Agenda, decisions and minutes

The following interests were declared:

Councillor Mark Howell

A non-pecuniary interest as an employee of the Papworth Trust, a charity that includes a Registered Social Landlord.

Councillor Ben Shelton

A non-pecuniary interest as an employee of a letting agent in Cambridge.

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2013 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2013 were agreed as a correct record.

It was brought to the Portfolio Holder’s attention that reference to `Explore Housing Foyer’ in the table of service plan priorities, minute 15 refers, was not included in the final service plan and that due to operational circumstances would be delayed.

The Housing Portfolio Holder APPROVED the initial steps for the Wilford Furlong/Brickhills Project at Willingham as follows:

(a)       To undertake a more in-depth survey of residents about where they live and how they feel about their home and current surroundings,

(b)       Re-survey all our 82 tenanted homes for consistent SAP and EPC ratings and asset information work with Saunders Boston, Architects to plan Open Days / Planning for real days to explore options with residents,

(c)       Approach the scheme as an infill re-generation and renewal scheme; giving better neighbourhoods to existing residents and added value of additional homes to let, and

(d)       Explore the option of an additional new build site in the locality.

Other options considered:

(a)       Infill development possibilities – there is quite a lot of open space and underused garage forecourts which could accommodate some additional new homes for the Council.

(b)       Reconfiguring hard & soft landscaping – there is the opportunity to include some of the underused open space areas into existing residents gardens, and possibly incorporate off road parking in some areas of the estate. The open space currently provides for no equipped area of play, is this something that residents want?

(c)       Property improvements – The properties are expensive to maintain in terms of responsive repairs.  Capital investment from the Housing revenue Account over an agreed period could reduce the burden on our day to day repairs budget

(d)       Increasing energy efficiency across our stock – the properties vary in terms of SAP ratings from 52 to 96. The SAP average in the area is 71 and is considered low against our overall existing stock which measures at 73.

Reason for decision: The Council is proposing a significant regeneration scheme for this estate and it is important to begin that process by working closely with existing residents to understand what they want to achieve for their area and homes.

The Resident Involvement Team Leader presented the report that sought authority to undertake resident and property surveys on dwellings located at Wilford Furlong/Brickhills, Willingham to begin scoping an estate renewal project.

The Portfolio Holder noted the following:

·         All 3 local members, together with the Parish Council supported the proposals

·         Residents views would be sought on their likes and dislikes within the area

·         In addition to the surveys, local information and resident engagement events would be held

·         Owner/occupiers of properties on the site would also be surveyed for their opinions

The Housing Portfolio Holder APPROVED the initial steps for the Wilford Furlong/Brickhills Project at Willingham as follows:

(a)       To undertake a more in-depth survey of residents about where they live and how they feel about their home and current surroundings,

(b)       Re-survey all our 82 tenanted homes for consistent Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP)[1] and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings and asset information work with Saunders Boston, Architects to plan Open Days / Planning for real days to explore options with residents,

(c)       Approach the scheme as an infill re-generation and renewal scheme; giving better neighbourhoods to existing residents and added value of additional homes to let, and

(d)       Explore the option of an additional new build site in the locality.

.

The Housing Portfolio Holder APPROVED the Non-Traditional Construction Strategy.

Other option considered:

To instruct further investigation into the option for disposal.

Reasons for decision:

(a)       To repair the defective stock is a legal requirement in accordance with the Housing Act 1985. They do not require to be brought up to a mortgage standard but do seek a guaranteed life of a minimum of 25 years.

(b)       The properties are in very poor condition and failure to act will result in further deterioration and possible structural collapse. A recent survey of a vacant Airey suggests it is in extremely poor condition in comparison with other properties of the same construction in different regions.

(c)       The residents of the properties suffer from very high fuel bills and condensation issues related to poorly insulated homes. With rising fuel prices this will only increase.

(d)       The failure of some key components such as the roofs of Hauxley bungalows are increasing. This is resulting increased response repairs and, in some cases replacement, that does not achieve the economies of scale of a planned improvement programme.

(e)       The reform of the Housing Revenue Account has enabled resources to become available to repair and refurbish these properties.

In presenting the report seeking authority for the adoption of a strategy to deal with the long term maintenance needs of homes owned by the Council built using non-traditional methods, the Head of Housing and Property Services reiterated the contents of the report. In particular the Portfolio Holder was informed that, subject to approval of the strategy, the focus would be on Airey properties and Hauxley bungalows. Residents of the Airey properties would be required to vacate the dwellings whilst remedial work was being carried out.

Following discussion, the following comments were made:

·         Selling some of the properties in line with the Council’s Asset Management Strategy would not be the preferred route. Consideration would be given to the preferences of proposed tenants

·         Concern was expressed about the financial cost of the proposed refurbishment. It was noted that it was more financially viable to refurbish than purchase new property, although properties that required substantial improvement may be sold or re-built.  The financial element of the costs involved overall had been reflected in the recently approved Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan.

·         It was anticipated that savings relating to responsive repairs would be made

The Housing Portfolio Holder requested that regular updates on this project be given to future meetings and APPROVED the Non-Traditional Construction Strategy as appended to the covering report.

The Head of Housing Strategy and Development updated the Portfolio Holder on the current status of the New Build Programme and Action Plan, attached as appendices to the report; these were:

New Build

·         Linton             completed

·         Foxton            due to commence Autumn 2014

·         Gamlingay     number of units may be increased with a commence time of

Spring 2015

·         Bourn             due to commence Spring 2015

·         Willingham     to be confirmed

·         Northstowe    to be confirmed

Action Plan

·         Appoint external design team                     completed

·         Identify Risk Log                                           completed, updated and to be

presented to Corporate Governance Committee

·         Agree a set of parameters                           staff training completed

·         Quality Standards Charter                          completed

·         Asset Management Policy                           completed

·         Equity Share delivery                                   progressing

·         New build target                                           as per the above and Action Plan

·         Development Opportunities (SCDC land)on course

·         Development Opportunities (elsewhere)   negotiations have been initiated

·         Monitoring New Build Strategy                  will be reported to Portfolio

Holder meeting in December

2014               

The Housing Portfolio Holder NOTED the contents of the report and the information provided above.

The Portfolio Holder, having been informed that the units at Robson Court, Waterbeach would be managed by Sanctuary housing, NOTED the report containing an update on the provision of temporary accommodation within the District.

Published as a separate document

The draft Affordable Homes Service Plan was presented to the Portfolio Holder with the following points particularly highlighted:

·         The Corporate long-term vision and aims

·         Housing service objectives

·         Eleven projects were scheduled within the plan period

·         Project scoring and securing resources

·         Value for Money

·         Mitigating risk

·         Inter-dependency links showing involvement of other services

·         The Project Plan showed how the individual projects would be managed

·         Regular updates would be given to the Portfolio Holder

·         The Service Plan was a `live’ document and may be subject to change

The Portfolio Holder requested that the Tenant Participation Group and Youth Council be involved in the review of the Mears Contract.

In conclusion, the Portfolio Holder expressed his thanks to Julie Fletcher, Housing Performance Improvement Team Leader and Grace Andrews, Data Quality Officer for the innovative way in which the Service Plan was presented; the template could be adapted for use in all the Council’s future Service Plans.

The Housing Portfolio Holder NOTED the contents of the Service Plan.

Wendy Head, Chairman of the Tenant Participating Group (TPG) addressed the Portfolio Holder informing him that the Group had had 3 learning sessions relating to IT including the use of Excel and Word and were involved in officer interviews relating to the Estate Inspection project, due to be considered by the Portfolio Holder at his meeting in October 2014. An invitation to attend the next meeting of the TPG on Monday 7 April was extended to all those present.

The Portfolio Holder expressed his delight at the level of tenant involvement within the District in comparison with other councils.

Callum Hatch, Youth Councillor informed the Portfolio Holder that he had attended a meeting of the TPG and had found it both useful and enjoyable.

The Portfolio Holder will maintain, for agreement at each meeting, a Work Programme identifying all matters relevant to the Portfolio which it is believed are likely to be the subject of consideration and / or decision by the Portfolio Holder, or recommendation to, or referral by, the Portfolio Holder to Cabinet, Council, or any other constituent part of the Council.   The Programme will be updated as necessary.  The Portfolio Holder will be responsible for the content and accuracy of the Programme.

An up to date work programme was tabled at the meeting as follows:

Housing Portfolio Holder – Work Programme

Wednesday 18 June 2014 at 5.30pm

The next scheduled meeting of the Housing Portfolio Holder would take place on Wednesday, 18 June 2014 at 5:30pm.