Agenda item

Daren Turner, Director of Housing and Investment introduced an update on the current housing service status due to the pandemic, covering the following main points:

·         The Housing Directorate was committed to continued provision of services.

·         Despite being in a difficult situation due to recent further restrictions imposed due to Covid-19, service delivery had been reasonably successful, balanced against .the safety of residents and our own workforce.

·         The service tried to abide by the Government ethos to stay at home where possible.

·         Top line PPE equipment was issued to all staff working in a mobile environment.

·         There had been few outbreaks of Covid in City Hall although there were staff self isolating which caused issues.

·         It was excellent news that key workers at the authority would be tested for Covid regularly to ensure their safety and that of others.

·         Progress and performance were both going well under very difficult circumstances.

·         There were no plans to furlough staff at the current time.

Andrew McNeil, Assistant Director, Strategy and Investment:

a.    presented a report to update Housing Scrutiny Sub Committee on the current services provided by the Directorate for Housing and Investment, taking into account the restrictions required in response to the current national lockdown requirements as a consequence of Covid-19

b.    highlighted that in advance of government restrictions in which local authorities in England had been moved into Tier 4 in December 2020, the scope of services that could be delivered had been further reviewed taking into account potential increases in Covid response restrictions

c.    advised that this preparation had enabled a swift move by Housing Services to the current lockdown requirements and in all cases had looked to maintaining service delivery in a way within the current government requirements to ensure the safety of residents and staff.

Each Assistant Director reported on the current service status within their own key housing areas as detailed within paragraphs 3-5 of the report as follows:

·         Assistant Director Investment, Matt Hillman

·         Assistant Director of Strategy and Investment, Andrew McNeil

·         Assistant Director of Housing, Yvonne Fox

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail. Questions/comments were raised which received officer responses as follows:

·         Comment: The new homes at Markham House were brilliant.

·         Response: Thank you for your comments. Member input had been invaluable in shaping the final design of the build.

·         Question: How was the Covid Testing facility at Sincil Bank funded?

·         Response: The Covid-Testing station project was paid for by the Government through public health.

·         Question: The work of housing repair staff formally at Sincil Bank Covid testing station, and now at Croft Street Community Centre was magnificent. Was the cost for these projects repatriated to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA)?

·         Response: Yes indeed. Staff had not been involved in the physical set up of the testing stations. Supplies used during testing would be recharged to SERCO.

·         Question: Looking at the Strategic Housing Function to deliver Next Steps move-on accommodation for rough sleepers; would the properties purchased belong to the HRA or be part of a separate scheme?

·         Response: The Next Step homes would be HRA properties. Funding would be received in the form of grants for each property and the rent paid for by the properties. There was also revenue funding available to help. The accommodation would be self-funding. Adequate income would be available to deliver our own repairs under the HRA. These would be predominantly one bedroomed flats for rough sleepers and occupants would not receive full Council tenancies due to the homes being temporary accommodation only.

·         Question: Did the authority plan to retain blue collar apprentices?

·         Response: The housing service still has apprentices, although there had not been any further recruitment due to Covid. The contracts of those apprentices due to finish in October 2020 were extended until Christmas 2020.The authority encouraged apprentices to apply for any vacancies and would advertise when vacant posts became available.

·         Question: How long were voids properties empty during the current pandemic before being re-let?

·         Response: The properties should be vacant for 72 hours, although the City Council carried out an enhanced cleaning regime to reduce the timescale to 48 hours.

·         Question: In terms of supported housing visits, where was the line drawn between emergency visits which were continuing during the pandemic and non-emergency visits temporarily suspended?

·         Response: Each case was assessed on individual merits together with knowledge and history held regarding the tenant’s need. For example, if a tenant fell and injured themselves and did not have family members to wait with them for an ambulance, our staff would attend.

RESOLVED that the content of the report and discussions held be noted.