Agenda item

        Scrutiny

The Director of Housing Management presented a briefing on scrutiny arrangements in Homes for Haringey (HfH).  The panel noted that in addition to the Environment and Housing Scrutiny Panel, scrutiny is also undertaken by a number of HfH bodies which include the Performance Committee and the newly formed Residents Scrutiny Panel.

The Resident Scrutiny Panel aims to provide a residents perspective (both tenants and leaseholders) of the services being provided through Homes for Haringey.  The

          Resident Scrutiny Panel had completed a pilot review of the Winter Maintenance Programme and is currently assessing the Repairs Service (report 2013).

The Performance Committee of HfH meets five times per annum and has agreed to scrutinise one topic (central to its core business) at each meeting. In addition, a small number of topics will be looked at in greater depth throughout the course of the year.

The panel agreed that it would be helpful if the Chairs of all three scrutiny bodies were to meet in the near future as this would provide an opportunity to discuss and plan future scrutiny work plans.  The panel hoped that this would contribute to the development of a more coordinated approach to the scrutiny of housing issues in Haringey.  The meeting would also help to map out the areas of scrutiny responsibility of each body and which housing bodies are being held to account, aiming to learn more about the work of other panels and avoid duplication of effort.

Agreed: That the Chairs of each of the scrutiny bodies meet to discuss current and planned scrutiny work, housing bodies held to account and ways in which these bodies may collaborate in the future (February 2013).

The panel also agreed that it would be helpful to know the current membership of the Homes for Haringey Board.

Agreed:  That the membership of the Homes for Haringey Board is circulated to the panel.      

          Waste and recycling issues

The panel discussed the issue of waste and recycling collection on local social housing estates and measures that could be adopted to help increase recycling.  (This had been an issue arising from other work of the panel in respect of the new waste and recycling collection system).  From this discussion, there appeared to be two key issues:

§  Recycling rates were low (structural issues with estates);

§  The number of paladin bins on estates (there were perceived to be too many).

Single Front Line noted that the challenges of recycling on estates was widely recognised and that there was a need to increase the recycling participation rate and the amount of waste which households recycled.  Single Front Line also reported to the panel that:

§  There was a need to rationalise waste receptacles;

§  Increased frequency of waste collection would result in increased costs;

§  Capital investment was needed to upgrade container sites;

§  £600k had been received from Department of Communities and Local Government to roll out food waste collection on local estates.

It was noted that the panel intended to complete the second phase of its work with the waste and recycling service over the coming months and would need to develop and agree outcomes for this.  In addition to work on local council housing estates, this would encompass the broader policy options for increasing recycling rates (e.g. incentive schemes or enforcement options).  The panel requested that key services are consulted in developing objectives for the second part of its recycling work.

Agreed:  That Single Front Line and Housing services are consulted to identify specific outcomes for possible inclusion within part 2 of waste and collection review (Feb 2013).

Estate Inspections

The Director of Housing Management presented a briefing on estate inspections within Homes for Haringey (HfH).  It was noted that managing external areas in estates (e.g. pavement repairs, parking enforcement, street cleaning) was challenging because of the number of different services and contractors involved.

The panel noted that there were 37 Tenancy Management Officers (TMO) who lead local estate inspections to identify issues of concern and to plan any remedial action necessary. Local councillors are notified and invited to attend such inspections.  

In evidence submitted by HfH and confirmed from their own experience, panel members noted that there were a number of weaknesses within the current estate inspection system:

§  The number of works left outstanding from one inspection to another;

§  A lack of staff experience / expertise to ensure that appropriate action can be taken to ensure the completion of indentified works (who and where to go for problem resolution);

§  TMOs do not have access to a budget (capital/ revenue) for estate repairs which may impede works completion;

§  Services are not flexible enough to respond to minor repairs/ problems.

In recognition of the above, HFH planned to make a number of improvements to the inspection system to be effective from April 2013.  These included:

§  Establishment of four Quality Assurance Officers who will:

o   Monitor client contracts (e.g. Veolia, Wing, caretaking, cleaning)

o   Lead estate walkabouts (greater consistency and more accurate specification of work required and completion)

§  Dedicated estate environmental budget for housing management

§  Increase capital funding from £250k to £500k for small / medium environmental improvements

§  Establish a mobile operative team (2 operatives and vehicle) to undertake small works (e.g. chute clearance, graffiti removal, removal of signage)

§  Estate service officers will be provided with appropriate equipment to undertake minor repairs without recourse to a more formal works order.

The panel noted that surveyors often accompanied TMO’s on estate inspections which it was suggested, could be indicative of TMO’s lack of confidence in identifying works needed and any necessary corrective actions.  It was noted that within the proposed changes (outlined above) Quality Assurance Officers will have more expertise and experience which will negate the need for surveyors.

The panel welcomed the planned changes for the estate inspection process and hoped that these would deliver improved and speedier outcomes for local estate residents.