Agenda and minutes
Venue: MP701 - Town Hall Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG. View directions
Contact: The Committee Services Officer Tel: 020 7364 5554 E-mail: rushena.miah@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Note: Rescheduled from 11/09/18 to 26/09/18 due to Rosh Hashannah
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992. See attached note from the Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: There were no declarations of pecuniary interests. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING(S) To note as an accurate record the minutes of the meeting on the 3 July 2018 and to be signed by the Chair. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on the 3 July 2018 were approved as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.
RESOLVED: 1. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2018.
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To review and update. Minutes: There were no actions from the previous meeting. |
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION: |
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SOCIAL HOUSING GREEN PAPER Presented by Mark Baigent, Interim Divisional Director Housing & Regeneration.
The Social Housing Green Paper published for consultation on the 14 August 2018 is the government vision for a new deal for social housing. The Committee will receive a presentation outlining government proposals through 5 of the key priorities: 1. Decent homes, 2. Effective resolution of complaints, 3. Strengthening regulation and empowering residents, 4. Tackling stigma and celebrating communities, 5. Housing supply and ownership. The committee is to comment on proposals.
(18:45-19:05) Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received a presentation from Mark Baigent, Interim Divisional Director of Housing, on the Social Housing Green Paper.
Questions from Members:
Tower Hamlets Housing Forum (THHF) regularly speaks at this committee and is the link to the wider registered providers. THHF had their AGM earlier in the day and the Green Paper was discussed at the meeting. It is the responsibility of each registered provider (RP) to engage with their residents; this is not something the Council can enforce RPs to do. The value of the council collating consultation from wider providers was questioned considering THHF’s role.
The Mayor has pledged to build one thousand new homes over the next four years and a thousand in the pipeline beyond that. The Council are delivering social rents and living rents through both the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Special Purpose Vehicle. The Council is bidding for funds from the GLA and if successful more will be delivered through the HRA.
With regard to housing redress, Members said it was clear how to contact the ombudsman on the website. Residents were encouraged to apply to the ombudsman without having to wait the eight weeks for the Council’s Designated Officer to respond. The Members Support Team at the Council was said to be helpful in providing advice on the issue.
The Council had not organised a specific event on the Green Paper but it had engaged with resident groups and officers had attended community events to raise awareness about it. The Council provides interpreters and translated documents for those who do not understand English. It was noted that the staffing at Tower Hamlets Homes was reflective of the diversity of the borough.
Right to buy was introduced as a voluntary scheme for housing associations. It is being piloted in the West Midlands, however officers advised that it was unlikely that the scheme would be brought to Tower Hamlets. The government have dropped the idea that councils should pay for right to buy with void properties.
Interiors were a planning decision. The Council has a ten year blind policy on finishing which means the type of tenure would not be identifiable from the outside of the property.
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EMPTY & SECOND HOMES Presented by Mark Baigent Interim Divisional Director, Housing and Regeneration.
The Committee will receive a presentation on the number of empty properties (up to and more than 6 months) and second homes in the borough, and the Council’s response. To note and comment on the presentation.
(19:05-19:20) Minutes: The Committee received a presentation from Mark Baigent, Interim Divisional Director of Housing, on empty and second homes in the private sector.
Questions from members:
Council tax records are the primary means of gathering the data.
These were uncommon at the Council. The Council is required to invest a substantial amount of capital to buy and refurbish the property and would need to sell it in order to make some return. Given the generally high value nature of these properties they do not lend themselves to social rent. However the Council ensures short to medium term benefit is derived before sale. For example, a CPO is being considered at the Cabinet meeting this evening that would be used as a refuge for the next four or five years before being sold.
Officers said yes, they are worth doing in the public’s interest, especially for the residents who live near neglected sites.
It is treated as an internal loan that any department can access. Council officers can make a case for where the money should be spent.
RESOLVED:
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Presented by Beverley Greenidge, Head of Neighbourhoods, Sandra Fawcett - Chair Tower Hamlets Housing Forum.
The presentations will include information on the management of voids and empty properties, including the return of keys, and average re-let times with comparative data. To note and comment on the presentations. (19:20-19:40) Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received a presentation from Sandra Fawcett, Chair of Tower Hamlets Housing Forum, and Beverley Greenidge, Head of Neighbourhoods Tower Hamlets Homes, on voids.
Questions from Members:
The speakers said there were policies in place and properties were inspected to check they were of a lettable standard. With regard to adaptations, the Housing Options team were responsible for making an assessment on a case by case basis. Repairs are post inspected four to six weeks after they are made which provides a further opportunity for the resident to comment.
RESOLVED:
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COMMON HOUSING REGISTER & ALLOCATIONS POLICY Presented by Rafiqul Hoque, Head of Housing Options.
The Committee will receive a presentation on the Common Housing Register and Allocations Policy, numbers on the waiting list, priority bandings, the assessment and allocation process and planned service improvements. To note and comment on the presentation.
(19:40-20:00) Minutes: The Committee received a presentation from Rafiqul Hoque, Head of Housing Options, on the Common Housing Register including how medical need is assessed and how the Register’s three bands work.
Questions from Members:
The housing team will assess the application with a health advisor. The health advisor will likely ask for additional evidence such as a GP letter on their condition. Mental and physical conditions are considered in the same way. Cases may also be referred to outsourced specialists such as psychologists separate to the Council.
The Committee were informed that there was a quota of 5% for band 3 applicants being let a property, this equated to around 200 units. The case for splitting the register was not an officer decision, though it was noted that other councils do not keep band 3s on the priority register. The decision to take band 3’s off the register would be a Council decision.
The assessments were made on a needs basis. The applications in band 3 were unlikely to be prioritised because they have been assessed as low need.
The policy was last reviewed in 2016 and the Housing Scrutiny Committee provided comment during the review.
The Head of Housing Options explained that an applicant may bid for a property one bedroom larger or one bedroom smaller than their need.
Officers explained that all providers had lettings staff that were responsible for helping vulnerable people bid for properties. The Council has processes in place to enable people to bid.
RESOLVED:
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2018/19 WORK PROGRAMME To note the Committee’s work programme for the year. Introduced by Chair, Lead Officers: Rosy Wilkie, SPP Officer and Abidah Kamali, Business Improvement Co-ordinator.
(20:00-20:10) Minutes: Members commented that based on the experience of today’s meeting the agendas were too full. They agreed that the number of spotlights should be reduced so they could discuss topics in greater depth and give due consideration to impact and outcomes. Agenda items for the November 2018 meeting were agreed and the Preventing Homelessness Update deferred from the January agenda. Time was requested on the November agenda to review and agree April’s agenda.
Members were not in agreement that the scrutiny review topic should be the impact green spaces can have on improving air quality. The Common Housing Register was suggested as an alternative; although it was pointed out that the CHR had been reviewed by this committee in 2016. Members requested information on the significance of green spaces as a scrutiny topic and agreed to decide on the scrutiny review topic over email.
RESOLVED:
ACTION: Members to be emailed information on the significance of green spaces as the scrutiny review topic. SPP Officer to action.
ACTION: SPP Officer to check when the Allocations Policy was last considered by the Housing Scrutiny Committee and share its findings with the committee.
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PERFORMANCE MONITORING Introduced by Chair. To note the performance monitoring for Q1 (2018/19).
(20:10-20:20) Additional documents: Minutes: Quarter 1 corporate performance information was not yet available to share with the committee so the only report received was on Registered Provider performance for quarter 1. Although it was recognised that providing the monitoring information was on a voluntary basis, Members wished to understand why some members of the THHF did not provide monitoring information.
RESOLVED:
ACTION: for SPP Officer to establish the reasons why some members of the THHF do not provide performance data and advise the committee accordingly.
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ANY OTHER BUSINESS Any other business to be considered at Chair’s discretion. (20:20-20:30) Minutes:
RESOLVED:
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