To consider the recommendations from the meeting of the Housing & Customer Services Working Group held on 6 February 2020 – there are recommendations for Cabinet to consider as detailed below. To access the agenda for this meeting – please click on this link: Agenda
· Minute 12 [Asbestos Policy and Management Plan]
· Minute 13 [Tenancy and Lettings Policy]
· Minute 14 [Pets Policy]
· Minute 15 [Empty Homes Update]
· Minute 16 [Energy Efficiency Strategy]
Decision:
Cabinet
RESOLVED – That
Minute 12 – Asbestos Policy & Management Plan
(1) The Asbestos Policy 2020 be adopted;
(2) The Asbestos Management Plan be adopted;
(3) Authority be delegated to the Group Head of Residential Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Residential Services, to make minor changes to the Policy and Plan.
Minute 13 – Tenancy & Letting Policy
(1) The Tenancy & Letting Policy April 2020 be adopted;
(2) All current flexible tenancies be converted to secure lifetime tenancies from April 2020; and
(3) Authority be delegated to the Group Head of Residential services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Residential services, to make minor changes to the Policy.
Minute 14 – Pets Policy
(1) The Pets Policy April 2020 be adopted;
(2) Authority be delegated to the Group Head of Residential services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Residential Services, to make minor changes to the Policy.
Minute 15 – Empty Homes Update
(1) The updated enforced Sale Procedure be adopted;
(2) Authority be delegated to the Group Head of Technical Services to make changes to the Enforced Sale Procedure with a review to take place by the end of 2022; and
(3) Approval of the use of existing revenue funds identified below for Empty Homes Assistant Programme with any unspent funds to be earmarked at the end of the financial year:
a. £66k currently earmarked for Empty Homes;
b. Unspent receipts from discretionary housing grants repayments (current balance £20k)
c. Unspent receipts up to £44k from disability facilities grant repayments
Minute 16 – Energy Efficiency Strategy
The Energy Efficiency and Fuel Poverty Strategy 2020-2025 be adopted.
Minutes:
The Chairman invited the relevant Cabinet Members to introduce the recommendations from the Minutes of the meeting of the Housing & Customer Services Working Group held on 6 February 2020 – these had been circulated to the meeting.
The first recommendation was at Minute 12 [Asbestos Policy and Management Plan] which would ensure that the Council was able to meet the regulations and requirements set out in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
The Cabinet
RESOLVED - That
(1) The Asbestos Policy 2020 be adopted;
(2) The Asbestos Management Plan be adopted;
(3) Delegated authority be given to the Group Head of Residential Services in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Residential Services to make minor changes to the Policy and Plan.
The next set of recommendations were at Minute 13 [Tenancy & Lettings Policy] where it had been explained that the Policy presented had been an amalgamation of the previous Tenancy Policy 20212 and Introductory Tenancy Policy 2016. The main driver of the introduction of flexible fixed term tenancies had been to improve better use of housing stock.
The Cabinet
RESOLVED – That
(1) The Tenancy and Lettings Policy April 2020 be adopted;
(2) All current flexible tenancies be converted to secure lifetime tenancies from April 2020;
(3) Delegated authority be given to the Group Head of Residential Services to make minor changes to the Policy.
The next set of recommendations were at Minute 14 [Pets Policy] where approval was sought to adopt a Pets Policy in respect of the management of the Council’s tenancies.
The Cabinet
RESOLVED – That
(1) The Pets Policy April 2020 be adopted; and
(2) Delegated authority be given to the Group Head of Residential Services in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Residential Services to make minor changes to the Policy.
The next recommendations were at Minute 15 [Empty Homes Update] which sought approval to adopt an updated Enforced Sale Procedure and use of existing funds. Councillor Stanley provided a brief update on the work that had been undertaken in brining empty homes back into use as a result of the Empty Homes Strategy which had been adopted by Cabinet in 2018 and he applauded the work of the Council’s Empty Homes Officer who had just secured the Empty Homes Practitioner of the Year Award.
The Cabinet
RESOLVED – That
(1) The updated Enforced Sale Procedure be noted; and
(2) Delegated authority be given to the Group Head of Technical Services to make changes to the end Enforced Sale Procedure, with a review to take place by the end of 2022; and
(3) Approval of the use of existing revenue funds identified below for Empty Homes Assistance Programme with any unspent funds to be earmarked at the end of the financial year for:
(a) £66k currently earmarked for Empty Homes
(b)Unspent receipts from discretionary housing grants repayments (current balance £20k)
(c)Unspent receipts up to £44k from disability facilities grant repayments.
Finally, Cabinet was alerted to the last set of recommendations at Minute 16 [Energy Efficiency Strategy].
The Cabinet
RESOLVED
That the Energy Efficiency and Fuel Poverty Strategy 2020-2025 be adopted.
The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/045/090320, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.