Here is a briefing on the Exeter City Council Executive meeting of 23 September 2025:

The Exeter City Council Executive met to discuss a range of housing policies, the annual scrutiny report, and the food law and health and safety enforcement service plan. The Executive approved the Annual Scrutiny Report and the Food Law and Health and Safety Enforcement Service Plan, and recommended that the council approve the adoption of the new Housing Damp & Condensation Policy, Housing Recharges Policy, Home Adaptations for Council Housing Policy, Housing Compensation Policy, and Housing Allocations Policy, subject to a review of the Equality Impact Assessment. The Executive deferred discussion of the Air Quality Annual Status Report and the Exeter City Council Housing Services Hate Crime Policy for further refinement and consultation.

• Annual Scrutiny Report 2024-25

  The Executive received the annual scrutiny report, praising its new format and highlighting the impact of scrutiny and the engagement of portfolio holders. An opposition group leader requested that scrutiny meetings be broadcast for greater community access, a matter that Councillor Philip Bialyk, Leader of the Council, said would be discussed. The Executive unanimously recommended that the Council approve the Annual Scrutiny Report 2024-25.

• Housing Policies

  The Executive considered a suite of new and updated housing policies, all of which had been developed in consultation with the Tenants Voice group and the Council Housing and Development Advisory Board.

  • Housing Damp & Condensation Policy 2025-2030: This new policy aims to meet statutory obligations under Awaab's Law¹ and the Regulator of Social Housing's Consumer Standards. The policy emphasises a proactive approach to identifying and addressing damp and mould issues, moving away from attributing them to tenant lifestyle. Councillor Bialyk confirmed that the council would follow best practice and legal requirements in relation to timescales for action. The Executive unanimously recommended that the Council approve the adoption of the new Housing Damp & Condensation Policy 2025-2030.
  • Housing Recharges Policy 2025-2030: This policy aims to provide a fair, consistent, and transparent framework for recharging tenants for repairs required due to damage or negligence. The Executive unanimously recommended that the Council approve the adoption of the new Housing Recharges Policy 2025-2030.
  • Home Adaptations for Council Housing Policy 2025-2030: This revised policy aims to assist tenants seeking housing adaptations to meet assessed health needs, in compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing Safety and Quality Standard. The Executive unanimously recommended that the Council approve the adoption of the new Home Adaptations for Council Housing Policy 2025-2030.
  • Housing Compensation Policy 2025-2030: This new policy aims to provide a fair and consistent approach to offering redress and awarding compensation to tenants when service failures occur, aligning with the Housing Complaints Policy and the Housing Recharges Policy, and based on the guidelines of the Housing Ombudsman. The Executive unanimously recommended that the Council approve the adoption of the new Housing Compensation Policy 2025-2030.
  • Housing Allocations Policy 2025-2030: This policy aims to offer applicants a choice of accommodation while ensuring fair access to social housing, prioritising those with the greatest housing need. The Executive recommended that the Council approve the adoption of the new Housing Allocations Policy for the period 2025-2030, subject to a review of the Equality Impact Assessment.
  • Exeter City Council Housing Services Hate Crime Policy: This policy aimed to provide clear guidelines for managing reports of hate crimes and incidents within council homes and estates, ensuring a victim-centred approach and reinforcing the Council's commitment to zero tolerance towards hate crimes. However, Councillor Lucy Haigh, Equity Independent Group Co-Leader, raised concerns about the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) and the inconsistency in detailing impacts across protected characteristics, the potential lack of resident involvement in its creation questioned how residents and officers would understand its potential impacts on various groups. The Strategic Director for People and Communities, Jo Yelland, agreed that the EQIA required further work and requested that the report on this proposed policy be deferred to enable the EQIA to be re-worked and use the existing version as an improvement/training exercise. Councillor Bialyk agreed with deferring the item to allow an update to the EQIA, to ensure it was of the right standard to enable members to make informed decisions.
  • Housing Complaints Policy 2025-2030: This policy had been updated from the 2024 version, following receipt of recommendations from the Housing Ombudsman. The Executive unanimously recommended that the Council approve the adoption of the new Housing Complaints Policy for the 2025-203 period.

• Air Quality Annual Status Report and revision of the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)

  The Strategic Director for Operations advised that a deferral of this report was requested to allow for further refinement of the action plan and to conduct more consultation with key stakeholders. It was intended to bring the report back before the next scheduled meeting in November 2025 with a more informative and interactive report. The Leader advised that questions submitted in advance by Councillor Diana Moore, Progressive Group Co-Leader, would be answered in writing by the Strategic Director for Operations.

• Food Law and Health and Safety Enforcement Service Plan 2025-26

  The Executive received the report which sought approval to adopt the statutory Food Law and Health and Safety Service Plan 2025-26, which set out the Council's regulatory function in respect of food safety and health and safety over the forthcoming year. The Executive supported the Food Law and Health and Safety Service Plan 2025-26 and recommended that the Council approve the plan and authorise the Head of Environment and Waste to make changes in light of national guidance or operational needs.