Best Value Housing Review Group - Minutes 15 April 2010

Mr David DORWARD, Chief Executive, in the Chair.

I MINUTE OF MEEETING OF 18TH FEBRUARY, 2010

The minute of meeting of 18th February, 2010 was submitted and approved.

II MATTERS ARISING

(i) LETTINGS LEAN SERVICE REVIEW AND RELET DECORATION PILOT

It was reported that the draft relet standard had been circulated for internal consultation; consultation with tenants would follow in due course.

III RENT RECOVERY

Kevin Anderson, Housing District Manager gave a presentation on Rent Recovery outlining issues raised by the Housing Regulator, actions taken to improve the service and rent recovery performance figures.  The Review Group noted concerns raised by the Regulator relative to availability of evidence based documentation, the significant reduction in Notices of Proceedings, court enrolments and evictions since the establishment of the dedicated Rent Recovery Centre in 2006, the current rent recovery process with its emphasis on debt prevention and the underlying cultural change throughout the Housing Department resulting in a more tenant orientated arrears procedure.

Thereafter the undernoted topics were discussed:-

• availability of rent arrears statistics
• rent arrears procedures
• financial assessments/tenant profiles
• accessibility of interdepartmental information
• payment pattern and flexibility
• alignment of services to prevent debt accrual in benefit cases
• enhanced tenant contact
• cost of evictions
• development of IT systems
• high level of customer service satisfaction

In conclusion it was agreed that analysis on the undernoted topics be undertaken and submitted to a future meeting:-

• detailed costing of an eviction
• additional benchmarking exercise comparing 2008/9 rent arrears/evictions with other authorities.
• identification of new target levels

IV HOMELESS SERVICES

Ian Dobson, Homeless Services Manager, gave a presentation on Homeless Services focussing on the four areas examined by the Housing Regulator:-

Access to Services

The Housing Regulator acknowledged that Homeless Services were both well publicised and accessible but queried the effectiveness of data collection and analysis.

The Group noted that robust manual monitoring and analytical systems had been introduced to address these concerns and comprehensive IT systems were under development.

Advice and Prevention

The Housing Regulator recognised that advice services were well publicised but raised concerns regarding recording, monitoring and evaluation of individual cases, partner agency prevention projects and tenancy sustainment levels.

The Group noted the positive steps taken to improve services including the creation of the Prevention Team, introduction of systematic monitoring systems, a discharge protocol for prisons and the development of systems identifying tenants threatened by homelessness.  It further noted the recent award of Type 1 Homepoint accreditation.

Assessment of Homeless People

The Housing Regulator acknowledged the Council was legally compliant in its assessment of homeless persons but recorded concerns relative to timescales and ongoing contract.

The Group noted these issues had been addressed through restructuring, staff training and IT development.

Securing Accommodation

The Housing Regulator recognised Dundee was fulfilling its duties and providing a good range of accommodation types but queried the quality offered for permanent accommodation.

The Group noted actions taken to ensure quality of letting accommodation across all applicant groups and the inclusion of Housing Association properties in the accommodation database.

 
The Group further noted efficiencies in the overall homelessness service resulting from the restructuring of the section into four service specific teams, namely:-

• Prevention Team
• Assessment Team
• Temporary Accommodation Team
• Permanent Accommodation Team

In conclusion it was reported that only four of the twenty four Homeless Service specific improvements identified by the Regulator remained outstanding.

Following clarification and discussion of the issues covered in the presentation the Group applauded the significant improvements made relative to the provision and monitoring of homeless services in Dundee.

V IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE REPORT - FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2010

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing reporting on progress in the Improvement Plan.

The Director summarised the content of the report and the following points were noted:-

• 101 out of the total 149 actions were due to be completed by March 2010;
• 76% of the actions due for completion had been completed;
• 15% of the actions due for completion were 75% complete or greater;
• 8% of the actions due for completion were 50% complete or greater;
• 1% of the actions due for completion were less than 50% complete;

The Best Value Review Group:-

(i) noted the progress on the implementation of the Improvement Plan up to March 2010;

(ii) noted revised timescales for completion and remedial actions proposed;

(iii) agreed to refer the report to Housing, Dundee Contract Services and Environment Services Committee for approval; and

(iv) agreed that as part of the commitment to Public Performance Reporting the report be added to the Plans and Performance section of the Council's website.

VI DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday, 17th June, 2010 at 2.30 pm, Committee Room 5.