Agenda and minutes

- to note the action and progress taken

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Housing Operations Manager which gave an update on void property re-let performance and associated issues for the period 29^th November to 31^st December, 2004.

Performance was improving with the number of voids as at 31^st December, 2004, increasing by 3 from the start of the period to 220.  The majority of voids, 164, were voids currently excluded from HES68 and included properties such as those awaiting renovation and disposal.  The number of voids that met the criteria to be included within HES68 had increased during the said period to 56.

Overall performance against the Indicator had improved by 0.43 days from the last period to16.53 days.

Performance on HES14 (average time to let a void from when one tenancy terminated until the next one started as defined by date entered onto the open house management system) which excluded all those properties that were excluded from HES68, was 12.92 days.

The amount of rent income lost on voids up to 31^st December, 2004, had improved from 1.08% to 1.07%.  This performance continued to place the Authority in the upper quartile for Metropolitan Authorities. 

Sustainability of tenancies (HES5) measured the percentage of terminating tenancies in the year that had lasted longer than 12 months.  Performance during the 12 months up to 30^th September, 2004, was 96.7%.  The figure did not include tenancies terminating within 12 months due to transfers, mutual exchanges and deaths.  If they were included the figure would be 93.52%.

Members noted and welcomed the increase in performance and wished to see this publicised more.

Discussion ensued on the impact of Council Tax payments on void properties and how this would be overcome for properties awaiting demolition.

Resolved:-  That the report be received and current progress noted.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 8 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (provision of goods).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (contains information relating to the negotiation of terms).

(Exempt under Paragraph 9 of the Act – negotiation of terms)

Further to Minute No. 105 of 15^th November, 2004, consideration was given to a report presented by the Principal Maintenance Co-ordinator setting out options for the future of the district heating management contract as a consequence of natural contract termination and the change from solid fuel to gas.

There were currently 15 separate contracts for the management of solid fuel fired boilers (serving 1,194 properties) of which fourteen would terminate on 30^th June, 2005 and one on 28^th February, 2009.  Following legal advice and by mutual agreement with the contractor, the notice period to terminate a contract was now 4 months.

Details of the 2 options were set out in the report, together with the financial implications and risks.

Discussion ensued on the contract negotiations, the possibility of pulling the 14 contracts together as one, evaluation of the Swinton Fitzwilliam heating pilot, tender process, negotiation of the 2009 contract, contractual obligations of Economic and Development Services, problems experienced during the changeover process from solid fuel to gas and performance monitoring.

Resolved:-  (1)  That Option 2 be agreed in principle and that agreement be given to the renegotiation of the existing contracts extending the time period to 1^st January, 2007 thus allowing the changeover contract from solid fuel to gas to be completed, current prices to be reduced and preparations made to go out to competitive tender on the ‘gas fired’ district heating services.

(2)  That following negotiations a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Environmental Services detailing the terms of the negotiated contract, savings for the Council, how problems would be overcome and involvement with Economic and Development Services.