Best Value Housing Review Group - Minutes 25 August 2011

At a MEETING of the HOUSING BEST VALUE REVIEW GROUP held at Dundee on 25th August, 2011.

Present:-

Councillor Jimmy BLACK
Councillor Alan ROSS
Ms Marjory STEWART, Director of Finance
Ms Elaine ZWIRLEIN, Director of Housing
Mr David SIMPSON, Housing Department
Mr Gordon BIRRELL, Housing Department
Mr John WOLSTENCROFT, Housing Department
Mr Brian SHAW, Housing Department
Mr Ian DOBSON, Housing Department
Ms Audrey STEVENSON, Housing Department
Mr. Mathew LOCK, Shelter
Mr Jim COCHRANE, DFTA
Ms Mary SMITH, DFTA
Ms Rena SMITH, DFTA
Mr Graeme LAWRENCE, Tenants' East
Ms Kirsty WELLS, Tenants' Information Service
Mr Rory MALONE, UNISON

Apologies for Absence:-

Bailie George REGAN
Bailie Rod WALLACE
Councillor Craig MELVILLE
Councillor Kevin KEENAN
Councillor Fraser MACPHERSON
Mr David DORWARD
Mr Ken LAING
Mr Greg COLGAN
Ms Kim SMITH
Mr Tom KELBIE

Marjory STEWART, Director of Finance, in the Chair.

I WELCOME

The Chair welcomed those present to the meeting and introductions were made. Audrey Stevenson, West District Housing Manager, and Mathew Lock, Dundee Service Manager, Shelter, were welcomed to their first meeting.

II MINUTE OF MEETING HELD ON 26TH MAY, 2011

The above minute was submitted and approved.

III MATTERS ARISING

(a) CUSTOMER STATUS SURVEY RESULTS 2011

See item IX.

(b) ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT

On a reference to Article VII(i) of the minute, wherein it had been noted that a presentation on the new Environment Department would form part of the agenda of the August meeting of the Review Group, it was reported that this had been withdrawn due to time constraints. It was also noted that several members had previously seen the presentation and it was therefore agreed not to include the item in future agendas, but, should any Group members wish to attend a presentation, this could be arranged.

IV IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE

There was submitted a report detailing progress on implementation of the Improvement Plan up to the end of July 2011.

The Director of Housing summarised the contents of the report and confirmed that 128 items had been completed with a further 10 due for completion by the end of August. Progress on the remaining 11 items was outlined and anticipated completion dates noted.

Thereafter, officers answered questions on corporate involvement in estate walkabouts, repairs appointment scheme, multi-agency referrals in rent arrears cases and co-ordination of corporate debt recovery systems.

V ASSET MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Gordon Birrell, Housing Strategy Manager, gave a presentation on the above topic. He outlined the context for the Housing Department's strategy both corporately, within Dundee City Council, and externally, in the wider national framework. The main aims of the strategy, namely the provision and maintenance of sufficient, affordable, SHQS compliant quality housing were highlighted and progress towards achieving the SHQS noted.

The Review Group also noted that the Asset Management Strategy would be submitted to the Housing Committee on 12th September, 2011.

VI VALUE FOR MONEY

Gordon Birrell, Housing Strategy Manager, gave a comprehensive presentation entitled 'Value for Money'. The Group noted that departmental objective of ensuring effective service delivery, whilst minimising rent increases, through enhanced revenue collection measures, proactive property maintenance, capital investment initiatives and benchmarking/market-testing. This had resulted in annual reductions in the average annual management costs with the cost per house falling from £724 in 2009/10 to £684 in 2011/12.

VII SUBMISSION TO THE SHR FOR RE-INSPECTION

John Wolstencroft, Quality and Performance Manager, gave a presentation relative to the 2 week re inspection by the Scottish Housing Regulator scheduled to commence on 31st October, 2011. He confirmed that the visit would concentrate on previously identified areas of weakness and on areas where improvements had been highlighted with the focus of re-inspection being Housing Management and Asset Management. It was anticipated that the formal report of the re-inspection would be available late December/early January.

VIII TENANCY SUSTAINABILITY

Brian Shaw, East District Manager, gave a presentation on Tenancy Sustainment with particular reference to premature/negative terminations. The Group noted the reasons for terminations in 2011/2012 and available support including measures such as Sign Up Interviews and New Tenant Visits, introduced to address premature terminations through early identification of factors such as financial problems, lack of furnishings/household items etc likely to result in early breakdown of tenancies. The Review Group noted that a project team had been created with a remit to identify and analyze unsustained tenancies and produce an outline Action Plan to be implemented by a Service Improvement Team. Scope for potential tenant development in tenancy sustainment projects was noted.

IX STATUS SURVEY RESULTS 2011

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Group of 26th May, 2011, John Wolstencroft, Quality and Performance Manager, gave a presentation on the Status Survey 2011.

The Review group noted that the Status Survey had been selected as it was recommended by the Scottish Housing Best Value Network and allowed for benchmarking of results. 10% of tenants had completed the survey; some areas for further improvement had been identified, and would be addressed, but overall results were positive and compared favourably with other local authorities.

The Group further noted that a report on the Status Survey had been submitted to the Housing Committee on 22nd August, 2011 and that the full results would be available on the Council website. A further survey would be conducted in 2013.

X A O C B

No items were raised.

XI DATE OF NEXT MEETING

With reference to Article VII it was agreed to reschedule the meeting called for 1st December, 2011 to allow submission of the re-inspection report to the next Best Value Review Group. The next meeting would therefore take place at 2.30 pm on Thursday, 26th January, 2012 in Committee Room 1, 14 City Square, Dundee.

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