Agenda item

Report of the Director of Housing Management and the Director of

Property Services.

The DMC is asked to discuss and comment on the sections of the consolidated report that are of particular interest to members during the meeting.

The June 2023 consolidated Housing Services report was compiled following feedback from DMC members at recent meetings and arising from specific requests from DMC chairs during their April agenda setting with the Cabinet Member. It includes Housing Management & Property Services performance and other requested reports.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing & Director of Property Management Supporting Communities.

The Director of Finance Supporting Communities gave a summary of the update, included within pages 36-39 of the papers. The following was discussed:

-       The 2023 outturn had not yet been finalised and would report to Cabinet in July, however, it was stated the ongoing increase of interest rates would impact 2023/24 more than 2022/23 therefore resulting in more financial challenge to the Council.

-       It was confirmed that the Community Investment Programme (CIP) was short term borrowing from the HRA to build social and private housing. The private housing sold was then used to pay back the HRA. The aim was to increase the number of social properties in the borough. The scheme was not for commercial investment.

-       It was confirmed that the Council were exploring enfranchisement.

The Head of Housing Transformation gave a summary of the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMS) update, included within pages 40-42 of the papers. The following was discussed:

-       It was confirmed that this year the Council would be conducting a survey on the 12 tenant satisfaction measures, with the first survey going out in the Autumn using a non-profit data insight company, Housemark, working with the Council. Housemark worked closely with the Regulator of Social Housing and helped develop the TSM framework and were also helping other inner London local authorities with their surveys. The company had chosen more open-ended questions to enable more learning from resident experience.

-       A resident stated that the report should capture a view from residents, they questioned how residents were empowered in the process, and said the report should be more informative. In response, officers stated that DMCs had received regular updates on how the social housing white paper progressed through parliament since 2020 and the regulatory impact on the Council and would continue to do so. This particular DMC update on the subject was about the upcoming TSMS and survey.

The Head of Housing Transformation gave a summary of the report outlining options on how to make DMC meetings more inclusive, included within pages 43-44 of the papers.

In the proposed next steps, it stated that a DMC chair suggested that a resident conference could be held to bring together several issues of interest to resident, supported by all 5 DMC chairs. This could focus on widening participation and inclusivity of DMCs and for residents. As a residents’ led conference, officers stated they would be happy to work with residents to supporting. Officers stated that it was up to the DMCs to design the conference, how they want residents to come together, and focusses of interest.

It was raised by a resident that there was a lack of knowledge sharing between TRAs before attending the DMC meeting, then at a greater level information sharing between DMCs. The resident suggested that TRAs submit bullet points to officers to include within the officer reports to DMCs. Officers agreed they would send out email to the DMC chairs outlining deadlines for DMC members to submit information.

ACTION BY: Neighbourhood Manager

The Chair suggest that Vice-Chairs, and other any residents interested, be involved in organising the conference.

A resident suggested that a sub-group of residents could formed to gather ideas to design a conference residents would engage with and attend.