I have heard is usually based on something historical i.e. when I’ve asked for the specifics of an issue it I find it usually happened several years ago. We’ve spent the last year trying to get Kier to improve their processes and they are responding. Alongside that we also freeing up our investment team to carry out more checks on the quality of the Kier work. Monitored tenant satisfaction levels with Kier work is good.

Response. Did we ask the public if the satisfaction with Kier has improved?

A) These surveys  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.

Paula Burton,Housing Quality and Performance Manager presented an update of the Service Delivery Plan.

A) Explained that housing have a service delivery plan and this has a list of tasks that housing need to complete in 17/18

B) Advised the plan states a list of tasks, who is responsible and deadlines for these

C) Updated LTP on the current status of all tasks within the plan.

D) Invited LTP members to ask any questions about the plan.

Q1) For task 30, do you have a timescale yet?

A) Not yet as we are still monitoring the affect that all of the changes are having and therefore haven’t added a completion date to the projects.

RESOLVED the update be noted.

Paula Burton, gave an update on the under occupation incentive scheme to the panel.

RESOLVED the update be noted.

RESOLVED item deferred due to the application still awaiting assessment by the community investment panel.

Chris Morton, Resident Involvement Manager, gave an update on the LTP budget:

a)    Explained the current expenditure of the budget and that sufficient funding remains to allow LTP and other groups to operate until the end of the year

b)    Advised that expenditure is similar to the amount spent this time last year.

RESOLVED the report be noted.

RESOLVED item deferred as no further update received regarding ARCH.

RESOLVED no further update available.

Caroline Coyle-Fox, Chair of Allocations and Tenancy:

a)    Explained that the group is looking at furniture collection schemes provided by charities in Lincoln

b)    Advised at the next meeting a representative from Alive Church would be attending and asked questions about the scheme that is in operation.

RESOLVED the update be noted.

Chris Morton gave an update on behalf of the chair of Neighbourhood, Community Involvement and Home group.

a)    Advised the group are looking at repairs and at the meeting yesterday arranged to shadow operatives and send out a satisfaction survey to residents about repairs.

RESOLVED the update be noted.

Debbie Rousseau, Chair of the LTP ASB group.

a)    Advised the group had agreed to join forces with council officers and reform the ASB development group that would meet monthly

b)    Explained the LTP ASB group would still meet on a quarterly basis.

RESOLVED the update be noted.

Debbie Rousseau advised that a number of LTP members felt that the state of untidy gardens should be looked at by the panel and therefore a task and finish group should be formed.

RESOLVED it was agreed that CM should contact DR and arrange a date for this meeting.

RESOLVED no further update available.

The next LTP training session will take place on 8 November, 10:00-11:00 at City Hall and will cover allocations.

Following this a workshop on Homelessness will take place at Trafford Hall on 21-22 November.

RESOLVED the update be noted.

LTP members were reminded the next LTP meeting will now take place on 15 November 17.

RESOLVED-item noted and LTP members didn’t request any changes to the LTP workprogramme.

It was explained that Caroline Coyle-Fox was elected to stand in for Gaynor Brown at HSSC but still needs electing into the seat. It was felt she should continue to cover the seat until the LTP AGM in March. This was because there is only three meetings left until then and it would mean holding an election in November and then again in March.

RESOLVED Caroline Coyle-Fox to continue to cover the seat until the LTP AGM elections.

EMTPF Conference 23 November 17

LTP members were notified that the next EMTPF conference is taking place on 23 November 17 and to contact CM if they wished to attend. It was also explained the housing minster would be attending.

RESOLVED LTP members to contact CM about attending.