Councillor Johnson introduced the report and stated that it was an exciting report. The Council is facing unprecedented challenges in its responsibilities as a social housing landlord, increasing regulation, improving standards of customer care and tenant satisfaction and budgetary pressures to achieve value for money.

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act intends to deliver transformational change for social housing residents by setting out measures to ensure social housing is safe and to make it easier to know how social landlords are performing by increasing transparency and accountability. The Act sets out new requirements for social landlords to address hazards, such as damp and mould within a fixed period. The proposals contained within this report is to transfer a significant element of the functions of the Housing Assets, Repairs and Compliance service to a single supplier. A single supplier can better drive efficiencies and value for money in the delivery of all works for the council and its residents.

The Council will create a new smaller team to managethe works and services of the Delivery Partner. This team will lead on embedding a cultural change in housing services moving from a transactional relationship to a more meaningful relationship with residents and this will also provide savings.

The Leader thanked Councillor Johnson for the report and commented that it is important that the Council get the right contract in place to look after the housing stock. Resident’s concerns about repairs should be carried out immediately.

Councillor Coxshall commented that it is really important to get this right and it is exciting to see how they are looking to deliver this partnership model. Once a partner is found they should be able to have some good conversations about how to transform services.

RESOLVED:

1.1      Approve the recommendation set out in this report to procure a Housing Works Delivery Partner for a period of ten years, with an option to extend the contract by five years plus a further five years (10+5+5) after the initial ten-year period, subject to performance and funding.

1.2      Approve delegated authority for the award of contract for the Housing Works Delivery Partner to the Executive Director of Adults, Housing and Health in consultation with the Leader, Portfolio Holder, Commissioners and Section 151 Officer.

1.3      Approve the recommendation set out in this report to procure an Assurance and Audit Partner for a period of ten years, with an option to extend the contract for a further five plus five years (10+5+5) after the initial ten-year period - subject to performance and funding.

1.4      Approve delegated authority for the award of contract for the Assurance and Audit Partner to the Executive Director of Adults, Housing and Health in consultation with the Leader, Portfolio Holder, Commissioners and Section 151 Officer.

Reason for the decision: as outlined in the report

This decision is subject to call-in

The meeting went into a brief closed session to consider Councillor Carter’s question about the exempt appendix to the report under Item 12. The meeting returned to open session to consider the report recommendations for item 12.