Agenda item - Future delivery of housing repairs, planned maintenance and capital works

38.1           Sharon Davies, Housing Business Programme Manager, introduced the update on the future delivery of repairs, maintenance and works through the transitional period and beyond the termination of the Mears contract in 2020. The key decisions from the report that went through the Housing & New Homes Committee and the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee was that repairs and customer service would be brought back in-house, major capital works would function on a multi-contractor framework and specialist works would continue to operate through the mechanical and electrical teams. She added that there would be full communication with all parties involved during the transition period as this was a huge change for residents and officers.

38.2           In response to residents, officers stated that after the Mears contract ended the local authority would have a direct relationship with the contractors and would still provide competition. Officers added that this still needed to go through the procurement process. Officers added that these contracts were intended to be kept as local as possible and engage with the city’s markets.

38.3           The Chair stated that there would be regular updates on the changes and officers would attend the Area Housing Panels to brief on updates. She added that for more information and the decision list from the Housing & New Homes Committee residents could visit the website on: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/housing/council-housing/repairs-and-maintenance-contract-options.

38.4           RESOLVED – That the panel agreed to note the report.