Issue - meetings

To review and scrutinise the refreshed Service Improvement Plan and relevant documents to ensure appropriate action is aligned with the Regulator of Social Housing standards and outcomes.

The Committee received its second report reviewing and scrutinising the Housing and Asset Management Service Improvement Plan, developed following the judgement of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in October 2025. Officers provided an update on recruitment to the restructured housing service, confirming that new Compliance Assurance Officer, Compliance Administrator and Senior Inspector posts had been filled, and that an offer had been made in respect of the Repairs Manager post.

Members raised concerns regarding the absence of opposition Councillors on the Housing Improvement Board (HIB), the level of non-attendance without substitutes at HIB meetings, and the timeliness and presentation of performance data reported to this Committee; officers agreed to take these points away for consideration and undertook to review how information is presented to the Committee going forward. Members also discussed specific performance areas, including fire risk assessments, damp and mould, and electrical compliance, where officers reported improving but still significant numbers of overdue actions.

RESOLVED that:

(1) the Committee's understanding and scrutiny of the Service Improvement Plan be strengthened, including further investigation of opposition Councillor representation on the Housing Improvement Board;

(2) the way in which information is presented to this Committee be reviewed; and

(3) attendance at Housing Improvement Board meetings be reviewed, with named substitutes provided where the usual attendee is unable to attend.