Agenda item

Purpose of Report

1.    The purpose of this report is to update the Cabinet Member on the delivery of the Council Housing Maintenance and Improvements Programme 2023/24, the spend against the approved budget and to highlight any future issues.

2.    The report also provides an 'industry update' highlighting the wider financial and operational context impacting on repairs and maintenance.

3.    To seek approval to reset and review the ongoing Capital Programme.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.    That the Cabinet Member notes the progress of the budget plan and revenue and capital expenditure and the ongoing pressures on both the revenue and capital budgets.

2.    That approval is given to amend the allocation of budgets within the capital programme to allow for it to be reviewed and reprogrammed, prioritising demand to meet the legislative requirements under the Building Safety Act 2022 within available budgets and the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services to be authorised to proceed with schemes within the sums approved under Financial Rules, Section B11.

Adam Hardwick, Assistant Director, Buildings presented the report the purpose of which was to update the Cabinet Member on the delivery of the Council Housing Maintenance and Improvements Programme 2023/2024, the spend against the approved budget and to highlight any future issues.  The report also provided an 'industry update' highlighting the wider financial and operational context impacting on repairs and maintenance.

Resident Consortium Comments

Maria Cole agreed with the report and considered it good news that voids were now being cleared so quickly with new tenants being housed. She noted that although the increase in costs had slowed down, she had not yet experienced this in her day-to-day shopping.

Maria was concerned at the thought of the council having to use any reserves (especially the Major Repairs Reserve) which needed to be available for any future unexpected events such as with Horatio and Leamington House.

In relation to the Integrated Impact Assessment and the section on social values, Maria considered this very important especially for tenants who may have had many works carried out on the properties they live in. 

Member's questions

In response to Members' questions, officers clarified:

·         Under the Building Safety Act, a key action is to improve resident engagement, making residents aware of works happening in their buildings.  9 Resident engagement events had taken place to date and these events would be ongoing. 

·         Sprinkler work was being carried out and Ladywood House had been completed.  Work on Handsworth House would commence this financial year.  Residents would be communicated with about the works once the works were due to commence and not during the evaluation stage.

·         In the next financial year, fire safety works will form a large part of the programme.

·         Housing meets quarterly with Hampshire Fire Service and updates them on the programme of works with a focus on high risk blocks.  The fire service had not raised any issues in relation to the current programme of works.  Fire risk assessments are carried out every year and joint inspections are carried out with the Fire Service annually.

·         When gas safety checks are carried out, boilers are serviced at the same time.  CO2 detectors are now fitted as standard during the service.  In addition, any day-to-day contractors also install CO2 detectors if there are none in the property.

·         The Major Repairs Reserve is anticipated to hold £9million at the end of the year.  The Capital programme is based on a programme where expenditure is equal to the major repairs allowance made in the year and there are no plans to run that balance down below £9million.  Any overspend would impact the reserve.  The service is keen to retain the reserve balance for emergency works but the balance between essential works now and potential emergency works is a fine balancing act.

Member comments

Members requested that some of the Resident engagement events take place in the evenings or at weekends.

Members observed that in relation to fire doors and sprinklers, residents did not appear to have been communicated with sufficiently on when these works would actually take place.

Chair's Comments

The Chair noted the issue of flat income and increasing costs.  Drawing on the reserves could lead to them running out, but the current situation was bleak.  The Chair referred to a letter by the Local All Parties Groups of the LGA which highlighted the current issues.

The Chair was pleased with the increased number of repairs being carried out to the housing stock and that the number of new council tenant homes was increasing.  He observed that the first priority for the council was the safety of the buildings and fire doors and sprinklers should be part of the mix.

The Chair asked that the service, as part of future engagement events, should look at holding some in the evenings and weekends.

Decision

The Cabinet Member:

·         Noted the progress of the budget plan and revenue and capital expenditure and the ongoing pressures on both the revenue and capital budgets.

·         Approved to amend the allocation of budgets within the capital programme to allow for it to be reviewed and reprogrammed, prioritising demand to meet the legislative requirements under the Building Safety Act 2022 with available budgets and the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services be authorised to proceed with schemes within the sums approved under Financial Rules, Section B11.