The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Hounslow Council met on Monday 13 May 2024 to discuss a range of important issues, including the impact of the Social Housing White Paper, community safety, and the council's delivery plan. The committee made several recommendations to Cabinet concerning housing complaints, communication with housing associations, and securing investment in social housing.

Impact of the Social Housing White Paper

The committee discussed the significant implications of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, which introduced a new regulatory and inspection regime for all social landlords. This regime, prompted by the Grenfell fire, aims to ensure higher standards of safety, greater tenant consultation, and more effective complaint handling. The Regulator of Social Housing will be scrutinising the council's landlord function, governance, and tenant interactions.

The committee recommended that Cabinet:

• Develop a robust process for monitoring housing complaints with Lamptons.
• Enhance communication systems with Housing Associations.
• Lobby the government, in collaboration with other Greater London authorities, to secure investment in social housing to address the 8% of homes that do not meet the Decent Home Standard .
• Provide the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) with statistical information from the Housing Department from 2022 onwards.

Community Safety

An update was provided on the council's work with partners to address anti-social behaviour (ASB), homophobic attacks, and male domestic violence. The new Safer Communities Strategy 2024-2027 outlines ambitious plans to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. The council has allocated additional funding to enhance its ASB offer, particularly for areas not linked to council housing stock, creating two new roles within the Community Safety team. The council also works with the Metropolitan Police and Hounslow's LGBTQ+ community to combat hate crime, referring homophobic attacks to the specialist pan-London hate crime service, Community Alliance to Combat Hate (CATCH). The Domestic and Sexual Abuse Team works closely with Victim Support Ashraya Men's IDVA service and social services, with all high-risk domestic abuse cases referred to Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conferences.

The committee recommended that Cabinet:

• Be provided with a breakdown of the number of community/non-community officers.
• Carry out further work to explore the reasons behind hate crimes and mitigation strategies.
• Consider ways to tackle repeat offenders.
• Consider ways to decrease response times for ASB referrals.

Delivery Plan Monitoring Quarter 4 - 2023/24

The committee reviewed the progress of the council's Delivery Plan for the fourth quarter of 2023/24, focusing on the People, Place, Capital, and Digital Portfolios. All programmes within the People Portfolio are rated Green or Amber, with no Red ratings. Key achievements in this period include the opening of community hub facilities and the implementation of a new corporate leadership structure.

In the Place Portfolio, key achievements include the approval and publication of the Hounslow and Brentford Town Centre Masterplans and the completion of 61 new council homes at Burlington Close. However, several projects, including Hanworth Park House and Convent Way regeneration, are rated Red due to ongoing negotiations and the need for delivery strategy reviews.

The Capital Portfolio reported significant achievements, including the planting of over 5,700 new trees and the completion of 35 new council homes at Manor Lane, Feltham. No projects in this portfolio were rated Red.

The Digital Portfolio shows mixed progress, with 22 Green, 1 Amber, and 3 Red projects. Challenges remain in areas such as resource retention and the availability of subject matter experts. Key priorities for the next period include progressing the planning system go-live and delivering services for the upcoming elections.

The committee resolved to note the progress made across all four portfolios.

Response to Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel Recommendations

The committee noted the actions taken in response to recommendations made by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel in February 2023, following their deep dive into the experiences of children seeking asylum, Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC), and those with asylum or immigration status known to services. While current processes for identifying immigration status and maintaining records are in place, ongoing management reviews will ensure these approaches are maintained. The council is also working to restart the UASC support group and is participating in a Department for Education pilot for sub-regional fostering recruitment. Officers continue to liaise with the Home Office regarding improved notification periods for relocations and advance notice for hotel placements.

Response to Health and Adults Care Scrutiny Panel Recommendations

The committee noted the progress made in response to recommendations from the Health and Adults Care Scrutiny Panel's review of services for people with dementia and their carers. The Borough Based Partnership (BBP) Frailty Programme Board continues to oversee improvement work in dementia support, with ongoing collaboration between dementia and end-of-life care workstreams. Community-led support services, such as dementia cafes and carers support networks, are being identified and responded to. The council is committed to remaining a dementia-friendly borough, with information available on intranet and relevant websites, and staff supported through training.

Update from the Scrutiny Panels and the North-West London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC)

The Chairs of the Children & Young People, Health and Adults Care, and Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panels provided summaries of their work during the municipal year. The Children & Young People Panel focused on School Readiness, the Health and Adults Care Panel on Employment Support for SEND individuals, and the Housing and Environment Panel on Biodiversity and Flood Resilience. The committee endorsed the findings and recommendations from these deep dives and noted their future submission to the relevant Cabinet Members. Councillor Marina Sharma also provided an update on the work of the North-West London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC), covering topics such as acute bed provision, ophthalmology services, palliative care, mental health strategies, workforce strategies, and primary care access.

Annual Scrutiny Report to Borough Council

Members indicated their contentment with the draft annual scrutiny report, which will be submitted to the Borough Council in July 2024.

Work Programme - Suggestions for 2024/25

Members suggested several topics for the new committee's work programme, including climate change issues, flooding and flood resilience, active travel, cycling infrastructure, and community safety with reference to anti-social behaviour. Councillor Lily Bath also offered to provide suggestions within her portfolio area.

The meeting concluded with the noting of the date for the next meeting on 11 June 2024.