Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

1.1.         Approve the responses and action plans attached to this report as Appendices 1, 2 & 3; and

1.2.         Delegate authority to the officers identified in Appendices 1, 2 & 3 to report back to the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, or relevant Sub-Committee, within the periods specified in the agreed responses and action plans, and on progress made in implementing any action plan.

The Executive Mayor introduced the Scrutiny Stage 2 Responses to Recommendations arising from the Home Sub-Committee meeting which was held on 24 July 2023.

The recommendations covered the Housing Transformation, the Mobilisation of the Responsive Repairs Contract, and the New Housing Strategy, to which the report details.

The Chair of Scrutiny and Overview Committee, Councillor Rowenna Davis, shared with Cabinet that:

-        The Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee welcomed the Executive Mayors decision to offer Domestic Violence Training to all frontline staff, following the recommendation from Scrutiny Members who recognised staff dealing directly with families in their homes, where training would help identify support to families where required.

-        It was noted that other recommendations were turned down such as the specialist repairs teams for highly vulnerable residents.

-        The Scrutiny and Overview Committee (the Committee) commended the Future Options for Maintained Nursery School report and the responses to the consultation and acknowledged that whilst doing nothing was not an option, the decision to properly explore alternatives were welcomed to improve opportunities for young people; further, a briefing was scheduled with the Committee on the ‘Next Steps’ where they would add best value along the way.

-        The Committee noted that the Council’s finances and the Period 6 Financial Performance report suggested that the council were forecasting a smaller use of the corporate contingency budget at the end of the financial year, due to withdrawing down resources from an alternative backup fund in response to increased homelessness as addressed within the report and would welcome more insight to these pressures.

-        Lastly, the Committee noted the need to increase Asset Disposals to meet the council’s debts and credited the council’s increased pace of sales to date, and emphasised that timely communication to tenants was essential, not least as some treasured organisations would be required to find new homes.

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet RESOLVED to:

1.1.         Approve the responses and action plans attached to this report as Appendices 1, 2 & 3; and

1.2.         Delegate authority to the officers identified in Appendices 1, 2 & 3 to report back to the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, or relevant Sub-Committee, within the periods specified in the agreed responses and action plans, and on progress made in implementing any action plan.