Agenda item

i)                    Report of the Monitoring Officer

TO FOLLOW

ii)                  Report of the Director of Urban Environment

TO FOLLOW

iii)                Appendix (For information only):

a)     Copy of the ‘call in’

b)     Draft minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet of 8 September 2009 (subject to confirmation by the Cabinet)

c)      Review of the Decent Homes Programme, preparing for HfH Audit Inspection and review of the management agreement report from the Cabinet on 8 September 2009.

A decision on the above item was taken by the Cabinet on 8 September 2009. The decision has been called in, in accordance with the provisions set out in the Constitution, by Councillors Davies, Wilson, Hare, Beacham and Engert.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is requested to decide what further action it wishes to take regarding the Call In.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may deal with the Call-In in one of three ways:

i)                    The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may decide not to take any further action, in which case the decision is implemented immediately.

ii)                  The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may decide to refer the decision back to the decision taker, in which case the decision taker has 5 working days to reconsider the decision before taking a final decision.

iii)                The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may decide to refer the decision to Full Council.

It is proposed that consideration of this item be structured as follows:

(i)                 A brief outline by the above Members on the reasons for the Call-In.

(ii)               Response by the Cabinet Member for Housing Services.

(iii)             Debate by Members on action to be taken.

(iv)              Decision.

Note: under Standing Order 32.6 no other business shall be considered at the meeting.

This special meeting of the Committee was called to discuss the call-in of Cabinet decision CAB59 - Review of the Decent Homes Programme, preparing for Homes for Haringey Audit Inspection and Review of the Management Agreement.

A decision on the item had been taken at Cabinet on 8^th September 2009 and had been called in, in accordance with the provisions set out in the Council’s constitution, by Councillors Davies, Wilson, Hare, Beacham and Engert.

The Committee noted that the Monitoring Officer had ruled the call-in request valid as it met all the six essential criteria:

1.   it was submitted and signed by 5 Councillors

2.   it was received by the Head of Democratic Services by 10.00 a.m. on the fifth working day following publication 

3.   it specified the decision to be called in

4.   it specified whether the decision was claimed to be outside the policy/budget framework

5.   it gave reasons for the Call-In and outlined an alternative course of action

6.   the original decision had not been subject to the urgency procedures required in paragraph 18 of the Rules.

Councillor Richard Wilson addressed the Committee to introduce the reasons for the call-in including that despite there being a previous decision to work to a minimum stock condition standard the expensive IRS system and pitched roofs had been installed. The process was not viewed to have been transparent and there had been a failure to adequately consult with leaseholders and the decision taken by the Housing Management Board in 2005 had not been within the Board’s decision-making power.

Councillor Wilson urged the Committee to refer the issue back to Cabinet or on to Full Council so that a revised scheme for Decent Homes could be adopted including improved consultation with leaseholders and the opportunity for leaseholders to opt-out of the IRS installation system. 

The Committee noted that if leaseholders were allowed to opt-out in the future they would have to agree not to install satellite dishes on Council buildings. 

The Committee noted the comments of Anne Goodhew (Vice-Chair of Homes for Haringey Leaseholders Panel) and Anne Crellin (Haringey Leaseholder Association Committee Member) supporting the call-in and highlighting that Haringey’s charges for a digital aerial system were higher than neighbouring boroughs, which also provided their leaseholders with the option of opting-out of the scheme.  Ms Goodhew  and Ms Crellin expressed the opinion that leaseholders felt they had not been adequately consulted and had been charged between £200 and £1100 for Decent Homes work. They requested that Haringey capped the fee to leaseholders for the installation of digital aerials at £300.

The Committee noted the comments of the Council’s Senior project Lawyer and the Chief Financial Officer and their ruling that the Cabinet Decision had been within the policy and budget framework. The installation of digital aerials was additional works to the Decent Homes programme although works had been conducted at the same time which ensured efficiency and  value for money. The additional work was funded by the Capital Programme. The Senior Project Lawyer explained to the Committee that the original decision taken by the Cabinet in respect of the decent homes standard did not prevent the Council carrying out other works at the same time. 

The Committee expressed concerns that leaseholders thought that the billing for Decent homes work and IRS installation work on the same invoice was unclear.  The Director of Asset Management explained that for efficiency the two items had been billed on the same invoice..  During consultation estimated costs for works had been provided to leaseholders and were close to the final invoiced amount.  The Committee noted that if costs were to exceed the estimate by more than 15% the Council would consult with leaseholders.

The Committee was informed that the Decent Homes Gateway Review report which contained details about the potential £26 million overspend had been made available to the Homes for Haringey Board and the new Decent Homes Board during June and July 2009.  Some Committee Members felt that this report should have been made available to Full Council.

The Cabinet Member for Housing addressed the Committee emphasising that leaseholders had been fully consulted on the specifications for Decent Homes works and the installation of IRS systems and highlighted that Haringey offered a range of payment options for leaseholders.  

Following the withdrawal of the Cabinet Member, the Committee discussed the proposals.  The Committee expressed concerns that the IRS system was installed in housing blocks that were already served by cable television.  The Director of Asset Management explained that the Council was required to replace analogue systems, which meant anyone without IRS and not subscribing to  satilite or cable television would be unable to receive free to view television channels.

The Committee noted that the IRS installation scheme had begun before the Decent Homes work had started and the decisions to install pitched roofs had been for reasons of sustainability and value for money. 

The Head of Housing Strategy, Development & Partnerships emphasised that the Decent Homes Board meeting on 9^th October 2009 will receive an independent review report on the progress of the Decent Homes Programme and a report about the potential for further procurement efficiencies. The Committee noted that the Council adopted the aspirational standards of the Decent Homes Programme where it made efficiency savings in other areas.

The Committee was informed that the Cabinet was updated on the Decent Homes Programme every 6 months and that the Decent Homes Board (a non-decision making body) had been established and received updates every 2 months. 

Councillor Bull MOVED a motion that the decision be regarded as

being inside the Council’s policy and budget framework. Following a

vote, the motion was CARRIED.

Councillor Bull then MOVED a motion that the original decision be referred to Full Council. Following a vote the motion FELL.

Councillor Winskill then  MOVED a motion that the original decision be referred back to Cabinet. Following a vote this motion FELL.

Councillor Bull then MOVED a motion that no further action be taken

in respect of the decision, thus allowing it to be implemented

immediately. Following a vote, the motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED

i.          To take no further action in respect of Cabinet decision CAB 59, Review of the Decent Homes Programme Year 1, with the following recommendations to be made to the next meeting of Cabinet.

ii.         That the Overview & Scrutiny Committee receive regular reports, the first at its meeting on 26 October 2009, on the progress of the Decent Homes Programme and including an update on any recent decisions taken in respect of the programme. The report to include detail on spend to date and to investigate and report on the feasibility of including opt-out options for leaseholders in respect of the IRS system.

iii.        The Cabinet receive reports when the Haringey aspirational standards are implemented in conjunction with the Decent Homes Programme and how they are funded.

iv.        To recommend that Homes for Haringey carry out a review of the consultation process with leaseholders.