Agenda and draft minutes

Contact: Martin Bradford x 6950 

Items
No. Item

13.

Webcasting

Please note: This meeting may be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site - at the start of the meeting the Chair will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed. The images and sound recording may be used for training purposes within the Council.

 

Generally the public seating areas are not filmed. However, by entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes.

 

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact the Scrutiny Support Officer at the meeting.

14.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllr Gibson.

15.

Declarations of Interest

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

 

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

 

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

 

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Members’ Register of Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

 

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interest are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

None received.

16.

Deputations

To consider any requests receive n accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution.

 

Minutes:

None received.

17.

Late Items (Urgent Business)

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business.  Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear.  New items will be dealt with at the end of the agenda.

 

Minutes:

None received.

18.

Minutes (Action Points) pdf icon PDF 109 KB

To approve the minutes of last panel meeting (9th July 2013) and review action points.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Waste Management Group

At its last meeting, the panel requested that performance data supplied to the Waste Management Group should also be presented to the EHSP, as this would assist in monitoring waste and recycling performance.  It was noted that as this group was no longer meeting, there could potentially be a role for the EHSP in receiving and monitoring such data.

 

Agreed: That a briefing or short paper is prepared for next meeting (19th November) to outline how the role of the Waste Management Group can link with the EHSP in the future.

             

Consultations and community groups

It was noted that there was no definitive list of community groups held within the organisation for consultation purposes.  Consultations that require the inclusion of local community groups is generally undertaken through HAVCO (who have a distribution).  The panel noted that Area Committee lists were now held by the Committee team (and not the Enablement Service).

 

19.

Cabinet Member Questions

Cllr Bevan, Cabinet Member for Environment, to attend.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet Member for Housing

The Cabinet Member for Housing attended to respond to panel questions on local housing policy and practice issues.  Below is a summary of the main areas covered in this session.

 

Welfare Reform

It was noted that welfare reforms had presented a number of challenges for tenants and for local housing services.  As of September 2013, 689 families had their Housing Benefit reduced under Benefit Cap proposals.  Cumulatively, local households will lose over £3m as a result of this change.  Of those affected households, 2/3 will lose up to £50 p.w.  and 1/3 over £50p.w.

 

As a result of other welfare reforms social housing tenants will receive reduced Housing Benefit where they are deemed to be in under occupancy (Bedroom Tax or Spare Room Subsidy).  Locally, these changes will affect over 2,500 households who rent accommodation from the Council or other local social landlords.

 

The panel noted that the above reforms have placed considerable pressure on local tenants and housing services. In particular, reforms have contributed to a rise in homelessness and increased demand for temporary accommodation.  In addition,  a general increase in demand for housing across the capital has led to higher rental values, which in turn has increased costs for the Council where it has placed households in the private rented sector.

 

The panel noted that the local Housing Advice Service Hub based at Apex House has provided information, advice and support to tenants affected by the welfare reforms.  This service had been nationally recognised as performing well.

 

Decent Homes

It was noted that 945 homes would be improved through the Decent Homes programme in 2013/14.  In addition, 4.600 homes will be improved over the period 2014/15 to 2015/16 from funding via the Decent Homes programme and the Council’s own contributions. There will be changes to the governance structure for Decent Homes programme to help bring greater clarity to planned home improvements.

 

The panel were unclear as to how the final Decent Homes programme of works was decided, when work was scheduled, and the timescales of when these decisions were communicated to local tenants, leaseholders and members.  This was an acknowledged shortcoming, and the panel received a pledge that such communications would improve in the future.

 

The panel sought clarification on the issue of kitchen repairs when an upgrade was clearly needed although the property was not included within the Decent Homes improvement schedule.  The panel noted that if repairs were needed, this should be included within general repairs and maintenance assessments.

 

The panel heard that for some estates the physical infrastructure was so poor that general repairs or improvements could not practically be encompassed within the Decent Homes programme.  In this context, it was acknowledged that a regeneration approach would be needed to improve local housing and would require extensive community consultation and involvement.  A policy paper outlining these proposals was expected at Cabinet in October 2013.

 

It was important that the Council was open and transparent about future social housing improvements, and to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Budget Monitoring 2013/14 pdf icon PDF 105 KB

1)    To receive update on the financial position of Environment and Housing Directorates and on relevant budget scrutiny recommendations.

 

2)    To receive a budget monitoring report including progress in achieving savings from last Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The panel noted the two reports submitted on budget monitoring and the key highlights within these:

·        There is a forecast overspend in Planning of £292k relating to a shortfall in Building Control income;

·        There is a £2.7millon service pressure in the community housing service mainly relating to increased demands within the temporary accommodation budget.

 

The panel noted that a significant contributory factor to financial pressures within the temporary accommodation budget was welfare reform.  A number of reforms (Benefit Cap, lowering of Local Housing Allowance, under occupation) have reduced the financial support available to local households.  The cumulative loss for tenants through the Benefits Cap was estimated to be approximately £3m p.a., whilst for under occupation (bedroom tax) cumulative losses were expected in the region of £2.5m p.a..

 

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) is a fund to support local tenants in financial difficulty. It was noted that the total DHP grant to Haringey for 2012/13 was £2.8m, and whilst this represented a small uplift on previous allocations, this would be insufficient to meet local demands (see 7.2).  For example, £216k was earmarked within the DHP grant to ease the financial impact of the bedroom tax, less than 10% of the expected cumulative loss for tenants as a result of this reform.

 

The panel noted that there were pressures on each of the three strands of the Housing Revenue Account:

·        Company account (Homes for Haringey): forecast overspend of £90k mainly relating to repairs;

·        Homes for Haringey Managed account: forecast overspend of £470k (income collection and welfare reforms);

·        Retained account: £18k overspend forecast mainly as a result of the Community Alarms budget.

 

The panel noted that the main Overview & Scrutiny Committee was assessing the impact of the bedroom tax as part of its work programme for 2012/13.  This would include an assessment of how this benefit change has impacted upon tenants in the social rented sector and how landlords have responded.  As well as hearing evidence from the Community Housing Service, Homes for Haringey and other social landlords, the Committee will also be talking to specialist agencies (Shelter, National Housing Federation, Chartered Institute of Housing) and other local authorities.  The Committee will also be consulting with affected tenants. 

 

Agreed: that members of the EHSP be sent a copy of the Overview & scrutiny Committee scope of the under Occupancy in Social Housing.

 

21.

Performance Monitoring pdf icon PDF 3 MB

To review year end performance monitoring report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was insufficient time to consider this item and the decision was taken to defer this to the next meeting in November.

 

          Agreed: performance monitoring agenda item would be reassessed at the November EHSP meeting.

 

22.

Scrutiny Review of Registered Housing Providers - Follow up pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To follow up on recommendations agreed by Cabinet (2012) to a scrutiny review of Registered Housing Providers.

 

TO FOLLOW

Minutes:

The Head of the Housing Enablement Service presented the report on the follow up to recommendations of a scrutiny review of registered housing providers (RHP) that was completed in 2012.

 

The panel noted that whilst some recommendations had been completed, overall there was a lack of progress in implementing the agreed recommendations of this report.  It was noted that the Housing Enablement Team had many competing priorities and had also undergone a restructure which had inhibited its ability to fully implement all recommendations. 

 

Agreed: that clarification is sought on the role of Cabinet (members) and senior officers in monitoring the implementation of previously agreed recommendations contained within scrutiny reports (i.e. after recommendations have been approved by Cabinet).

 

The panel noted that Housing Enablement Service now worked on an area based approach, with two officers supporting wards along a broadly east to west split.

 

The service is reviewing the Partnership Agreement that it has with local RHPs. This is an agreement between the Council and local RHPs which sets out the Councils expectations for engagement, stock rationalisation and local housing management standards.  It is anticipated that this new agreement will help bring greater clarity to the relationship between the Council and RHPs.

 

The panel noted that stock rationalisation (which forms part of the partnership agreement) by local RHPs was being undertaken Haringey. This may help to streamline local housing management arrangements.  It was noted that Housing 21 was about to transfer stock over to another provider and Family Mosaic Board were considering stock rationalisation.

 

Agreed: that the draft Partnership Agreement would be presented at a future meeting of the EHSP (date to be confirmed).

 

It was noted that there were very few ‘levers’ with which to work with registered housing providers as they are independent and autonomous organisations.

 

The panel noted that a new regulatory framework for social housing was introduced in April 2012.  Under the new framework, the Tenant Services Authority was abolished and a ‘backstop’ regulatory function is provided by the Homes and Community Agency for housing providers for which serious failing have been identified. In this context, it was suggested that tenants have less protection.

 

The panel noted that further work with RHPs was being planned, including a survey of local providers (see 5.21). In addition, it would be important to coordinate any planned work of the EHSP with that of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (under occupancy of social housing).  It was agreed that the Housing Enablement Service would be consulted in scoping this work.

 

Agreed: Housing Enablement Service to be consulted in scoping further work with RHPs.

 

23.

Scrutiny of Waste and Recycling - Follow Up pdf icon PDF 99 KB

To follow up on recommendations agreed by Cabinet (December 2012)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was submitted by Single Front Line updating the panel on progress in implementing agreed recommendations from its review of the new waste and recycling service which was completed in October 2012.  

 

Miltons

It was reported that a further consultation had been undertaken with residents in the Milton’s area to gauge satisfaction with the waste and recycling collection service (residents had experienced problems of too many waste receptacles).  It was noted that 28/130 households responded of which 50% were dissatisfied with current arrangements.  It was decided that there would be no service alteration as a result.

 

Contamination policy

It was suggested that HMOs were a continual problem with non-compliance with waste and recycling collection systems. It was noted that in supporting the implementation of the new contamination policy, Veolia were working with local landlords.  Officers had attended the local landlord’s forum to help raise awareness and promote compliance.  Officers were also working with the Private Sector Housing Improvement Team to support the operation of the discretionary licensing scheme.

 

It was noted that out of over 40,000 residual waste collections every week, between 400 and 500 were contaminated (approximately 1%).  A Fixed Penalty Notice system supported the new contamination policy, though no data was available as yet on whether any had been issued.

 

Agreed: that the panel receive a short brief on the waste contamination policy outcomes at its next meeting in November (practical options leading from the policy).

 

The panel were concerned about the current level of recycling on local estates managed by social landlords (Homes for Haringey and other registered providers). It was suggested that further work should be undertaken to engage and educate residents of the benefits of recycling and to promote compliance with local recycling collections systems.  The panel noted that a new food waste collection system was being rolled out in June 2014 and this would provide a further opportunity to engage with residents in flats and other estate properties and to promote recycling.

 

It was suggested that there were often small scale examples of good waste and recycling practice in the community though this work wasn’t always acknowledged or recognised.  As a result, the panel were concerned that the learning points from this work was not fully captured and potential opportunities to replicate it more widely were missed.  It was suggested that Veolia should engage with local community groups to explore the possibility of commissioning small projects to support such initiatives.

 

The panel questioned whether all street sweepers were equipped to pick up dog excrement from the pavement, as there appeared to be some local inconsistency.  Veolia noted that street sweepers should be equipped to deal with dog excrement and this should be undertaken routinely.  Whilst it was noted that the number of complaints about removal of dog excrement had declined, Veolia noted that it was always looking to improve performance on this issue.

 

It was confirmed to the panel that street sweeping would continue to be undertaken twice weekly and that there were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Strategic Enforcement Scoping Report pdf icon PDF 132 KB

To agree scoping reports for strategic enforcement.

 

 

Minutes:

The panel noted and agreed the scoping report for its work on strategic enforcement.

25.

Strategic Enforcement Update

1)    To receive a verbal update on work completed to date

 

2)    To agree dates for evidence gathering sessions October – December 2013

Minutes:

The panel received a presentation which provided an update on work completed to date to support the work of strategic enforcement.

 

The panel noted that informal meetings had been held with a range of enforcement officers to help scope this work, raise awareness of the work of the EHSP and to identify issues for further investigation.  Enforcement services consulted included:

 

§  ASBAT

§  Licensing

§  Neighbourhood Action Team

§  Planning Enforcement

§  Parking Service

§  Building Control

§  Council Tax Investigations

§  Housing Benefit Investigations

§  Private sector housing

§  Regulatory (environmental health, trading standards, noise, pollution)

 

Analysis of feedback provided at these informal meetings noted that there was a positive response to the proposed work of the EHSP. As well as identifying good practice for coordinated enforcement, the sessions indentified a number of general challenges for enforcement:

§  Supporting legislation was multiple, complex and in some cases inadequate to support effective action;

§  Due process was often lengthy;

§  Complexity, time and inadequacy of legislation often inhibits delivery of a precise conclusion to enforcement;

§  Volume and nature of enforcement requests lead to competing priorities.

 

In addition, the sessions identified a number of organisational challenges for coordinated enforcement:

 

§  Information Technology:

§  Risk averse (data protection);

§  Public expectations on what can and cannot be enforced and how enforcement action is communicated.

§  Perception that joint enforcement work based on informal relationships– institutional risk that this may be lost;

§  Data rich organisation - but not effectively shared (need to develop shared intelligence);

§  Access to external data sources could be improved;

§  Access to existing internal enforcement databases;

§  Incompatible systems (software, viewing platforms, training)

 

          The panel also noted that there would be positive response to proposals to develop a selective licensing (private housing) scheme across the borough, as this would be beneficial for coordinated enforcement, as it:

§  Creates a central registry and base tool through which to engage landlords and coordinate enforcement;

§  Fosters common enforcement approach;

§  Sets out a clear penalty regime.

 

          The panel noted that the survey of enforcement officers had been distributed and would be analysed and presented at the next meeting of EHSP.

 

26.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 151 KB

To review and update work programme.

Minutes:

The panel noted and approved the work programme.

27.

Environmental Community Groups in Haringey

A proposal to invite environmental community groups to future meetings to discuss their work with the panel.

Minutes:

The panel noted that a range of community groups would be invited to attend future meetings to discuss work that they were undertaking in Haringey.

28.

Feedback from Area Committees

Issues to be brought to the attention of the panel by Chairs of Area Committees.

Minutes:

None received.

29.

Urgent Business

Minutes:

None received.

30.

Date of future meetings

1)    19th November

2)    2nd December (budget)

3)    28th January – to be confirmed

4)    24th February

Minutes:

These were noted by the panel.