Issue - meetings

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

RECEIVED the briefing from the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor John Bevan, and the questions and answers submitted in advance of the meeting.  The Cabinet Member presented the report, as laid out, and highlighted that since April 2011 introductory tenancies (consisting of a 12 month trial period in order to discourage anti social behaviour) were now operating and would be monitored and reviewed.

NOTED the following in response to supplementary questions.

Q1 – Affordable Housing – the Committee asked how much funding Haringey had received through the National Affordable Housing Programme in the last 3 years. The information would be provided (Action No. 248). 

Q2 – Housing Development on Tottenham Lane – The Committee was informed that the Planning Committee did not have powers to prescribe how much social or private housing should be built on developments of less than 10 units.

Q12 – Illegal Subletting – The Council identified on average 28 properties each year as being illegally sublet.  It was suspected that there were many more than this and additional funding would allow more targeted exercise.  Comparisons of the various databases such as council tax and electoral registers were made during the National Fraud Initiative annual check, however, most illegal sublets were made known to the Council by word of mouth.

Q15 – Delays re-letting void properties – In addition to repairs causing delays if no tenants bid for an advertised property the process of advertising started again which extended the re-let times.  In response to questions it was noted that approximately 40% of properties were rejected – out of up to 7 tenants invited to view a property many will not turn up, a proportion will reject the property and others will have been offered alternative properties.  Some sheltered housing went through 6 cycles of re-letting before being taken-up.  The auto-bidding process had improved re-lettings and the auto-bidding register was topped-up with tenants who had been on the register for a long time once tenants dropped off the list when re-housed. Officers were confident that performance figures for void turnaround times will improve.

Some members raised concerns about contractors (using incorrect entrances to properties and not displaying identification) and it was noted that the Council would exercise more control over contractors in the future.

In response to concerns raised about rubbish collections and dumping on housing estates it was noted that the new contractor, Veolia, was in place and one team was now responsible for housing estates and surrounding areas.  Officers recognised that the maintenance of gardens and green areas on estates was poor and funds had been made available for tenants to identify areas to be cleared of weeds and replanted and there was also an estate improvement budget for matters such as broken fencing to be dealt with.

Q17 – Squatters - In response to questioning officers reported that  security measures such as boarding up possible entrances and working with neighbours were put in place and the employment of security guards was being considered.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 248