Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 01 February as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 01 February were agreed as a correct record of proceedings.

To receive any disclosures of interest from Councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

The Chair, or his nominee, to answer any questions raised by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 40.

At the time of publication of this agenda no questions were received.

There were none.

To consider any issues raised by ward councillors in accordance with Standing Order 34.2

At the time of publication of this agenda no ward issues were received.

There were none.

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Accountant that outlined the capital projects that fell under the remit of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee.

Concerns were expressed over the figures for the Oast House and in particular the large overspend in the sum of £13.4m. The Deputy Chief Executive, Terry Collier advised that this was due to both the delays moving the development forward and also the increase in construction costs.

Terry agreed to circulate a more detailed breakdown of the overspend to Committee Members and the Committee Manager would include the response in the minutes of the meeting.

The Committee asked why the report was showing an increase in costs for the acquisition of land at the White House.

Terry advised that The Chief Finance Officer would provide a detailed answer to all Committee members and that the Committee Manager would include the response in the minutes of the meeting.

The Committee resolved to note the report.

The Committee considered a report from the Deputy Chief Accountant, Anna Russell that sought to outline the draft forecast outturn for 2021/22 as at 31 December 2021 and the aggregate variances by cost centre.

The report was presented by the Deputy Chief Executive, Terry Collier.

Concerns were raised by the Committee about how the cost of living rise may impact on the residents of the Borough. Terry advised the Committee that the longer term economic impacts of the pandemic were not yet fully felt and that this is merging with broader cost of living pressures but that this would be monitored closely. It was likely that the figures for Q1 2022/23 would reflect the impact of the cost of living increases and movements in the number of residents in receipt of Housing Benefit.

The Committee resolved to note the report.

 The Committee considered a report from the Strategic Lead Independent Living, Stephen Mortimer-Cleevely and the Active Lifestyle and Wellbeing Manager, Mary Holdaway that sought approval for adoption of the Spelthorne Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2027.

The Committee were advised that this strategy focussed on three principles, People, Place and Community and that these would link in with the recently adopted Corporate Plan priorities. Funding streams would be sought to support the new objectives and Stephen advised the Committee that he had recently secured funding in the sum of £475k to help fulfil some of the goals around health and prevention.

Some areas within the Borough have high levels and deprivation and the focus will be on these areas for the first two years with the remaining areas being looked at in years 3-5.

Proposed by Councillor Doran

Seconded by Councillor Vinson

The Committee resolved to adopt the Spelthorne Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2027.

The Chair suggested that Item 16 – Urgent Business, be brought forward as it was also to be presented by Stephen Mortimer-Cleevely. Item 16 was an exempt item and would need to be heard in a closed session.

The Committee agreed to consider Item 16 at this stage of the meeting.

To move the exclusion of the public and press in order to discuss the next item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Paragraph 3 or Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

It was proposed by Councillor Gething, seconded by Councillor Bateson, and resolved that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following item, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in being able to undertake even-handed negotiations and finalising acceptable contract terms.

After the Committee had considered Item 16 in a private session, Items 9-15 were heard in a public session.

This report was presented by the Strategic Lead Housing, Marta Imig that sought to:

1.    Approve the proposed procurement of a Property Acquisition Service for the duration of 5 years,

2.    Approve the proposed bid for Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP) for acquisition of six units and the associated revenue support,

3.    Delegate the appointment of the contractor to the Group Head of Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee; and

4.    Authorise the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into any legal documentation necessary to implement the new contract.

Marta advised the Committee that they had previously approved the Acquisition of Registered Providers Street Properties Policy in September 2021 but that the Council does not have the resources to administer the acquisition. Therefore there was a need for a Property Acquisition Service to be put in place.

Marta stated that the properties the Council were looking to purchase under the Property Acquisition Scheme would comprise mainly or larger properties for families and also properties that had been or could be adapted to meet the needs of a disabled person.

The Committee were advised that the deadline for a bid for RSAP was 13 April 2022 and that each Council could bid for 6-8 properties that would provide short term accommodation for a homeless person during which they would receive support from the Council. They would then be moved into permanent accommodation provided by the Council.

Marta suggested that the Committee approve Option 3 of the report that was to not approve the bid for RSAP funding, but to approve the tender in respect of the acquisition of street properties on only.

Proposed by Councillor Bateson

Seconded by Councillor Vinson

The Committee resolved to:

1.    approve the proposed procurement of a Property Acquisition Service for the duration of 5 years,

2.    delegate the appointment of the Contractor to the Group Head of Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee; and

3.    authorise the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into any legal documentation necessary to implement the new contract.

The Housing Strategy & Policy Manager, Marta Imig presented this report to the Committee.

Marta advised the Committee that the Council had passed the audit with no recommendations. She advised that Homes England required the outcome of the Compliance Audit to be brought to the attention of the relevant Committee within 3 months of the audit result release.

The Committee resolved to note the report.

thThe Housing Strategy & Policy Manager, Marta Imig presented this report to the Committee that sought approval of the revised Tenancy Strategy following a review of the Council’s current Tenancy Strategy.

This report had been brought before this Committee on a previous occasion but was rejected by Members due to the proposal for a reduction of the affordable rent, from 80% to 70%. The redrafted version of the Tenancy Strategy proposes to retain the affordable rent levels at the lower of up to 80% of market rent value or Local Housing Allowance, this is unchanged from the current approved Strategy.

The Committee asked for clarification of the difference between the market rent and the Local Housing Authority (LHA) rent. The Joint Group Head, Wellbeing & Housing, Deborah Ashman advised the Committee that tenants would be charged 80% of market rent or 100% of the LHA rate, whichever proves to be the lowest. She clarified that this would only be for the affordable units.

Concerns were raised about developments in prime locations within the borough and it was suggested that all levels of renting should be considered, affordable and non-affordable to achieve the best financial outcome for the Council and Knowle Green Estates.

The Deputy Chief Executive, Terry Collier agreed that all types of tenure should be considered for new developments across the borough but that there was a need to ensure that all people on the Housing Waiting List were considered.

Proposed by Councillor Bateson

Seconded by Councillor Gibson

The Committee resolved to approve the Tenancy Strategy.

This report was presented by the Housing Strategy & Policy Manager, Marta Imig and sought approval to:

1.    the proposed procurement of a Housing First service for the duration of 3 years, with 3 x 1 year extensions in the Council’s sole discretion subject to government funding availability and the performance of the contract,

2.    delegate the appointment of the Contractor to the Group Head of Housing in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee; and

3.    authorise the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into any legal documentation necessary to implement the new contract.

Marta advised the Committee that the current contract for the provision of a Housing First service was with A2 Dominion and that this contract ended on 31 May 2022. The Strategic Housing Group had recommended going out to procurement of this contract and to select a provider through a competitive tender process.

The Chair advised the Committee that she and officers would be meeting with A2 Dominion regularly to address any issues. The Committee were told that officers would be reissuing A2 Dominion’s contact details to Councillors to enable them to contact them direct.

Proposed by Councillor Vinson

Seconded by Councillor Doran

The Committee resolved to:

4.    approve the proposed procurement of a Housing First service for the duration of 3 years, with 3 x 1 year extensions in the Council’s sole discretion subject to government funding availability and the performance of the contract,

5.    delegate the appointment of the Contractor to the Group Head of Housing in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee; and

6.    authorise the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into any legal documentation necessary to implement the new contract.

This report was presented by the Housing Strategy & Policy Manager, Marta Imig and sought approval of the revised Key Worker Policy.

Marta advised the Committee that this was a revised version of the current Key Worker Policy that sought to wider the definition of who would be considered a Key Worker.

The Committee asked why it was felt necessary to widen the definition of Key Worker. Marta stated that there was currently only a small number of applicants on the Housing Waiting List that would meet the criteria needed to be considered a Key Worker and that the Council had experienced difficulties letting units at Benwell that had been ringfenced for Key Workers.

The Joint Group Head Community Wellbeing, Deborah Ashman  advised the Committee that if the definition of a Key Worker was broaden the Council would be able to support more residents within the Borough and would minimise the risk of voids in keyworker units.

Proposed by Councillor Doran

Seconded by Councillor Vinson

The Committee resolved to approve the revised Key Worker Policy.

To receive a verbal update from the Senior Environmental Health Manager on current housing disrepair issues.

The Chair read out the following statement from the Senior Environmental Health Manager, Tracey Willmott-French:

“The A2D update regarding the commencement of the quarterly meetings to discuss programmed and reactive housing repairs resume on the 07 April 2022. In addition to  myself and Susan Turp both Councillor Sexton and Councillor S Dunn will be attending the first meeting.

There is nothing more to add at this time, however going forward we will be able to provide some basic statistics around housing disrepair complaints and repair issued on RSL homes within the Borough.”

The Committee resolved to note the verbal update.

To consider the Forward Plan for committee business.

The Committee resolved  to note the Forward Plan for the business of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee.

To consider any business deemed as urgent by the chair.

There is one item that needs to be considered under Urgent Business. This is to receive a verbal update on a review of the Spelthorne Personal Alarm Network (SPAN).

The reason that this is considered urgent is that the current contract ends July 2022 and a decision is to be made by the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee on 20 April 2022 in respect of this review.

The Committee received a verbal update from The Strategic Lead Independent Living, Mr Stephen Mortimer-Cleevely on the Spelthorne Personal Alarm Network (SPAN).