Agenda and draft minutes

Dave Richmond, Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services, presented the submitted report which outlined the Key Performance Indicator results and efficiency projections for the third quarter of 2009/10.

At the end of the December, 16 (89%) Key Performance Indicators were currently on track to achieve their year end targets, this compared to 83% in the second quarter and 75% at the end of last year. There were 2 Indicators that were rated ‘off’ target, and were shown as a red triangle alert on Appendix A. Of the Indicators solely owned by the Directorate, 100% were on target.  For 2010 Rotherham Ltd., 7 (78%) Key Performance Indicators were on track to achieve their year end targets which compared to 67% in quarter 2 and 50% at the end of last year.  The Indicators off target at the end of the third quarter were:-

2010 Rotherham Ltd.

-              BV211a Programmed/Responsive Repairs

-              LPI185 Repairs Appointments Made and Kept

The following Indicators had made exceptional performance:-

-              NI155 Affordable Homes - in the third quarter there had been an additional 27 homes made available in the Borough, bringing the year’s total to 142 at the end of December.  There had also been a favourable outcome in respect of successful bids to build new affordable Council homes (77 over the next 2 years) with a start on site in Dalton by the end of March, 2010

-              NI156 Temporary Accommodation – in the third quarter there had been a reduction down to 18 households in temporary accommodation from a second quarter outturn of 36.  Performance at the end of this period exceeded the target set for the end of December of 31

Due to the level of void properties at the end of December, 2009, the cumulative rent loss was £745,000 with the current projection for the year of £1.087M.  2010 Rotherham had set an internal target to reduce the number of void properties down to 200 from a year start position of 386.  The Empty Homes Repairs Team had been set a target of 47 properties per week to be made available and the Allocations Team set a target of arranging 12 viewings per day.  For the remaining 3 months of the current financial year, 10 operatives had been moved to the Empty Homes Repairs Team.

There had been a review of 2010 Rotherham’s performance in relation to void management due to concerns raised by Elected Members.  Upon receipt of a report produced by the NAS Service Performance Team, the Board of 2010 and Senior Management Team had commissioned an independent review of performance reporting.  2010 had agreed that, although there were some valid exclusions, a significant number of properties that required more complex works should have been counted in the void turnaround figures.  Performance would now be calculated differently as from 1^st April, 2010.

Discussions ensued on voids, targets set and rent loss. 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted and the work ongoing on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 149.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Mike Shaw, Finance Manager, which detailed the income, expenditure and net position for the Neighbourhoods Department within the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate compared to the profiled budgets for the period ending 31^st January, 2010.  It also included the projected year end outturn position which currently showed a forecasted overspend of £655,000 (15.7%) by the end of March, 2010.

The following key pressures were highlighted:-

Independent Support Service (Wardens)                              £617,000 overspend

Safer Neighbourhoods                                                              £93,000 overspend

Business Regulation                                                              £91,000 underspend

Neighbourhood Partnerships                                                   £29,000 overspend

Housing Access                                                                       £21,000 overspend

Housing Choices                                                                    £15,000 underspend

Neighbourhood Investments                                                       £1,000 overspend

It was also noted that to date, Neighbourhoods had spent £36,000 on agency staff.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the report be 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 those paragraphs indicated below of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

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 those paragraphs indicated below of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council))

In accordance with Minute No. 304 of 21^st March, 2007 and J138 of 15^th February, 2010, the Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the above properties in need of substantial investment which exceeded the current threshold of £20,000.

The report set out the options that had been considered with regard to the properties and recommended that the properties be retained and investment undertaken to enable the properties to be re-let and meet the Decent Homes Standard.

Consultation had taken place with local Ward Members, 1 of whom supported retention and investment provided that there sufficient budgetary resources could be identified and that works to bring the properties up to a Decent Homes and lettable standard could be initiated immediately upon an investment decision being made.

Resolved:-  That the properties be retained and completion of works approved to bring the properties up to Decent Homes standard to facilitate re-letting.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council))

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council))

In accordance with Minute Nos. 304 of 21^st March, 2007 and J138 of 15^th February, 2010, the Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the above properties in need of substantial investment which exceeded the current threshold of £20,000.

The report set out the options that had been considered with regard to the properties and recommended that the properties be retained and investment undertaken to enable the properties to be re-let and meet the Decent Homes Standard.

Consultation had taken place with Ward Members.

Resolved:-  That the properties be retained and completion of works approved to bring the properties up to Decent Homes standard to facilitate re-letting.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council))

(Exempt under Paragraph 2 of the Act – information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual)

It was noted that an Appeals Panel had been held on 3rd March, 2010, comprising Councillors Atkin (in the Chair), Lakin and Walker, to review a decision to terminate an Introductory Tenancy.

The Panel had confirmed the decision made on 26th January, 2010.

Resolved:-  That the Panel's decision be noted.

(Exempt under Paragraph 2 of the Act - information likely to reveal the identity of an individual)

(Exempt under Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council)/consultations relating to labour relations)

Further to Minute No. 128 of 1^st February, 2010, the Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report proposing the size and scope of the externalised contracts.  It also emphasised the potential implications for the Council in terms of impact on Service Level Agreements by the downsizing of the In House Service provider and externalising the Service.

Resolved:-  (1)  That inclusion of additional capital works in the external contracts be approved so that the overall value was £24.6M and enabling guarantees to be provided to bidders of at least £22.6M, subject to sufficient central Government funds being made available to the Council.

(2)  That the potential financial implications for the Council and RBT of reductions to Service Level Agreements resulting from externalisation be noted.

(3)  That a further report be submitted to Cabinet in respect of the implications to the Council and RBT of externalisation to secure permission to proceed in light of the implications.

(Exempt under Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council)/consultations relating to labour relations)

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council))

Mike Shaw, Finance Manager, Neighbourhoods, submitted a report setting out details of the proposed Housing Investment Programme for 2010/11 and the resources to support the Programme.

The Programme was split between schemes managed by 2010 Rotherham Ltd. and those managed by the Council.  It was proposed that the Programme managed by 2010 should total £23M and the Council Programme £18.415M.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That a HIP Programme of £41.415M be approved.

 (Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council))

Consideration was given to a report which set out details of the progress on the 2009/10 Housing Investment Programme (HIP) and Non HIP Capital Schemes for the period to 15^th February 2009.

Resolved:- That the contents of the report be noted.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council))