Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Health and Housing Policy Development and Review Panel meeting held on 21 July 2016.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the Health & Housing Policy Development and Review Panel held on 21 July 2016 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive a verbal report by the Chairman of the Health and Housing Policy Development and Review Panel on Local Strategic Health Issues.

The Panel received a verbal update from the Chairman on local health issues.

The Chairman reported that, unfortunately, there has not yet been any improvement in the use of the Fareham Community Hospital. 

The Chairman also reported that NHS England is currently focussing on producing Multi-year Sustainable Transformation Plans to ensure that health and care services are built around the needs of local populations. The Hampshire Plan is being led by the Chief Officer of the Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group.  More information should be available on this at the next Panel meeting when Members are due to receive an update from the Fareham & Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group on local health priorities.   

To receive a verbal update from the Head of Housing, Revenues & Benefits on the Council’s Social & Affordable Housing Programme.

The Panel received a verbal update from the Head of Housing, Revenues and Benefits on the Social and Affordable Housing Programme. The following updates were provided:

·         The Council has now taken possession of Stevenson Court. Potential tenants for 13 of the 16 flats have been identified and the first tenants are likely to start moving in after 10 October 2016.  Arrangements will now be made for Members to visit Stevenson Court as agreed at the last meeting.

·         A site visit took place last week to Sylvan Court. The building is looking fantastic and possession will take place towards the end of the year.

·         Guidance is awaited from central government on longer term future Social and Affordable housing plans as there is an indication that there is a need for a greater variety of tenures to be provided. In the meantime, the Council is continuing to take up the opportunities that arise through Housing Associations.

The Chairman advised that as the designs of Sylvan Court and Collingwood Court are very similar, arrangements will be made for Members to view Sylvan Court when it is completed.

The Chairman also advised that an Officer/Member Working Party has been set up to review and consider the Council’s new Housing Strategy.  The Officer/Member Working Party includes the Executive Member for Health & Housing and the Executive Member for Planning.  The Panel will be given the opportunity to comment on the outcomes before they are recommended to the Executive.

It was AGREED that the Head of Housing, Revenues and Benefits be thanked for her verbal update.

To receive an update from the Director of Operations on Welfare Reforms.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Housing, Revenues and Benefits which provided an update on Welfare Reforms.

It was AGREED that the Panel note the content of the report.

To receive a report on Council Housing Repairs & Maintenance, including a presentation outlining the changes that have been made as a result of the Vanguard intervention.

The Panel received a presentation by the Planned Maintenance Manager on changes made as a result of the Vanguard interventions.   The presentation highlighted what the building services team do, how they used the ‘systems thinking’ approach to understand what matters to customers and how to improve and measure performance.

The Panel also considered a report by the Director of Operations on Council Housing Repairs and Maintenance covering all aspects of the service delivered to residents for the first quarter of 2016/17.

It was AGREED that the Panel:-

a)    thank the Planned Maintenance Manager for a very informative presentation; and

b)    note the content of the report.

To consider a report by the Director of Operations on Tenancy Management Performance.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Operations on the performance of Tenancy Services with regard to rent arrears, management of empty homes, anti-social behaviour, estate services and tenant involvement.

Members welcomed the reduction in rent arrears to 1.66% of the projected annual rent debit and requested that for future reports, the illustrative graph provided in the report include the previous year’s data for comparison purposes.

It was AGREED that the Panel note the content of the report.

To consider a report by the Director of Operations, inviting the Panel to review the Work Programme for 2016/17.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Operations which reviewed the Work Programme for 2016/17.

It was AGREED that the Work Programme for 2016/17 be approved.