Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Cabinet Member for Homes, Councillor Patricia Hay-Justice

Officer: Interim Executive Director Housing, Alison Knight

Key decision: yes

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

RESOLVED: To

1.   Approve the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy 2021 (“the Policy”), Appendix A to the report.

2.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Housing to make minor amendments to the Policy including in relation to typographical errors or updating post holders titles as necessary.

3.   Note that in respect of the 6 month Pilot Scheme detailed at paragraph 3.4 of the report and Section 10 of Appendix A, the outcome of the Pilot will be reported back to Cabinet to determine whether or not it is appropriate for the Pilot scheme to be incorporated into the Private Sector Assistance Policy beyond that 6 month time frame.

The Cabinet Member for Homes (Councillor Patricia Hay-Justice) stated that the Housing Renewal Service aimed to support homeowners and private tenants to maintain their properties to a good standard, through repairs and adaptations. The Cabinet Member advised that by raising standards in those properties contributed to safer, stronger and more sustainable communities, improved health and wellbeing and improved the environment. By supporting people to remain living in their own homes reduced the financial pressure on the council by reducing costs of long term care. The Cabinet Member noted that the loans and grants enabled the council to make a positive impact on the lives of Croydon residents. The Cabinet Member also shared a study case and testimony with Cabinet which provided positive feedback.

The Shadow Cabinet Member for Homes (Councillor Lynne Hale) welcomed the report, noting the multitude of options available for Croydon residents to enable them to live safely and independently in their own homes. The Shadow Cabinet Member questioned how this information would be shared with residents and was advised by the Cabinet Member that the information would be disseminated more widely than just online, including via lunch clubs and councillors within their wards.

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

RESOLVED: To

1.    Approve the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy 2021 (“the Policy”), Appendix A to the report.

2.     Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Housing to make minor amendments to the Policy including in relation to typographical errors or updating post holders titles as necessary.

3.    Note that in respect of the 6 month Pilot Scheme detailed at paragraph 3.4 of the report and Section 10 of Appendix A, the outcome of the Pilot will be reported back to Cabinet to determine whether or not it is appropriate for the Pilot scheme to be incorporated into the Private Sector Assistance Policy beyond that 6 month time frame.