Agenda and minutes

There were no Apologies were received at this meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 11 July 2019.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 11 July 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements made at this meeting.

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 this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider any item of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Panel that falls under the remit of the Housing Portfolio.  This will include any decisions taken by the Executive Member during the same time period.

The Panel considered the Executive items of business which fall under the remit of the Housing Portfolio, including individual Executive Member decisions, that have taken place since the last meeting of the Panel.

There were no comments received for this item.

There were no comments received for this item.

There were no comments received for this item.

To receive an update by the Affordable Housing Strategic Lead which provides Member with an update on affordable housing.

The Panel received a presentation from the Affordable Housing Strategic Lead, which updated the Panel with a detailed overview of the progress of the key sites managed by Fareham Housing. A copy of the presentation is appended to these Minutes.

Members discussed Assheton Court at length, raising concerns over the way in which the project will proceed. Officers clarified that there will be a sensitive approach to the project, which is still to be finalised, ensuring residents are kept informed throughout the process.

RESOLVED that the Housing Scrutiny Panel considered the contents of the presentation.

To consider and approve a draft scoping report for inclusion in an invitation to the Two Saints Homelessness Service to attend a future meeting of the Panel to update Members on service provision.

The Panel considered a draft scoping report to be included in an invitation for Two Saints Homelessness Service to attend the next scheduled meeting of the Panel on the 06 February 2020.

Members requested that an additional bullet point be included to the Objective and Description section of the report. This would be to provide on the funds that residents receive and how this is broken down for the services that they receive. Offices advised that this could be provided to the Panel as general, average figures, so as not to give any specific details about individuals.

RESOLVED that the Housing Scrutiny Panel: -

(a)   considered the draft scoping report; and

(b)   with the addition of a bullet point requesting that some general financial information be provided, approve that the report be included in an invitation for Two Saints Homelessness Service to attend the next meeting of the Panel on the 06 February 2020.

To consider a report which informs members about the housing management and maintenance services provided by the Neighbourhood Team and the Repairs and Maintenance Team.

The Panel received a report from the Head of Housing and Benefits, providing information about the housing management and maintenance services delivered by the Council’s Neighbourhood Team and the Repairs and Maintenance teams.

The report was presented to the Panel in three sections. The first was delivered by the Head of Housing and Benefits who ran through the Neighbourhood Services. Members enquired around the funding for the new post of Welfare Support Officer. The funds for this role have been reallocated from monies that were previously paid to the Citizens Advice Bureau for a similar external post. This new internal post has been a success to date, with several positive case studies highlighted in the report. Members asked that in future reports, information also be provided on the challenges and failures to assist and engage with tenants as well as the positives.

The Responsive Repairs and Planned Maintenance sections of the report were delivered by the Head of Building Repairs and Maintenance Service and the Planned Maintenance Manager. Members enquired as to the data used to monitor the Planned Maintenance Service, officers confirmed that this data was provided by a third-party consultant.

RESOLVED that the Housing Scrutiny Panel considered the contents of the report.

To consider a report by the Housing Policy Officer on the draft Fareham Housing Greener Policy.

The Panel received a report from the Policy Officer on the draft Fareham Housing Greener Policy.

Members discussed the draft Fareham Housing Greener Policy at Appendix A to the report at length. It was requested that Officers explore ways of obtaining feedback from the Boroughs Passivhaus tenants to assist with the Council’s housing developments moving forward. Members also asked that Officers investigate the potential use of Greywater in new developments to reduce water consumption for Council tenants. Officers thanked Members for their feedback.

RESOLVED that the Housing Scrutiny Panel considered and commented on the draft Fareham Housing Greener Policy.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Housing Panel.

Members considered the scrutiny priorities for the Housing Scrutiny Panel. Members asked for Officers to provide feedback to the Panel on the Tenant and Lease Holder Forum meetings. Officers advised that this can be added to the half yearly Tenancy Management, Repairs and Maintenance of Council-owned properties report and would be a useful to tool for Members to identify areas of possible scrutiny.

RESOLVED that the Panel considered the Scrutiny priorities for the Housing Scrutiny Panel.