Agenda item

Social Housing - Scrutiny Review update

To update the Panel on progress made towards the recommendations made in the 2017/18 scrutiny review on Social Housing.


(REPORT TO FOLLOW)

 

Minutes:

The Panel asked questions about the updates provided in the report to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review on Social Housing that was originally published in March 2018.

Recommendation 3c – Cllr Diakides asked why there was still no change to the position as reported in July 2018 of a 40% borough-wide affordability target rather than a 50% target as recommended. Cllr Emine Ibrahim, Cabinet Member for Housing & Estate Renewal, said that this was predominantly a planning issue and so a response would be required from the Leader of the Council who leads on planning.

Alan Benson, Head of Housing Strategy & Commissioning, said that there were two issues in recommendation 3c, firstly the proportion of affordable housing required and secondly the definition of affordability within this. On the definition, the Affordable Rent product referred to in the report is no longer being funded by the Mayor of London so there will be no more of that coming forward. In the revised appendix to the Housing Strategy which is going to Cabinet shortly that the Council’s preferred option is social rented housing although some housing associations may still bring forward London Affordable Rent. There is a plan to bring forward a new Local Plan and a 50% target but that does take some time. Cllr Gordon suggested that a fuller discussion about the Local Plan should be scheduled at a future meeting. (ACTION)

Recommendation 4 – Cllr Barnes asked about the St Anns development site. Dan Hawthorn and Cllr Ibrahim said that the GLA is the landowner now and will be responsible for the procurement process. Haringey Council is involved in discussions as the planning authority and as a potential buyer of Council homes on the site.

Recommendation 9 – Cllr Say asked what could be done to ensure resident involvement of new social housing when it is not known who the future residents will be. Cllr Ibrahim and Alan Benson said that Homes for Haringey has a Resident Scrutiny Panel which could potentially be widened. Also there is a commitment that a design guide will be produced and put out for public consultation which will set out in detail what sort of buildings and the quality of homes that will be built in the future.

Recommendation 13 – Cllr Say asked for a timeframe on the fitting of sprinklers to high-rise blocks. Alan Benson said that the Government’s recommendations on fire safety were still being awaited and this is important as it is not clear that sprinklers are the best solution in all situations so clarity is required from the Government as to what it expects the Council to deliver. However, funding has been set aside in the Housing Revenue Account budget to deliver fire safety works when required. Cllr Gordon reminded the Panel about the Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s current ongoing fire safety scrutiny review and Cllr Ibrahim said that a lot of other work has been done on fire safety including with fire doors on Broadwater Farm.

Recommendation 16 – Cllr Say asked how long the “root and branch review” of estate service standards, that the report says is being carried out, will take. Denise Gandy said that she would obtain an update on this from Sean McLaughlin and share this with the Panel. (ACTION) Cllr Williams asked why Council tenants are having to pay service charges for street sweeping in addition to council tax. Cllr Ibrahim said that she had previously made enquiries about this issue as well and had been told that this is for communal areas only. A full response would be obtained from Sean McLaughlin. (ACTION)

 

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