Agenda item

Mick Barber, Chair of Lincoln Tenants Panel (LTP), provided a written report on the panel’s continued work on a variety of projects with tenancy services, fire safety assurance, maintenance, business management and resident involvement teams. The briefing note, designed as a regular update to members of Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee, covered the following areas:

• LTP continued to hold quarterly meetings with the Voids Team Leader to review void inspections and targets. The number of voids inspections had increased and all had surpassed standards. The completion of forms had moved to a digital format to enable the Voids Team Leader access information immediately. Further discissions would  be held with the Voids Team Leader to establish how multiple void inspections could be conducted with limited disruption to the team.
• The Complaints Review Group continued to hold quarterly meetings. The Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Working group had recently reviewed and implemented recommendations. The City of Lincoln Council (CoLC) had been awarded the ASB accreditation.
• The Schedule or Repairs (SOR) Working Group had received positive information relating to performance with repair timescales. A detailed action plan to enhance and increase the SOR programme on Facebook had been rolled out. LTP had reviewed the kitchen and bathroom work programme, attended the final 30-year business plan and estate regeneration workshops. LTP worked with the Resident Involvement Manager to help in the creation of a set of questions to form park of the tenant wide consultation delivered in August and reviewed responses/feedback.
• The Investment Working Group had reviewed the communal door replacement programme and were in the process of creating a satisfaction survey.
• LTP attended virtual training courses on the impact of the Tenant Satisfaction Measures, consumer standards and joined a virtual Council tenants forum.
• LTP continued to represent CoLC at Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH) and Social Housing Quality Resident Panel.

Members discussed the content of the report, commented, asked questions and received relevant responses as follows:

Question: Could an update on the issue of Green Verges be provided?

Response: It was a difficult time of year as the weather resulted in mud being churned up. It was hoped that when the issue moved over to the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan, there would be improvement in the area. Modern houses often contained between 3-5 cars and the lack of availability of space was a continued difficulty. Work on the issue was ongoing.

Comment: The issue affected everyone and did not always affect only council housing tenants.

Response: There had been areas cordoned off to prevent vehicular access and there had been an increase in signage.

Comment: Prior to the commencement of development in the area, a trial had been conducted in Hermit Street. There had been work with parking enforcement and additional signage had been installed. In addition, enforcement was pursued for individuals that did not comply. The approach made a considerable difference however consideration to the ownership of land was important. Further to consultation with tenants, the issue of parking was considered a key concern.

Comment: The result of the consultation has not been viewed by Members

Response: The consultation paper was shown at a workshop however the results were not received until final drafting of the report. Policy colleagues were in the process of producing a report to collate the outcome of the review which could be presented to Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee (HSSC) in the future, if requested.

Comment: The full detail of the consultation provided would not be contained within the 30-year plan, given the depth of the review. However, the overarching principles would be included. The concept of improvement of the estate areas included parking and vehicular access and were included in the plan.

Comment: LTP had viewed the results and the information could be distributed to Members.

Question: Further to the success of the additional signage, where had vehicles that had previously parked on grass verges, now moved to?

Response: It was difficult to have accurate knowledge of where vehicles had moved to however a number could be attributed to commuters that travelled in for work.

Comment: The cost of a dropped curb installation was high.

Comment: Local estate areas were built many years ago and at the time of build, the provision for cars was not as it has become in recent years. The issue was an inherent problem and a solution was needed.

Comment: The 30-year business plan was a revolving document.

Comment: Over 70% of the properties in the Hartsholme area were privately owned and therefore, enforcement was a difficult issue. Many residents complained that cars were parked incorrectly however a great number of tenants reported that there weren’t enough car parking spaces.

RESOLVED that the content of the written update from the Chair of LTP be noted with thanks, to be continued as a regular agenda item.