Issue - meetings

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor John Bevan, Cabinet Member for Housing Services.

The Committee received a briefing on key issues and responses to questions from the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Councillor John Bevan.

The Committee sought clarification and the following was noted:

• Properties would be converted into permanent homes and there would be a process of checking that families were correctly sized homes; this would not result in a reduction in temporary accommodation available to the Council. 
• Tenants in under occupied properties were encouraged to find other properties and introduced to the home swappers scheme.
• Unlicensed Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), which were subject to the same housing repair, amenities and fire safety regulations, were being sought out.  However, only permanent homes managed by Haringey would be required to meet the Decent Homes Standard (DHS).
• Contractors were required to deal with any unwanted pests before DHS works began.  The Chair suggested a piece of work be conducted to ascertain whether, when pest control works were being conducted in a block which included leaseholder properties, leaseholders were being recharged.
• The DHS planned to also make homes air and water tight.  A briefing note would be provided on whether heat proofing of Council Properties was part of works to achieve the Decent Homes Standards. 
• In response to the 2008 Audit Commission report, which rated Housing Services as “poor”, work was on-going to improve services. A staff restructure was occurring and new job descriptions drafted for staff at Alexandra House.  Staff will be held to account for performance.
• Services will be re-organised to focus on prevention. Homes for Haringey job descriptions will include an element of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults; a staff training programme was being arranged.  The Tenants and Landlords Forum will introduce the expectation on private landlords to have regard to safeguarding children in the future. 
• Rent increases would be agreed in May and tenants should receive a Section 103 letter advising of the new rent.  Any refunds would be given to tenants by lowering rent rather than refunding full amounts.
• The Council was expected to deliver a mortgage rescue service to 6000 households. 

RESOLVED

That the briefing and answers to questions be noted.