Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

Councillor E Kerry declared a non-pecuniary interest in item number 10 as he owns a garage in the Borough, minute number 9 refers.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2019.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2019 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To provide Housing Committee with an update on the Capita Open Housing Project.

The Committee received an update on the Capita Housing Project and was informed that phase 1 went live in December 2018 and phase 2 had a target completion date of June 2019.

To seek Committee approval for a new policy setting out what the council will provide in terms of its financial inclusion service.

This item was withdrawn for consideration at the next meeting of the Committee.

To seek Committee approval for a new Lifeline Policy.

The aim of the Policy was to provide an overview of the Lifeline telecare services offered by the Council. The services were designed to increase, maintain and improve the independence of customers to remain living within their own home. It was requested that the Committee be updated on plans for the development of the service.

RESOLVED that the new Lifeline Policy be approved.

To seek Committee approval for a new Housing Engagement Strategy.

In January 2019 the Housing Committee approved the proposed key themes of the new Strategy which outlined the changes to resident engagement considering both the social housing green paper: A New Deal for Social Housing and ‘Change at the Council’ an Independent Review of Governance for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea following the Grenfell Tower fire. The Strategy also reflects the increased focus on informal methods of engagement.

It was queried whether the Housing Performance Group would have a role to play in the engagement. The Committee was informed that the role of the Group was valued but the engagement would require wide ranging participation.  

RESOLVED that the Housing Engagement Strategy be approved and that a pilot of Housing Surgeries be commenced. 

To seek Committee approval for a new policy that provides guidance of how the Council will manage requests from tenants and leaseholders to keep pets and how matters that surround their keeping are managed by the Council.

The Pets Policy was previously considered at the Housing Committee of 5 March 2019 where it was resolved to refer the document to the Resident Involvement Group for consultation.  The Policy was well received by the group in terms of the clarity it provides residents and officers surrounding the keeping of animals at Council properties. Members queried whether the Policy was retrospective in the case of owners whose pets had become deceased. Officers responded that that Policy was intended for new pets and clarity would be provided for owners through the relevant information.

RESOLVED that the Pets Policy be approved.

To report progress against outcome targets identified in the Housing Business Plan, linked to Corporate Plan priorities and objectives, and to provide an update as to the latest key performance indicators therein.

The Committee noted a report on the progress against outcome targets identified in the Housing Business Plan.

To seek approval for a Housing Delivery Plan to meet social and affordable housing need.

In December 2018 Housing Committee approved the recommendations of the Social and Affordable Housing Need report. It was agreed that a phased delivery plan would be brought to a future meeting. 

Members considered a phased potential delivery plan for the next ten years, a potential new build delivery plan for phase 1 and the process by which this could be achieved, and were informed that any relevant decisions would be reported to the Committee.

RESOLVED that:

1)       The approach to development outlined in the phased Housing Delivery Plan to deliver 230 homes over 10 years be approved.

2)       The embarkation on the process as set out in appendix 3 of the report through which the land identified in the Phase 1 Delivery Plan may in future be used for development of housing be approved.

RECOMMENDED to the Finance and Resources Committee to include £1,000,000 in the 2019/20 Capital Programme for the acquisition of properties for the Housing Revenue Account

RECOMMENDED to Council that the Chief Executive be delegated the power to approve property acquisitions within the budget identified and land acquisitions up to £500,000 in consultation with the Chair of the Housing Committee.

To consider items for inclusion in the Work Programme for future meetings.

The Committee considered the Work Programme. It was agreed that the item withdrawn from the agenda earlier in the meeting which concerned the Financial Inclusion Policy be submitted to the next meeting in addition to report a regarding the Development of the Lifeline Service. An update on the Housing Engagement Strategy was requested for the meeting in November.

RESOLVED that the Work Programme, as amended, be approved.

The Committee is asked to RESOLVE that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Members noted the appendix to the report.

The Chair had agreed that under S100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the following report be considered on the grounds that the matter needed to be determined urgently for the benefit of a local resident.

RESOLVED that accommodation be provided for the applicant as an exception to the approved allocation scheme.