Best Value Housing Review Group - Minutes 20 January 2011

At a MEETING of the HOUSING BEST VALUE REVIEW GROUP held at Dundee on 20th January, 2011.

Present:-

Councillor Jimmy BLACK
Councillor Andy DAWSON
Councillor Craig MELVILLE
Bailie George REGAN
Mr David DORWARD, Chief Executive
Ms Elaine ZWIRLEIN, Director of Housing
Mr David SIMPSON, Housing Department
Mr Gordon BIRRELL, Housing Department
Mr Greg COLGAN, Housing Department
Mr John WOLSTENCROFT, Housing Department
Mr Graeme LAWRENCE, Tenants' East
Mr Jim COCHRANE, DFTA
Ms Rena SMITH, DFTA
Ms Kirsty WELLS, Tenants' Information Service
Mr Tom KELBIE, GMB
Ms Kim SMITH, UNITE
Mr Arthur NICOLL, UNISON

Apologies for Absence:-

Depute Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK
Councillor Fraser MACPHERSON
Councillor Alan ROSS
Councillor Kevin KEENAN
Mr Ken LAING, Director of Contract Services
Mr Martin WILKIE-McFARLANE, Shelter
Ms Marjory STEWART, Director of Finance
Mr Rory MALONE, UNISON
Ms Mary SMITH, DFTA
Mr David JONES, Tenants' West

David DORWARD, Chief Executive, in the Chair.

I WELCOME

The Chief Executive welcomed those present to the meeting.

II MINUTE OF MEETING OF 18TH NOVEMBER, 2010

The minute of the meeting held on 18th November, 2010 was submitted and approved.

III MATTERS ARISING

(i) WALKABOUTS

With reference to Article IV(i) of the minute there was submitted the Estate Walkabouts Timetable for 2011.

(ii) TIMETABLE

With reference to Article VI of the minute there was submitted the 2011 timetable detailing future agenda items.

(iii) RENT RECOVERY/HOUSING BENEFITS

With reference to Article IV(ii) of the minute it was reported that the test case investigation had been completed and issues arising therefrom incorporated into the report on Rent Recovery/Evictions (see item VII below)

IV IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE

There was submitted the Improvement Plan Update to November, 2010.

The Director of Housing summarised the contents of the report, highlighting work undertaken relative to lettings, tenancy management, leadership, departmental communication and SHQS risk management.

Having heard that 104 items were fully complete the Review group agreed subsequent reports should focus on the remaining outstanding items.

It was further noted that a progress report on void turnaround times would be submitted to a future meeting.

V TENANT PARTICIPATION STRATEGY

The Quality and Performance Manager gave a presentation on Tenant Participation, outlining issues raised by the Housing Regulator and actions taken to address matters. The Review Group noted continuous improvements to the tenant participation strategy through innovative use of developing communications and enhanced tenant engagement events.

Thereafter the following topics were discussed:-

• peer review of 2008 strategy
• feedback to tenants
• maximisation of tenant input in tenant led inspections
• training
• introduction of tenant self-assessment
• DFTA/non affiliated RTO's

VI RENT RECOVERY/EVICTIONS

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of the Review Group of 15th April, 2010 there was submitted a report on rent recovery and evictions.

The City Housing Manager summarised the contents of the report outlining eviction levels/costs, ongoing benchmarking comparison with appropriate local authorities and arrears target levels for 2010/2011.

The Housing Best Value Review Group noted the contents of the report and detailed preventative measures introduced to target accumulation of rent arrears through early, positive, multi-agency intervention.

VII SERVICE STANDARDS

The Quality and Performance Manager gave a presentation on Service Standards. He explained that these covered the level and quality of housing services and related to national, local and operational standards. A review process was underway and the revised standards would be published in a range of formats; monitoring and reporting procedures would form part of the review.

The Review Group further noted current national consultation with respect to the Scottish Social Housing Charter, effective from April 2012, an outcome based charter with a strong emphasis on tenant self-assessment.

VIII SERVICE AUDITS AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

The Housing Strategy Manager gave a presentation on Service Audits and Quality Assurance identifying measures introduced in response to the Housing Regulators findings.

The Group noted the introduction of effective demonstrable checking mechanisms such as service audits, corporate self-assessment, service improvement teams, quality checks and peer reviews, all aimed at providing thorough reviews of service areas and ensuring vigorous monitoring of service delivery.

Following discussion it was agreed that further enhancement of service audits would be obtained through analysis of feedback from elected members and external organisations such as CAB, DNLC and Shelter. The Director confirmed regular meetings were held with Shelter but agreed to introduce annual meetings with other relevant groups. Consideration would be given to Councillor feedback once the casework management system was fully operational.

IX AOCB

It was proposed and agreed that reports on Allocations Policy and Voids Management, timetabled for the March meeting, be deferred until May to allow optimum analysis of the impact of recent procedural changes on turnaround times.

X DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday, 31st March, 2011 at 2.30 pm in Committee Room 1, 14 City Square, Dundee.

This information is provided by the Housing Department

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