The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the final report and recommendations for Islington Community Centres, receive an update from the Homes and Estates Safety Board, review the Housing Performance Annual Report, and hear the Executive Member's annual report on Islington libraries. The committee also discussed the draft work programme for 2025/26 and potential scrutiny topics.

Islington Community Centres Review

The committee approved the final report and recommendations from the main scrutiny review of Islington Community Centres. The review, which commenced in September 2024, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, management, and resource utilisation of community centres in Islington.

The committee made several recommendations, including:

1. Maintaining a register of all community centres and other assets in the borough.
2. Mapping all existing ‘community’ spaces across the borough.
3. Including a clear overview of utility and operating costs in the register.
4. Devising a measurable framework to underpin the understanding of current operations and delivery of the community asset review.
5. Developing a full stakeholder engagement and communications plan.
6. Identifying and utilising vacant spaces for community use.
7. Engaging ward members in the work of community centre committees.
8. Developing governance principles and a framework to guide and support community centre management organisations.
9. Increasing collaboration with Community Centres to establish local networks.
10. Establishing a clear repairs and maintenance framework for community centre managing organisations.

Councillor Sheila Chapman, Executive Member for Equalities, Communities and Inclusion, thanked the committee for their work and said she would be driving the recommendations forward, particularly those related to co-location of services, partnership working, and efficient use of community spaces.

Homes and Estates Safety Board (HESB) Update

The committee received an update on the work of the Homes and Estates Safety Board (HESB) for the fiscal years 2023/24 and 2024/25. The HESB was established in 2011 to review the council’s management arrangements and monitor performance across key risk areas, including fire and building safety, gas safety, construction safety, electrical safety, water hygiene, asbestos management, and lift management.

Councillor Hannah McHugh, Equalities Champion, asked about changes to the HESB structure and how they had improved response times and resident outcomes. Councillor John Wolfe, Executive Member for Homes and Communities, explained that the HESB had moved away from a cyclical approach to a more responsive agenda that addresses key issues as they arise.

Councillor Hannah McHugh also requested more detail on the recovery plan for asbestos surveys and the process for accessing properties when there are difficulties. It was reported that the asbestos survey dipped in the back quarter of the last financial year, but that estate services are making ongoing visits and residents can report any detriment. Stuart Fuller, Head of Housing, Safety and Compliance, explained the steps taken to access properties for gas servicing inspections, including reminder letters, engagement with housing operations, and pre-legal visits, before escalating to magistrates court.

Councillor Hannah McHugh raised concerns about lift breakdowns, particularly in older buildings. It was noted that the council has a five-year programme to address the oldest lifts. Councillor Jason Jackson, Chair of Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee & Deputy Mayor, asked about compensation for residents when lifts are out of service. Councillor John Wolfe confirmed that the council has a pre-programmed and agreed outage compensation policy.

Dean Donaghey, Co-op Team and Resident Observer, asked about the last test point for water testing, improvements in damp and mould, and flexible appointment times. It was agreed that the exact end point for water testing would be circulated. Flexible appointments are offered where possible, and the Andover capital works are underway to address damp and mould.

Councillor Michael O'Sullivan asked about clearing guttering, structural problems with damp and mould, the handover of the damp and mould programme, CO2 detectors, and lift recommendations from a previous scrutiny. It was confirmed that the lift report had been instrumental in procurement, the damp and mould programme is coming to an end this financial year, the council does not blame residents for damp and mould, and CO2 detectors are a statutory requirement.

Housing Performance Annual Report

Councillor John Wolfe presented the Housing Performance Annual Report, outlining the challenges faced by the council due to the housing crisis, including a waiting list of 16,500 people, high private rental costs, and rising homelessness. Despite these challenges, he highlighted the council's investments in homelessness support and prevention, thriving neighbourhoods, decent homes, and tackling damp and mould. He also mentioned the expansion of selective licensing¹ to nine additional wards and the buyback scheme, which has brought 445 ex-right-to-buy properties back into council ownership.

Councillor Jason Jackson asked what could be done better. Councillor John Wolfe responded that he wanted to turbocharge the right-to-buy back scheme, increase the size of the housing fraud team, ensure the council continues to build and maintain its current housing stock, and improve communications. He also mentioned the importance of being more relational with residents, using data effectively, and digitisation.

Dean Donaghey said that the council was building the wrong buildings, and suggested building higher to house more people. Councillor John Wolfe responded that the council has to be cognisant of financial constraints and that there are a number of schemes going to planning that are quite diverse in terms of design.

Councillor Michael O'Sullivan asked about housing officers covering for each other during sick leave or holidays, and why housing associations seem to be selling off their street-level properties. Councillor John Wolfe responded that it's an area-based team, so there's flex within that team, and that the council keeps an eye on housing association disposals and has an option to buy, depending on the particular lease.

Councillor Ben Mackmurdie asked how the prioritisation of essential building safety works, key asset maintenance, and essential services investment is different from going to an emergency-only repairs setting. Matt West, Director of Housing and Property Services, responded that the repair service is fully funded and that the system was designed initially for about 60,000 repairs per annum, but is now seeing about 130,000 repairs per annum. He added that the council expects to see an increase in demand on repairs in the foreseeable future.

A member of the public asked if the council's lobbying efforts had worked. Councillor John Wolfe responded that the council had joined the 20 largest council landlords to produce the Southwark report calling for a reform of HRA funding, and that this now has the support of over 100 council landlords. He added that achievements to date include a new five-year social rent settlement proposal, a significant reduction of right-to-buy discounts, further right-to-buy reforms are in consultation, allowing councils to keep 100% of right-to-buy receipts, and an AHP grant increase of £2.8 billion.

Executive Member Annual Report on Islington Libraries

Councillor Sheila Chapman presented the annual report on Islington libraries, highlighting the strong performance of the library service over the last 12 months. She noted that all targets for library visits, online issues, physical issues, and active members have been exceeded. She also flagged that PC usage is down, and that the council needs to look again at its library strategy to ensure it is fit for the future.

Councillor Jason Jackson asked what a new library would look like. Councillor Sheila Chapman responded that the council already has 10 libraries, but that she would like to see the library service partner with Access Islington Hubs and the volunteer and community sector to expand the offer and opening times.

Councillor Hannah McHugh asked if Councillor Chapman was satisfied with the offer in terms of opening and staffing in the more deprived wards. Councillor Sheila Chapman responded that some libraries have truncated opening hours, but that she would like to see libraries as a community space opened up for longer hours, and that the council has to think of ways of making that possible.

Councillor Michael O'Sullivan asked about expanding the Wi-Fi in the libraries. Akia Ramez, Assistant Director for Community Learning and Libraries, responded that the Wi-Fi access is an integral part of the council's digital inclusion strategy and that significant work has been done to future-proof the Wi-Fi.

Councillor Ben Mackmurdie asked about the digital inclusion strategy and how it's being baked into the refresh of the library strategy. Councillor Sheila Chapman responded that the council is aware that those who are still using the PCs are probably amongst the most digitally excluded in the borough, and that the council is focused on empowering people so that they can be digitally included.

Dean Donaghey asked about the curriculum of the local school and the library getting together and studying the curriculum and what books these children will need if the schools have not got enough, and if there was a collection box where people could donate money. Councillor Sheila Chapman responded that the library staff do work very closely with schools and do go into schools to talk about the library service and encourage kids to come, and that she would feel very reluctant to put a collection box in libraries.

Draft Work Programme 2025/26 and Potential Scrutiny Topics

The committee discussed the draft work programme for 2025/26 and potential scrutiny topics. Councillor Ben Mackmurdie suggested private renters and homelessness as potential topics.

Other Business

Councillor Jason Jackson thanked the members of the committee, officers, external partners, stakeholders, and residents for their contributions. Councillor Hannah McHugh thanked Councillor Jason Jackson for his hard work and delivering some really effective scrutiny reviews.

Decisions

The committee approved the recommendations for:

• Contract variation for Assessment & Reconnection Team
• Contract extension for support for rough sleepers
• Extension of contract for Stacey Street Somewhere Safe to Stay Hub
• Procurement and contract award for the supply of diesel fuel for Council fleet vehicles