Issue - items at meetings - Housing & Social Inclusion Performance Report Quarter 4 2011/12

Report of Head of Housing and Social Inclusion (copy attached)

17.1The Committee considered the report of the Head of Housing & Social Inclusion.

17.2 Councillor Farrow referred to Appendix One of the report and noted with concern that there were two properties that had remained empty for a long period of time; one for 1488 days and one for 4022 days. Officers advised that those properties needed extensive work, and there had previously been insufficient resources available to do that. There were now plans in place for all empty properties.

17.3 Councillor Mears asked how many solar panels had been installed on council properties. Officers did not have that information available at the meeting, but were able to confirm that solar panels had been fitted to 7 blocks on the Bristol Estate and to 20 properties at the end of last year. The government had changed the tariff for solar panels earlier this year, and it had therefore been necessary to review the installation of them. Councillor Mears said that the current administration had delayed the installation of panels prior to the government’s announcement and had therefore missed the boat on feed in tariffs. Councillor Jarrett said that the government’s plans had not been known prior to their announcement, and this administration and the previous one had both therefore ‘missed the boat’. The current administration had been looking very carefully at energy efficiency, and in particular thermal efficiency.

17.4 Councillor Mears noted the percentage of secure council tenants being served a Notice of Seeking Possession for rent arrears had increased, and accepted this was most likely due to the economic situation. Councillor Mears asked if information on what was being done to reduce this number, and arrears generally, could be addressed at a future meeting.

17.5 With regard to paragraph 3.9.1 and the content and presentation of future performance reports, Councillor Mears suggested indicators that show other local authorities’ quartiles;  information on what is being done to reduce management costs; area breakdown data for rent arrears performance as had been provided in previous reports; and for the end of year report to give performance from the previous year end for comparison purposes.  The Chair agreed that that would be useful.

17.6 Councillor Peltzer Dunn commented upon the performance indicators in paragraph 3.5 regarding repairs completed on time, and asked how this figure related to the cancelled repairs jobs referred to in paragraph 3.5.1.  He said he was happy for a written response. Officers agreed to provide that information. The Chair asked if that information could be provided for all the HMCSC members.

17.7 Mr Kent referred back to solar panels and questioned why some of those that had been installed had been fitted to west facing properties and not just south facing ones, which he understood was the appropriate direction. Councillor Jarrett said the west facing properties would get sunlight from 11 am and so were acceptable.

17.8 Councillor Farrow asked if officers could look into installing solar panels for the provision of hot water. Officers confirmed that a Solar Thermal had already been installed in one location, and would be happy to provided further information on the matter. 

17.9 Councillor Farrow suggested it would be useful if future reports could give more information on those properties which had been empty for a long period of time.

17.10 RESOLVED That the Housing Management Consultative Sub Committees comments and feedback on the report be noted.