Purpose

To provide the final report from the Housing
Associations Scrutiny Panel. There was a need to scrutinise the
current situation and operations with regards to a limited number
of housing associations within the town, together with service
standards, satisfaction and complaints received. It was felt
important to explore options to improve the work between the
council and various RSLs, resulting in a positive outcome for
residents. The Panel sought understanding on the current processes,
practices and systems that exist, together with the provision of
support available to tenants, in order to address some of the
concerns and improvements for consumer standards together with
seeking to build on the relationships already in place with
Registered Providers.

Content

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet
requests that:

a)            
the Cabinet Member for Housing and/or Chief
Executive write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities
& Local Government, along with relevant Government Departments
calling for councils to have greater powers to scrutinise
registered housing providers, along with powers to direct
registered housing providers to make amends where failure occurs,
and that this letter also requests that Registered
Providers:

 

·               
Provide a breakdown of their Tenant Satisfaction
Measures at a local authority level (this is likely to apply where
stock is above a certain level) and that this be provided to the
relevant local authorities upon request.

·               
Participate in local partnership and councillor
activity convened by local authorities to address matters that
relate directly to their stock and tenants.

·               
Include local councillors within their engagement
activity with tenants.

b)            
Officers
provide as much information as possible (in accordance with GDPR)
to Registered Providers once a social tenancy is agreed so the
registered provider can assist the tenant fully both prior and
during the placement.

Reasons for
the Recommendations
 
To understand the current processes, practices and
systems that exist, together with the provision of support
available to tenants, in order to address some of the concerns and
improvements for consumer standards together with seeking to build
on the relationships already in place between the Council and
Registered Housing Providers.