Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions for the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 22 January 2025.

The agenda includes updates on the Alton and Winstanley-York Road regeneration projects, a discussion of discretionary licensing in the private rented sector, a review of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, and proposed changes to fees and charges for council services. The committee will also look at the Q3 budget monitoring report and a housing services activity update.

Private Rented Sector Discretionary Licensing

The committee will be given a report on private rented sector discretionary licensing, detailing proposals for additional licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) and selective licensing in certain wards.

The report pack includes several appendices:

• Appendix A - Supplementary Information: This document provides background information on the PRS composition, provisions for licensing, and prevalence of poor property conditions.
• Appendix B - Discretionary Licensing Scheme Objectives: This outlines the objectives of the discretionary licensing scheme, including creating a fairer PRS, increasing tenant awareness, improving housing conditions, and improving engagement with landlords.
• Appendix C - Additional HMO Licensing Designation Declaration: This contains the declaration for the borough-wide additional HMO licensing designation.
• Appendix D - Additional HMO Licensing Conditions: This sets out the proposed conditions for additional HMO licenses.
• Appendix E - Selective Licensing Designation 1 - Declaration: This contains the declaration for selective licensing designation 1.
• Appendix F - Selective Licensing Conditions – Designation 1: This sets out the proposed conditions for selective licensing designation 1.
• Appendix L – Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy: This document outlines the council's enforcement policy for private sector housing.
• Appendix M – PRS Equality Impact and Needs Analysis (EINA): This document outlines the findings of the 2021 Census data, English Housing Survey data, Wandsworth Housing Stock Condition Survey and consultation on proposals to introduce discretionary licensing in Wandsworth to provide granularity on the composition of the Private Rented Sector in Wandsworth in terms of equality and diversity.

The report pack also includes background documents relating to the consultation responses.

The report pack indicates that the Executive Director of Environment and Community Service believes that property licensing is part of a broader, coordinated approach to help improve privately rented properties in Wandsworth.

The report pack also indicates that the consultation responses showed that private tenants, owner-occupiers and other stakeholders generally supported the council's proposals, whereas landlords, lettings and managing agents and their representative bodies were generally opposed.

The report pack indicates that the council has made amendments to the final proposals set before committee which include:

• the addition of a further license fee discount (£50) for properties that meet EPC-C
• Technical amendment to the wording of licensing conditions relating to Additional Licensing
• Technical amendment to the wording of licensing conditions relating to Selective Licensing
• Technical amendment to the wording of the Gold Standard conditions

The report pack indicates that the four key scheme objectives are:

• Creation of a Fairer Private-Rented Sector
• Increased Tenant Awareness of Rights and Minimum Standards
• Improvement of Housing Conditions, Property Management & Compliance
• Improve Engagement between the Council and Private Sector Landlords

The report pack indicates that the proposed fees have been calculated based on the cost of setting up and operating the licensing schemes.

The report pack indicates that a selective licence obtained without any discounts will cost £850 for a 5-year licence which equates to around £3.27 per week, and that an additional HMO licence obtained without any discounts will cost £1,450 for a 5-year licence which equates to about £5.58 per week.

The report pack indicates that the Council will need to embark on an extensive recruitment programme to accommodate the initial launch and establishment (circa 40FTE required in years 1 and 2) and then ongoing delivery (circa 12 FTE) in subsequent years.

Housing Revenue Account Budget and Rent Setting

The committee will be presented with a joint report by the Executive Director of Finance and the Interim Executive Director of Housing regarding the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, including rent setting for council dwellings. The report pack indicates that the report reviews various matters appertaining to the HRA, including council housing rents and charges, the housing capital programme, and the overall HRA budget framework for the period 2024/25 to 2027/28, and also proposes an amendment to the Council’s existing rent setting policy.

The report pack indicates that the report recommends additions to the existing HRA capital programme totalling £83.605 million, culminating in an overall capital programme amounting to £626.655 million over the framework period.

The report pack indicates that the Cabinet Member for Environment recommends that council housing rents are increased by a maximum of 2.7% with effect from the first Monday in April 2025, and that non-residential charges are increased by an average of 2.2% from the same date.

The report pack includes several appendices:

• 25-13 HRA RENT SETTING REPORT - APPENDIX A - C: This document contains information on the HRA capital programme and virements.
• 25-13 HRA RENT SETTING REPORT - APPENDIX D - F: This document contains information on non-residential charges and the revised budget framework.
• 25-13 HRA RENT SETTING REPORT - APPENDIX G - H: This document sets out the detail of the amendment to the Council’s existing rent policy and the Equality Impact Needs Assessment carried out in respect of the proposed change.

The report pack indicates that the Executive Director of Finance and the Interim Executive Director of Housing consider that the HRA business plan and framework would demonstrate that the Council remains in a strong position to finance future expenditure plans.

Housing Services Activity Update

The committee will receive a report by the Interim Executive Director of Housing providing an update on Housing Services activity. The report pack indicates that the report sets out the position at the end of November 2024, when temporary accommodation stood at 4,078 placements across 4,063 households, and that the overall supply of accommodation becoming available for letting was 41 properties behind forecast, with lettings across the housing queues also 41 lettings behind forecast.

The report pack includes several appendices:

• 25-12 App 1: This document contains information on the global temporary accommodation position.
• 25-12 App 2: This document contains a chart showing the types of TA in use and forecasts for the year-end position.
• 25-12 App 3: This document contains a chart showing the comparison of nightly paid monthly unit net costs by accommodation type.
• 25-12 App 4: This document contains information on vacant properties in the Council’s stock.

The report pack indicates that the Executive Director of Finance comments that the current net General Fund budget for direct homelessness related costs and supporting staff establishment for 2024/25 is £24.667 million.

The report pack indicates that the three most prevalent reason for homelessness amongst the 761 first time placements are exclusion by family or friends (31 per cent), domestic abuse (25 per cent) and the ending of a private rented (15 per cent).

The report pack indicates that the teams will be carrying out a range of initiatives aimed at slowing the increase in numbers accommodation including researching opportunities for large scale leasing schemes, either within the borough or elsewhere in London, more condition and occupancy inspections and greater and innovative use of digital technology to verify occupancy in TA for example.

Alton Renewal Plan Update

The committee will receive a report on the Alton Renewal Plan, a regeneration project in Roehampton. The report pack indicates that the report will provide an update on project activities, new housing proposals, and upgrades to the Alton Activity Centre and Downshire Field.

The report pack indicates that the Executive is recommended to:

• Authorise the Interim Executive Director of Housing to let a main works contract for the delivery of the proposed works to the Alton Activity Centre and Downshire Field on completion of satisfactory legal & technical due diligence process;
• Approve positive General Fund capital budget variations of £0.2 million in 2024/25, £1.8 million in 2025/26 and £0.3 million in 2026/27 for the Alton Activity Centre; and
• Note that a £4 million Housing Revenue Account capital bid for Downshire Field has been included in the Housing Revenue Account Rents and Budget Setting report elsewhere on this agenda.

The report pack indicates that the Alton Renewal Plan (ARP) was launched in July 2024, and that activity is being delivered under six key objectives identified through resident engagement: Community, Neighbourhood, Accessibility, Homes, Economic Inclusion, and Environment.

The report pack indicates that HTA Design have been appointed to guide the ARP housing proposals, and that three community facilities are being delivered as part of an Early Improvement Plan: landscape and play improvements at Downshire Field, external playspace improvements at Alton Activity Centre and the delivery of Roehampton Community Hub.

The report pack indicates that in the first 6 months of the ARP, the Family Hub opened, resident access to the University bus service started, a new council funded community minibus was launched, and Warm Packs for vulnerable residents were launched at Roehampton Library.

The report pack indicates that HTA Design have completed a detailed survey of the estate with a particular focus on the three areas identified for redevelopment: Danebury Avenue and surrounding area, Portswood Place and 166 Roehampton Lane, and that a provisional programme has been put together which would allow for a resident ballot on the redevelopment proposals in September 2025.

The report pack also includes Appendix 2 - AAC Risk Register, and Appendix 1 - Alton Activity Centre Existing, which contains a current image of the site.

Winstanley York Road Update

The committee will receive a report by the Interim Executive Director of Housing providing an update on the Winstanley-York Road Regeneration Joint Venture (Falconbrook). The report pack indicates that the report will provide an update on the continuing delivery of the Winstanley and York Road regeneration scheme following a decision late last year for the private sector partner, Taylor Wimpey UK Limited (TW), to exit the scheme.

The report pack indicates that the Executive is recommended to:

• Agree to progress the demolition of Pennethorne House and to the procurement of a demolition contractor.
• Agree to the demolition of Arthur Newton House, Baker House and 1 Lavender Road once Vacant Possession can be secured.

The report pack indicates that the Council's motivations for agreeing to Taylor Wimpey's exit was to enable faster progress to be made towards delivering the scheme and its benefits.

The report pack indicates that with Taylor Wimpey leaving the JV and the Council now taking on responsibility for the construction of the next phase the previous funding model is no longer required, and that the JV will be responsible for the delivery of Block 5 and the design of Block 6.

The report pack indicates that the target date for completion of the Road and Block 5 itself is April 2025, and that completion of Block 5 will allow the Council to complete the decant of secure tenants and leaseholders from Scholey House, Kiloh Court, Jackson House, Arthur Newton House, and Baker House.

The report pack indicates that a preferable option would be to demolish Arthur Newton House and Baker House and provide a further 6,400m2 area of the new park, and that the estimated cost of the work to demolish these buildings and create the new park is approximately £700,000.

The report pack indicates that the JV previously promised to fund a programme of activities and consultation on the programme was undertaken in the summer of 2023, and that alongside the Pennethorne Square and Falconbrook School initiatives other projects that can now be developed are:

• New additional seating along key routes within the estates
• Improvements to play facilities at Ganley Court and between Holcroft House and Scholey House
• Support for important local voluntary and community organisations – Providence House, KLS, Waste Not Want Not, Mayors Charity, WOW etc.

The report pack indicates that approval has been granted by Planning Applications Committee to enable Block 6 to be constructed in advance of the Leisure and Community Centre building (Block 1) following a PAC resolution in November 2023, and that the HRA Business Plan contained £150m towards the re-provision of Council housing in the W/YR scheme.

The report pack indicates that the purchase of the final leaseholder interest in Pennethorne House is due to complete in January 2025, and that the decant of the final Temporary Accommodation tenants from Pennethorne House is due to be completed by the end of January 2025.

The report pack indicates that the first stage for developing plans for the remainder of the scheme will be for the Council to undertake an internal review of the scheme, and that the review is to adapt the existing scheme and masterplan to ensure it is fit for purpose now.

The report pack indicates that the review is to adapt the existing scheme and masterplan to ensure it is fit for purpose now, and that the initial participants in this review would be senior officers and Members to agree on the scheme objectives.

The report pack indicates that the review should also consider the provision of other services in the area, including education, training and health provision to explore whether service delivery can be improved through improvement and sharing of facilities or joint provision of services.

The report pack indicates that for the purposes of this paper the phases of the scheme will be described as:

• Phase 1 – Block 5
• Phase 2 – Block 6
• Phase 3 – The remaining areas for development
• Phase 3A – Block 7 option

The report pack indicates that work on the new plan would target a report on the Council's reviewed objectives being reported to committee in June 2025, and that the ballot process would be clearly defined and articulated at the beginning of design development and pre-planning consultation period with the ballot itself being carried out in September 2026 should it be required.

Review of Fees and Charges

The committee will consider a joint report by the Executive Directors of Finance, Housing and Environment and Community Services on the review of fees and charges. The report pack indicates that the report reviews the charges that were last approved by the Executive in January 2024 and proposes that revised charges are brought into effect from the first Monday in April 2025 in relation to the Travellers Site pitch fees and no later than 1 April 2025 for all other charges.

The report pack indicates that the general overall Council approach for discretionary charges is to increase by 2.2% as a balance between increased inflationary driven costs and the impact on users, although with flexibility to derogate from this for specific circumstances and to protect those on limited resources.

The report pack indicates that the revised charges recommended are in respect of:

• Home Improvement Agency
• Travellers Site pitch fees
• Housing Notices and Houses of Multiple Occupation Licences
• Watch Alarm Telephone Care Helpline

The report pack includes Appendix A, which shows the current and proposed charges for the Home Improvement Agency.

The report pack indicates that the Executive Director of Housing has delegated authority to review charges annually and make revisions as considered necessary for the provision of the WATCH service.

The report pack indicates that it is intended that headline charges are increased by 2.2% from the 1st April in order to cover the fixed costs of the service, whilst maintaining the freeze on concessions in line with the general policy.

Review of the Heating and Hot Water Account

The committee will receive a report by the Interim Executive Director of Housing on the review of the heating and hot water account and revision of charges for the 2025/26 financial year. The report pack indicates that the report presents for approval the proposed charges for the communal heating and hot water account, effective from April 2025, and includes a review of both repair costs and fuel charges.

The report pack indicates that to reflect the substantial reduction in gas prices this year a reduction of 20% is proposed for residents for 2025/26, and that this will ensure that a small surplus remains on the account to allow for any further fluctuations in this volatile market.

The report pack includes 25-15 Heating and Hot Water Charges Appendix 1, and indicates that the charges include an element based on actual gas costs for each boiler house, as notified by LASER, assumptions for 2025/26 and projected costs, and that this results in an average reduction of 20% being applied to the base fuel element.

The report pack indicates that the 20% reduction in 2025/26 is part of the plan to clear the account deficit, and that this is a necessary step to ensure that the Council's heating and hot water account remains sustainable and ultimately self-financing.

The report pack indicates that the Council continue to prioritise energy efficiency programmes like cavity wall insulation, window renewals and the roll out of high efficiency communal systems, and that this emphasis will help reduce energy usage for years to come.

The report pack indicates that residents can be reassured that they will only contribute towards the costs associated to the boiler house serving their property, with no cross subsidy to other blocks or estates.

The report pack indicates that the Executive Director of Finance comments that the proposals in this report will ensure that the Council will continue to recover the deficit on the heating and hot water account over a reasonable timescale whilst applying an element of caution in relation to future estimates.

Borough Residents' Forum

The committee will receive a report of the Borough Residents' Forum meeting held on 16 January 2025. The report pack indicates that the report is by the Chief Executive, but the report itself is not included in the report pack.

Minutes

The committee will be asked to confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28th November 2024.

Declarations of Interests

The committee will be asked to receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests and any non-registerable interests relevant to any matters to be considered at the meeting.

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