Best Value Housing Review Group - Minutes 26 August 2010

At a MEETING of the HOUSING BEST VALUE GROUP held at Dundee on 26th August, 2010.

Present:-

Councillor Jimmy BLACK
Councillor Andy DAWSON
Councillor Alan ROSS
David DORWARD, Chief Executive
Elaine ZWIRLEIN, Director of Housing
David SIMPSON, Housing Department
Kevin ANDERSON, Housing Department
Bruce PATRICK, Dundee Contract Services
Eileen CHRISTIE, Housing Department
Tony DOLAN, Dundee Contract Services
Brian SHAW, Housing Department
Colin BRUCE, Finance Department
Veronica GRAY, Housing Department
Jim COCHRANE, DFTA
Graeme LAWRENCE - Tenants East
Martin WILKIE-McFARLANE, Shelter
Rory MALONE, UNISON
Kim SMITH, UNITE
Kirsty WELLS, Tenants' Information Service
Janet HAMBLIN, Baker Tilly
Claire MONAGHAN, Baker Tilly

Apologies for absence:-

Depute Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK
Councillor Craig MELVILLE
Councillor Kevin KEENAN
Councillor Fraser MACPHERSON
Bailie George REGAN
Ms Marjory STEWART
Mr Ken LAING
Ms Rena SMITH
Mr Greg COLGAN
Mr Gordon BIRRELL

David DORWARD, Chief Executive, in the Chair.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF 17TH JUNE, 2009

The minute of meeting of 17th June, 2010, was submitted and approved

II MATTERS ARISING

(i) SHELTER DISCUSSION SESSION

On a reference to Article VIII (ii) Martin Wilkie-McFarlane advised he would circulate a briefing note to members regarding the proposed Shelter Discussion Session.
 

III ESTATES SUPERVISION SERVICE

Kevin Anderson, Housing District Manager, gave a presentation on the Estate Supervision Service, where the following points were noted:-

• enhancement of quality of life of tenants
• development of cross-departmental inspection and monitoring
• liaison with the local community and outside agencies
• developing structured procedure for new tenant visits prioritised by need
• scheduled Estate Walkabouts and follow up Action Reports
• tenant surveys
• tenant led inspections
• cleaning of communal properties
• development of computerised tenant personalisation profiles enhancing identification of service requirements.

IV BAKER TILLY AUDIT REPORT

Janet Hamblin and Claire Monaghan reported on the Baker Tilly Review of the Housing Improvement Plan, a summary of which was circulated for information.

The Group noted that Baker Tilly had undertaken a detailed review of the Plan to determine if appropriate levels of evidence and supporting documentation would be available to demonstrate progress to the Housing Regulator. Areas of considerable improvement had been identified but some areas of concern remained; it was however noted that considerable improvements had been implemented since the Baker Tilly visit and was anticipated that relevant audit trails should be evidenced at the re-inspection.

Baker Tilly were thanked for their thorough investigation of the service.

It was noted that their full report, and the updated Improvement Plan, be issued to all Group Members in early September.

V LETTINGS

(a) RELET REDECORATION PILOT REPORT

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing reporting on progress made on the redecoration pilot to improve the quality of the relet following criticisms by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) that relets in Dundee were of poor quality.

Previous reports and presentations had been made to the Improvement and Efficiency Board and previous meetings of the Housing Best Value Review Group May, 2009, October, 2009, December, 2009, and February, 2010.

The Housing Best Value Review Group:

(i) agreed that the redecoration of relets should continue using a combination DCS and Claverhouse Group with Future Jobs Fund (FJF) trainees. Any balance of work out with the resources of these initiatives, and after the Future Job Fund ended would be carried out by a mixture of DCS, Claverhouse social enterprise and private sector, depending on capacity, rates for the work and added value, the aim being to discontinue the use of redecoration vouchers. The financial implications would be examined as part of the rent setting process; and 
 

(ii) noted the outcome of the tenants led inspection team on relates and that the recommendations of their report were covered by the actions described in the report.

The Chief Executive then left the meeting and Elaine Zwirlein, Director of Housing, took the Chair.

(b) LETTING STANDARD

 There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing reporting on progress made with improvements to the letting standard to improve the quality of the relet product and the time taken to carry out relets following criticisms by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) that relets in Dundee took too long and were of poor quality.

The Housing Best Value Review Group:

(i) noted the Letting Standard and the consultation carried out in regards this Standard as appended to the report;

(ii) noted the findings of the Letting Standard pilot;

(iii) agreed to formally implement this Letting Standard as from August 2010; and

(iv) noted that the financial implications for decoration of void properties post Future Jobs Fund will be examined as part of the rent setting process for 2011/12.

VI DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, 23rd September, 2010 at 2.30 pm in Committee Room 5, Podium Block.