Agenda, decisions and minutes

To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2023.

Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Operations and Services), Cllr Paul Rivers, approved the minutes of the meeting held on the 23^rd February 2023.

The Council does not currently have a policy on the management of damp and mould within tenant homes. It is recommended by the Regulator for Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman Service to have a specific damp and mould policy to ensure cases are managed and dealt with in a timely manner with an understanding of the urgency and importance. The purpose of this damp and mould policy is to direct the management and delivery of a damp and mould service to all Waverley Borough Council properties enabling the Council to provide and maintain, warm and dry healthy homes for tenants.

Recommendation

That the Executive Co Portfolio Holder for Housingapproves the adoption of the new damp and mould policy for social housing tenants, with immediate effect.

Having considered the comments of the Landlord Services Advisory Board (Executive Working Group), the Executive Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Paul Rivers,

RESOLVED to approve the adoption of the new damp and mould policy for social housing tenants, with immediate effect.

Reason: The Housing Ombudsman Service has recommended all Councils have a damp and mould policy in place.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Resources

Having considered the comments of the Landlord Services Advisory Board (Executive Working Group), the Executive Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Paul Rivers:

RESOLVED to approve the adoption of the new damp and mould policy for social housing tenants, with immediate effect.

Reason for the decision:

The Housing Ombudsman Service has recommended all Councils have a damp and mould policy in place.

In order to regularise the contract for Fire Equipment Servicing, the Council has been advised to direct award a new contract to the existing contractor, Sureserve Fire and Electrical Ltd, via a framework that has already been competitively tendered at the appropriate contract value.

Approval is sought to complete this procurement exercise and award the contract.

Recommendation

That the Co-Portfolio for Housing (Operations & Services) approves the signing of a Fire Equipment Servicing contract with Sureserve Fire and Electrical Ltd for the period 2023 to 2026.

Having considered the comments of the Landlord Services Advisory Board (Executive Working Group), the Executive Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Paul Rivers,

RESOLVED to approve the signing of a Fire Equipment Servicing contract with Sureserve Fire and Electrical Ltd for the period 2023 to 2026.

Reason: Waverley Borough Council has statutory requirement to ensure all fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers and automatic opening vents are regularly tested and maintained in line with industry standards, in order to protect resident and other visitors from the effects of smoke and fire, and to ensure escape routes are kept free of smoke and fire. This contract is required in order to facilitate the fulfilment of these obligations.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Resources

Having considered the comments of the Landlord Services Advisory Board (Executive Working Group), the Executive Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Paul Rivers,

RESOLVED to approve the signing of a Fire Equipment Servicing contract with Sureserve Fire and Electrical Ltd for the period 2023 to 2026.

Reason: Waverley Borough Council has statutory requirement to ensure all fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers and automatic opening vents are regularly tested and maintained in line with industry standards, in order to protect resident and other visitors from the effects of smoke and fire, and to ensure escape routes are kept free of smoke and fire. This contract is required in order to facilitate the fulfilment of these obligations.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Resources

This report seeks approval to buy back an ex-council home in Shamley Green to provide quality housing in an area with high housing need. The property will be utilised through the Easy Move scheme to rehouse a tenant who is under occupying their home and who wishes to downsize, thereby releasing a three or four bed home.

The purchase of the home will be funded from the Housing Revenue Account Buy Back reserve.  After two years from purchase the property will start to make a net income contribution to the Housing Revenue Account.

Recommendation

That the Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Operations & Services):

1.         Approves the principle of the buy back on the terms set out in the report, and the use of the Buy Back reserve for this, together with any related professional costs and Stamp Duty Land Tax, and further approves the property being appropriated for Housing Purposes as part of the Housing Revenue Account.

2.         Delegates authority to the Executive Head of Housing to approve the final terms of the purchase.

3.         Delegates authority to the Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services to approve the final form of wording of any legal agreements related to the purchase.

Having considered the comments of the Landlord Services Advisory Board (Executive Working Group), the Executive Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Paul Rivers,

RESOLVED to,

1.         approved the principle of the buy back on the terms set out in the report, and the use of the Buy Back reserve for this , together with any related professional costs and Stamp Duty Land Tax, and further approves the property being appropriated for Housing Purposes as part of the Housing Revenue Account.

2.         delegates authority to the Executive Head of Housing Services to approve the final terms of the purchase.

3.         delegates authority to the Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services to approve the final form of wording of any legal agreements related to the purchase.

Reason: to support the Council’s ability to meet housing needs in the borough.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Resources

Having considered the comments of the Landlord Services Advisory Board (Executive Working Group), the Executive Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Paul Rivers,

RESOLVED to,

1.         approve the principle of the buy back on the terms set out in the report, and the use of the Buy Back reserve for this , together with any related professional costs and Stamp Duty Land Tax, and further approves the property being appropriated for Housing Purposes as part of the Housing Revenue Account.

2.         delegate authority to the Executive Head of Housing Services to approve the final terms of the purchase.

3.         delegate authority to the Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services to approve the final form of wording of any legal agreements related to the purchase.

Reason: to support the Council’s ability to meet housing needs in the borough.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Resources

To consider the following recommendation on the motion of the Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing:

Recommendation

That, pursuant to Procedure Rule 20, and in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item(s) on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during these items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information (as defined by Section 100I of the Act) of the description specified at the meeting in the revised Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.