Agenda item

(Report of the Interim Chief Operating Officer. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration). The report seeks approval to proposed operational changes to the delivery of housing services.

Prior to consideration of the report Mr Gerard McGrath of Unison made a deputation setting out Unison’s concerns regarding the report. He began by expressing concern that Unison had not been notified in the usual way that the proposals contained within the report were being taken to Cabinet in March.

Mr McGrath noted that Unison was disappointed that an email was sent to affected staff mentioning a potential ‘transfer’ and TUPE before there had been prior discussion with Unison and he noted that this would have allowed the union to prepare for queries from its members. However, there had been useful discussion with the Council subsequently and agreement that there would be meetings and briefings for all potentially affected staff soon after the Cabinet meeting had taken place.

Mr McGrath also welcomed the commitment from the Chief Operating Officer to consider the possibility of secondments or the loan of staff, which Unison considered to be a viable option and he noted that Unison would not support any move to TUPE its members given the short period involved. He also noted that the union remained opposed to the principle of Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO’s) and that Haringey had been part of a ‘4^th Option’ proposal when the government suggested setting up ALMO’s to carry out ‘Decent Homes’ work. Now that the Decent Homes work was coming to an end, he contended that there was no need for an ALMO and therefore the housing service should come back under the Council’s direct control.

In conclusion Mr McGrath noted that the final decision, in 2016 when the Homes for Haringey contract was due for review, should be made by Corporate Committee and he reiterated that it was Unison’s belief that the ALMO should be brought back in-house.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, Councillor Alan Strickland, thanked Mr McGrath for attending and responded to his deputation. He noted that the integration of housing services was key to the changes proposed and that this would be achieved by bringing together the delivery of housing services within Homes for Haringey (HfH) and by concentrating the strategic housing services within the Council thereby ending the duplication of some services. He noted that one hundred and forty staff would be affected by the transfer of Community Housing Services to HfH and that as part of the ongoing process staff and Unison would be continue to be consulted.

Following Councillor Strickland’s response to the deputation Cabinet considered a report that sought agreement to operational changes to the delivery of housing services.

RESOLVED:

1. That proposed operational changes to the delivery of housing services, including the transfer of some housing services currently delivered in the Council to Homes for Haringey, for a period of up to two years until 31 March 2016 and the transfer of the support service function from Homes for Haringey to the Council be approved;

2. That it be noted that the Secretary of State required one month’s notice of significant changes to the Homes for Haringey Management Agreement, coupled with the need for the Council to take account of any comments made before implementing the proposals;

3. That the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, be authorised to make consequential changes to the Management Agreement between the Council and Homes for Haringey to reflect service changes;

4. That the changes Homes for Haringey wish to make to the governance arrangements of the Homes for Haringey Board and the formal response by the Council be noted;

5. That it be noted that the additional scrutiny of Homes for Haringey should be through the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

6. That it be agreed that a fuller options analysis regarding the future of housing service delivery be brought to Cabinet in September 2015.

Alternative options considered

Alternative options for the future delivery of housing services will be brought back to Cabinet in September 2015.

Reasons for decision

A decision is required to enable implementation of the proposed new arrangements to commence in line with the Council’s service principals, achievement of 2014/15 savings, HRA business planning and the end of the Homes for Haringey term. Implementation of the recommendations in the report will better align the housing services behind the Council’s priorities and ensure that the improvements in customer response, service performance, quality, accountability and value for money are realised as soon as possible.