Agenda item

Yvonne Fox, Assistant Director, Housing:

a.    provided a report to advise Members of the proposed performance indicator targets normally reported to Scrutiny for 2023/24, to agree the targets against which performance information could be monitored and reported throughout the year

b.    reported that performance information was reported to the Housing Scrutiny Sub Committee on a quarterly basis, and targets reviewed on an annual basis with both tenants and the Committee at the March meeting

c.    advised that following the Covid-19 pandemic, normal management information had been collated as well as reporting performance against targets; management information had been provided wherever practically possible and members were aware of reasons for any changes to service and performance over the last few years

d.    reported that throughout 2022/23 there had been challenges in repairing and allocating empty properties due to the shortage of available workforce, supply chain issues and the increase in price of raw materials and services; new ways of delivering non-urgent repairs had been trialled and introduced and new sub-contracting arrangements were now in place

e.    highlighted that around 50% of all voids were currently resulting from the death of a tenant unfortunately, the number of tenancies becoming void had increased and the delivery of new housing developments had put further pressure on the time taken to repair a void property, particularly in cases of the death of a tenant without an executor or will which resulted in the need to apply to the Public Trustee before a tenancy could be legally terminated after 28 days

f.     added that we continued to encounter a small number of properties each month, which did not allow access for the annual gas service/safety inspection and this number was on the increase; robust processes were followed, and these failed access addresses were referred to legal services to seek an injunction from the county court in order to obtain access

g.    stated that:

·         Rent collection had continued to be challenging but the focus on early help and support had seen collection rates broadly in line with targets throughout this year.

·         Members and tenants agreed not to change targets relating to rent collection for a period of 2 years in 2022 due to financial uncertainties post-covid.

·         Tenancy Services had placed significant emphasis on contact through calls and visits, with new targets in place for staff.

·         Universal Credit (UC) claims had continued to increase. As the number of tenants moving on to UC increased, the proportion of tenancies in arrears would increase as UC was paid in arrears.

h.    referred to proposed realistic targets for 2023/24 based on current performance, national guidance and benchmarking with similar authorities as detailed at Appendix A to her report, for members consideration

i.      reported that the targets would be reviewed in six months’ time when the operating climate was clearer.

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail. The following questions, comments emerged:

The Chair referred to opportunities having been made available to make adjustments to the targets and he hoped they were now attainable, in order that members could scrutinise performance according to set measures to ensure it was up to standard.

Councillor Briggs queried whether access to properties for annual gas inspections could be made compulsory the next time the Tenancy Agreement Policy was reviewed.

Councillor Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing highlighted that tenants felt more vulnerable and were less happy to allow access to their properties since Covid. Once a court order was applied for this ran for the lifetime of the tenancy.

Yvonne Fox, Assistant Director for Housing explained that robust procedures were in place to acquire access to properties for gas inspections. Unfortunately people with mental health issues were sometimes reluctant to allow access, however, court injunctions were not expensive.

Mick Barber, Chair of LTP highlighted that there were minimal cases involved where access to properties for gas inspections were refused. There was a time limit on central heating/hot water systems in council properties which cut out operation if the boiler was not inspected.

RESOLVED that the proposed performance targets for 2023/24 be noted and approved.