Issue - meetings

Councillor Harlow, Portfolio Holder for Housing, introduced the recommendation of the Executive which proposed a preferred approach for the future delivery of the Housing Management and Maintenance Service following the expiry of the New Vision Homes (NVH) contract on 31 March 2022.  The recommendations sought authority to undertake the required statutory consultation with tenants and leaseholders on the preferred approach.

The proposals were welcomed by the Council, noting that bringing Housing Management Services back in-house would give the Council direct control and reduce confusion amongst residents.  Repairs and maintenance services would be delivered by external providers with the repairs and maintenance contract directly managed by the Council to ensure the Council had clear oversight.

RESOLVED

That (i)    approval be given to the preferred approach of Housing Management and Asset Management Services being brought back in-house and housing repairs and maintenance works and services being procured through third party contractors (Option 2) from 1 April 2022, subject to tenant and leaseholder consultation;

          (ii)   the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, be authorised to take such decisions as may be necessary to facilitate the process of transition to a new model of Housing Management and Maintenance Service, including any decisions around procurement timing and approach;

          (iii) the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and the Portfolio Holder for Housing, be authorised to undertake the statutory tenant and leaseholder consultation, as determined by s.105 of the Housing Act 1985 and s.20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (as amended by s.151 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002) as necessary, regarding the future of the Housing Management and Maintenance service post 31st March 2022; and

          (iv) following the statutory consultation and engagement process, a report on the outcome is brought back to the Executive and Full Council in February 2021 to inform the final decision on the future of the Housing Management and Maintenance Service.

Reporting Person – Louise Strongitharm

Councillor Harlow, Portfolio Holder for Housing, introduced the report which recommended to Council a preferred approach for the future delivery of the Housing Management and Maintenance Service following the expiry of the New Vision Homes (NVH) contract on 31 March 2022.  Councillor Harlow explained that the report sought authority to undertake the required statutory consultation with tenants and leaseholders on the preferred approach.

The Executive was supportive of the recommendation set out in the report, namely that the Council pursued a hybrid model whereby Housing Management and Asset Management Services were brought back in-house, and repairs and maintenance works and services were procured through third party contractors.  It was commented that bringing Housing Management Services back in-house would give the Council direct control and reduce confusion amongst residents.

Discussion ensued on repairs and maintenance services.  The Executive was informed that the Council no longer had in-house expertise in delivering housing repairs and it was considered to be a step too far at the current time to bring the service back in-house.  The preferred approach was for the service to be delivered by external providers with the repairs and maintenance contract directly managed by the Council to ensure the Council had clear oversight.  The consultant costs in relation to the outsourcing of the repairs and maintenance service were raised.  Officers advised that the Council could consider bringing the service back in-house in the future.

REcommended to Council

That  (i)    approval be given to the preferred approach of Housing Management and Asset Management Services being brought back in-house and housing repairs and maintenance works and services being procured through third party contractors (Option 2) from 1 April 2022, subject to tenant and leaseholder consultation;

          (ii)   the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, be authorised to take such decisions as may be necessary to facilitate the process of transition to a new model of Housing Management and Maintenance Service, including any decisions around procurement timing and approach;

          (iii)  the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and the Portfolio Holder for Housing, be authorised to undertake the statutory tenant and leaseholder consultation, as determined by s.105 of the Housing Act 1985 and s.20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (as amended by s.151 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002) as necessary, regarding the future of the Housing Management and Maintenance service post 31st March 2022; and

          (iv)  following the statutory consultation and engagement process, a report on the outcome is brought back to the Executive and Full Council in February 2021 to inform the final decision on the future of the Housing Management and Maintenance Service.

Reason:   To determine the future delivery model for the Council’s Housing Management and Maintenance Service after the end of the current contract with New Vision Homes on 31 March 2022.