Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal]

A report setting out the strategy for the management of, and investment in, Council-owned housing stock over the next 5 years.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal introduced the report which sought approval to a 5-year housing asset management strategy. This document set out set out the Council’s plans for investing £360m in Council homes over the next 5 years. This investment would enable all Council tenant’s homes to meet Decent Home’s standards, ensure the safety of residents living in Council homes, complying with the required and emerging building safety requirements, as well as help deliver the Council’s carbon reduction targets through plans for energy efficiency in Council housing stock.

The Cabinet Member continued to outline the mechanisms being put in place to achieve the objectives of the strategy as well as increased customer focus as well and increased oversight and scrutiny of performance in delivery of the improvement works.

[ Cllrs Chandwani and Bull did not vote on this item as they had declared an interest at item 4.]

RESOLVED

To approve the updated Asset Management Strategy 2020 to 2025. (Attached at Appendix 1 of the report.)

Reasons for decision

The existing Asset Management Strategy for the Council’s housing stock was produced in 2018 and requires updating. This is to ensure that it reflects current Council priorities and is aligned to the 10-year Financial Plan approved by Cabinet in February 2020.

Alternative options considered.

The option of not updating the Asset Management Strategy was considered and rejected. This is because the current strategy is no longer able to set the strategic framework for making decisions regarding investment in the Council’s housing stock. The updated strategy will provide the necessary guidance for implementing plans to meet the Decent Homes Standard and ensure the health and safety of residents living in Council owned homes.