Agenda item

Cabinet Portfolio:                 Housing

Strategic Directorate:           Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

Consideration was given to a report submitted by the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health which was due to be determined by the Cabinet at its meeting on 18 March 2019, which set out the basis for a review of the current Area Housing Panel arrangements, in the context of the new neighbourhood working approach.

The report proposed that the current geographical arrangements for Area Housing Panels should be reviewed and recommendations brought forward for Cabinet consideration later in the year. The report also referred to the current arrangements for the allocation and governance of the annual Area Housing Panel budget and the options considered for the structuring of the budget from 2019/20, including revised governance processes.

The Board were keen to further understand the administrative arrangements supporting the allocation of monies and the governance processes that would be followed. Assurances were sought for Members and Area Housing Panels to receive appropriate training and support. In response, the Cabinet Member for Housing indicated that the majority of training, support and awareness raising would be undertaken with elected Members. This would be addressed in the further report proposed to be considered by Cabinet, but it was acknowledged that there needed to be stronger governance processes around Area Housing Panels on a ward level.

Assurances were sought in respect of the procedures in place to ensure that the additional monies would be spent on council properties rather than other priorities in wards. In response, it was confirmed that guidance was in place to assist Members, officers and residents. It was confirmed that there should always be a substantial benefit for tenants associated with any proposal.

Clarification was sought in respect of whether officers or Members had decision making responsibility on the spend of funds. In response, the Cabinet Member for Housing confirmed that the priority would be remain legal at all times and the Housing Revenue Account would be audited annually. In the event of there being an issue or disagree, it would be referred to the Assistant Director of Housing Services and the Head of Service who would provide guidance for Members to consider. Following up, the Chair sought assurances as to who would provide final approval to spend funds. It was confirmed in response that funding would be allocated to each ward and it would be looked at with ward Members to fit in with Ward Plan priorities. The Cabinet Member confirmed that the governance arrangements needed further consideration. In the event of a dispute, there would need to be honest conversations to achieve a consensus so that monies could be allocated accordingly.  

Members sought to understand what work would be undertaken with tenants before changes were implemented, as the proposals could be seen as a move to take power away from them. The Cabinet Member for Housing indicated that a significant amount of consultation had taken place with the Housing Involvement Panel and the Quality & Standards Steering Group. The feedback to date had indicated that tenants were supportive of the proposed move to a ward based model.

Members were broadly content with the proposals in the report, commenting that the recommendations were fair and the levelling out of funding per ward was the right course of action. However, concerns remained in respect of the lack of clarity as to who would ultimately be responsible for decision making and this would need to be confirmed before the proposals were implemented.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet be advised that the recommendations be supported.

2.    That the second report in respect of arrangements for 2020/21 and beyond be brought for scrutiny prior to consideration by Cabinet

3.    That the governance arrangements and clarity in respect of delegated decision making be addressed in the future report to be considered by Cabinet