Decision details

Housing Associations Scrutiny Panel Final Report

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

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.

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

 

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: