Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
To provide the final report from the Housing
Associations Scrutiny Panel. There was a need to scrutinise the
current situation and operations with regards to a limited number
of housing associations within the town, together with service
standards, satisfaction and complaints received. It was felt
important to explore options to improve the work between the
council and various RSLs, resulting in a positive outcome for
residents. The Panel sought understanding on the current processes,
practices and systems that exist, together with the provision of
support available to tenants, in order to address some of the
concerns and improvements for consumer standards together with
seeking to build on the relationships already in place with
Registered Providers.
That the Cabinet requests that:
a) the Cabinet Member for Housing and/or Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, along with relevant Government Departments calling for councils to have greater powers to scrutinise registered housing providers, along with powers to direct registered housing providers to make amends where failure occurs, and that this letter also requests that Registered Providers:
· Provide a breakdown of their Tenant Satisfaction Measures at a local authority level (this is likely to apply where stock is above a certain level) and that this be provided to the relevant local authorities upon request.
· Participate in local partnership and councillor activity convened by local authorities to address matters that relate directly to their stock and tenants.
· Include local councillors within their engagement activity with tenants.
b) Officers provide as much information as possible (in accordance with GDPR) to Registered Providers once a social tenancy is agreed so the registered provider can assist the tenant fully both prior and during the placement.
Reasons for the Recommendations
To understand the current processes, practices and systems that exist, together with the provision of support available to tenants, in order to address some of the concerns and improvements for consumer standards together with seeking to build on the relationships already in place between the Council and Registered Housing Providers.
Report author: Ian Duke
Publication date: 05/09/2024
Date of decision: 04/09/2024
Decided at meeting: 04/09/2024 - Cabinet
Effective from: 11/09/2024
Accompanying Documents: