Purpose

The report sets out governance
options for the Housing Landlord service and Housing Options &
Homelessness service to provide effective oversight of the
Council’s regulatory requirements and continue the
improvement in services to our residents. The governance is being
reviewed due to changes in the regulatory environment for social
housing and the challenges the Council is facing in Housing Needs
and Homelessness due to increased demand and cost pressures on the
General Fund.
 
Changes in the regulatory
environment for social housing and the challenges the Council is
managing in Housing Needs and Homelessness
due to increased demand and cost pressures on the General
Fund
 
Decisions required:
 

Agree the setting up
of the Housing Assurance Board
Agree progression of
recruitment with delegated authority for the
Corporate Director of Housing to lead on the appointment of
independent members with senior officers being part of the
recruitment process.
 To pay the independent Chair
£8,200 pa in line with the independent Chair of Audit and
Governance Committee
Note the formal
designation of the Cabinet member for Homes as the responsible
member for complaints.

 

Content

 
 
2.1      Agree that
we build on the success of the Housing
Improvement Board (HIB) and move to a Housing Assurance Board as
set out at section 7.9 and the Terms of Reference at
Appendix B, to
provide the required oversight to:
 
·      
meet the requirements of the new housing regulation
and drive Croydon Council’s aspiration to be the most
efficient and effective council in London, which for housing
landlord services would be to be judged a C2 landlord working
towards a C1 landlord.
·      
ensure that the Council is providing an
effective Housing Needs and Homelessness
service that meets the requirements of the Homelessness Reduction
Act 2017 and manages the financial pressures on the General
Fund.
 
2.2      Delegate
authority to the Corporate Director of Housing in consultation with
the Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Homes to:
 

lead on the
appointment of independent members to the Housing Assurance Board
with senior officers being part of the recruitment
process.

 

undertake a review of
the operation and effectiveness of the Housing Assurance Board
after 6 months of its establishment. The outcome of the review to
be reported to Cabinet.

 
2.3      To agree
the payment of an allowance to an independent Chair of the Housing
Assurance Board of £8,200 pa in line with the allowance paid
to the independent Chair of Audit and Governance
Committee.
 
2.4      To
designate the Cabinet Member for Homes as the responsible member
for Housing landlord complaints.
 
2.5      Note that the establishment of the Housing
Assurance Board, its terms of reference, and the designation of
Cabinet Member for Homes responsibility for Housing landlord
complaints will be incorporated into the Council’s
Constitution.
 
2.6      Note the Equality Impact Assessment at appendix C.