Issue - meetings

A. Report of the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer

B. Cabinet Report on Alterations Policy for Leaseholders

C. Cabinet Minutes Alterations Policy for Leaseholders

D. Copy of the Call in

E. Report of the Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning

The Committee considered Cabinet’s decision to approve the Alterations Policy for Leaseholders on 10^th November 2020. The signatories to the Call-In were Cllr Barnes, Cllr Cawley-Harrison, Cllr Palmer, Cllr Ogiehor and Cllr Da Costa. The signatories did not claim that the decision was outside of the policy or budget framework. The reasons for the Call in were set out in the second dispatch agenda pack at page 71.

Stephen Lawrence Orumwense introduced the Joint Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer’s Report, The Committee was advised that the Chief Finance Officer & Monitoring Officer agreed that this decision fell within both the budget and policy framework. Following an outline of the process for the call-in meeting, and the possible outcomes available, the Chair invited Councillor Barnes and Councillor Cawley-Harrision to present the arguments for why the signatories had requested the Cabinet decision to be called in and the alternative action proposed. The concerns of the signatories were noted as follows:

a.    It was contended that the changes to the policy put forward made the installation of doors and windows less safe and there were local specific examples provided of leaseholders paying for works and not receiving communications about the progression of the works, delays, and then being charged increased costs.

b.    There seemed to be an inconsistency in the approach taken with two different Council blocks where there were urgent safety works to be undertaken.

c.    Questions were raised about whether Homes for Haringey had sufficient processes in place to adequately manage an important safety programme and communicate sufficiently with leaseholders.

d.    Leaseholders had been put in a difficult situation with safety works mandated to them and then these works not being carried out in a timely manner.

e.    It was questioned whether Homes for Haringey could fulfil the proposition of commissioning, managing, and delivering works that ensured the safety of residents.

f.     Examples of specific casework were given relating to Homes for ‘Haringey works  on windows which had to be rectified and the delays in completing these works. It was questioned whether Homes for Haringey were actively learning from these cases and rectifying processes accordingly.

g.    Assurances were sought that fire safety works identified would be completed in a timely way by Homes for Haringey to keep residents safe and provide leaseholders with peace of mind.

h.    Further concerns were noted with the performance of Homes for Haringey on delivering on works and the length of time taken from when the issues were first reported.

i.      Before agreeing this policy, there was a need for assurance that Homes for Haringey had the correct procedures in place, could carry out the works to the required standard and that there was also a process in place for this to be independently checked. Ultimately, the Council needed to ensure that if leaseholders were not permitted to undertake the works themselves, then the quality of work undertaken by Homes for Haringey needed to be up to standard.

j.      Concerns were put forward that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34