Issue - items at meetings - Annual report to council tenants and leaseholders 2013

Report of Executive Director of Environment, Development and Housing (copy attached).

7.1  The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment Development and Housing regarding the Annual Report to council tenants and leaseholders. Ms Dafe, Head of Income Involvement & Improvement, presented the report. A colour copy of the draft Annual Report was provided at the meeting.

7.2  Councillor Farrow noted that under the heading ‘What we have done’, it said that there had been an increased use of social media to reply to enquiries, and he thought that that was a good way to interact with tenants and leaseholders. The Chair agreed and said that recently young people, who were being consulted about matters in the Whitehawk estate, had been asked to vote on issues via both Facebook and text message and it had proved very popular. 

7.3 Councillor Peltzer Dunn said that there was an assumption that all leaseholders were council tenants, and asked if the next report could have a paragraph on the Authority’s duty to leaseholders who weren’t council tenants.

7.4 Councillor Kennedy thanked officers for the report and said that it was clear and easy to understand.

7.5 Councillor Barnett noted that the Authority were developing a pet policy in line with RSPCA advice on promoting responsible pet ownership in council properties, and asked if the policy would be rolled out across the city. Ms Dafe said that the policy was currently being consulted on, and an update would be provided to the committee in due course.

7.6 Councillor Mears referred to Mutual Exchange Criteria and asked if the Committee could have a briefing on the current criteria. The Chair agreed that would be provided.   

7.7 Councillor Mears noted that the draft Annual Report was being considered by the Housing Management Consultative Sub Committee (HMCSC) and the Housing Committee before being looked at by tenants, and said that that was wrong and tenants should see the draft report first. Councillor Kennedy said that the draft report had been thoroughly discussed at the HMSCS meeting and all the tenants’ views had been incorporated. Ms Dafe added that tenants were on the editorial board and had assisted in preparing the draft report.

7.8RESOLVED – That the Housing Committee approved the Annual Report to council tenants and leaseholders 2013 for publication and distribution to all council tenants and leaseholders in the summer edition of Homing In.

Report of Executive Director – Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

8.1       The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Executive Director – Environment, Development & Housing which informed members that the annual report for the year ending 31 March 2013 had been produced with the involvement of tenants and leaseholders.  The report was presented by Ms Dafe, Head of Income, Involvement & Improvement.  Members were asked to comment on the report. 

8.2       Councillor Peltzer Dunn raised a query about two phone numbers for tenancy queries. The Head of Income, Involvement & Improvement replied that there was one number for repairs (Mears Ltd) and another for other enquiries.  Councillor Peltzer Dunn noted that there were five other phone numbers quoted in the report for different areas of work.

8.3       Councillor Peltzer Dunn asked if a copy of the gas certificate had been sent out to all the tenants.  It was confirmed that this had been sent to tenants.

8.4       Councillor Farrow congratulated officers on the work carried out on the Annual Report.  He referred to paragraph 4.1, Community Engagement and Consultation.   Councillor Farrow stressed the need to consult more generally with tenants.  He suggested having a general survey.

8.5       Councillor Farrow referred to page 2 of the Annual Report, Performance Highlights.  He considered that the third bullet point needed clarification.   

8.6       The Chair stated that the use of red behind white type caused difficulties for people with sight problems.  The general trend for more diagrams and less text was to be welcomed.

8.7       Councillor Barnett referred to page 4 of the Annual Report in relation to developing a new pet policy.  There had recently been an excellent event in Hangleton involving the RSPCA.  She asked if this had been rolled out across the city.  The Neighbourhood Manager explained that the pet policy would be rolled out across the city.

8.8       Councillor Kennedy referred to the use of the apostrophe on page 5 of the Annual report.  This should read residents’ association.  This section also referred to be-be guns which should read BB guns.

8.9       RESOLVED – That the above comments on the 2013 annual report to council tenants and leaseholders 2013, as attached at appendix 1, be noted.   The annual report would be published and distributed to all council tenants and leaseholders in the summer edition of Homing In following formal approval of the Housing Committee on 19 June 2013.