The Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to discuss a range of housing-related topics at their meeting. These include updates on new build projects, homelessness, garage sites, and tenant satisfaction, as well as a new corporate enforcement policy. The committee will also review the housing service performance and work programme.

Corporate Enforcement Policy

The committee will be asked to consider a new draft Corporate Enforcement Policy which, according to the report pack, is a full revision of the 2017 policy. The policy sets out what regulated businesses and individuals can expect from the council in terms of regulation, and is based on consistency, transparency, proportionality and accountability.

The policy applies to functions carried out within the following regulatory services:

• Public Protection (including Environmental Health, Environmental Protection, Private Sector Housing, Community Safety (Neighbourhoods) and Licensing)
• Development Management
• Building Control
• Finance
• Tenancy Services

The draft policy incorporates three other South Kesteven District Council enforcement policies as specific content within the appendices:

• Enviro Crime Enforcement Policy (adopted April 2018), now Appendix A, titled Environmental Crime and Antisocial Behaviour - Fixed Penalty Notices.
• Environmental Services Enforcement Policy (dated February 2017), now Appendix B, titled Environmental Health Approach to Investigation and Enforcement.
• Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy (dated November 2018), now Appendix C, titled Private Sector Housing Approach to Investigation and Enforcement.

The report pack notes that the policy is also due to be considered by Environment OSC in September and Rural and Communities OSC in October.

Within Appendix A of the policy, a fly-tipping and littering fixed penalty matrix is proposed. According to the report pack, this approach has been discussed at the Lincolnshire Environmental Crime Partnership with Legal Services Lincolnshire supporting this as a proportionate approach to fixed penalty application.

Appendix C of the policy includes a new section regarding The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, providing a penalty matrix scheme to those not meeting the standards required.

Ayeisha Kirkham, Head of Public Protection, is named as the report author.

New Build and Acquisition Update

The Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee will receive an update on the new build housing pipeline and purchases using capital receipts.

The report pack states that there are several schemes within the district that are at various stages of the pipeline. These include:

• Apartments 1-20 Knapp House, Swinegate, Grantham - The scheme is due to be handed over to the council from Lindum on 22 September 2025. The 20 apartments comprise of 8 x 2-bed apartments and 12 x 1-bed apartments.
• Wellington Way, Market Deeping - Cabinet approved the contract award to Lindums at their meeting on 9 September 2025 for £1.9m for the construction of 11 units. The contract is currently being finalised between the council and Lindums ahead of the start of the works commencing in November 2025. The 11 units are due to be completed in September 2026.
• Larch Close, Grantham - Mercer Building Solutions started on site on 15 September 2025; works are expected to be completed in December 2026.
• Toller Court, Horbling - The demolition of the community facility to build 3 bungalows has been submitted to the Local Planning Authority. The decision is due to be determined in November 2026 with the procurement being twin tracked.
• Kesteven Rd, Stamford - There will need to be a public consultation regarding the proposals for the site which will be arranged before a decision can be made to submit a planning application.
• Lumbys Terrace in Stamford - The council is also disposing of 12 empty houses. The properties are being advertised with a guide price of £195,000 per house and the income from the sales will be reinvested into replacement affordable housing.

Debbie Roberts, Head of Corporate Projects, Policy and Performance, is named as the report author.

Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Update

The committee will receive an update on the status and recent activity in the council's Homelessness and Rough Sleeper services.

The report pack states that South Kesteven District Council's Rough Sleeper initiative is delivered via the Change 4 Lincs (C4L) team, which covers four local authority areas: South Kesteven District Council, North Kesteven District Council, West Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council. As of 17 September 2025, South Kesteven had 1 person in temporary accommodation and 12 open cases.

The report pack also notes that earlier in the year, there was an increase in the visibility of rough sleepers across parks and green spaces in Grantham, with several individuals setting up tents in these areas. As of 17 September 2025 the team are not aware of anyone who is currently sleeping in a tent.

As of 17 September 2025 there are 4 individuals rough sleeping in SKDC that the team are aware of. All of whom are known to the team and have been offered accommodation at various points in the past.

The Housing Options team consists of four Housing Options Assistants, six Housing Options officers, a Senior Housing Options Officer and a Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Manager. As of August 2025, there were 247 active homelessness cases, 166 new approaches, and 70 people in temporary accommodation.

Discussions have continued with partner organisations to re-open the night shelter provision in the Winter months, although the location of this provision is still being explored and has not yet been finalised.

Across SKDC, Serco manages 39 properties for resettlement purposes. This includes 2 self-contained properties and 37 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), collectively providing 166 bedspaces, 134 of which are currently occupied.

Sarah McQueen, Head of Service (Housing Options) is named as the report author.

The report pack also includes details of funding received by the council:

To fund Local Council's homelessness services, Central government distribute a Homelessness Prevention Grant. The Council's funding allocation is £753,955 which is a 27% increase from last year's allocation of £592,433.

A further £646,348 for Rough Sleeper Prevention and Recovery Grant has also been received which funds the Change4Lincs team.

Garage Sites Update Report

The committee will receive an update on South Kesteven District Council's garage site stock condition survey.

The district contains a total of 830 individual garage units. Edge PS, a supplier on the Asset Management Framework, has provided a quote of £38,000 to provide the council with a full stock condition survey of all garage sites.

A bid has been formally submitted to Homes England for the Council Housebuilding Support Fund for funding to contribute towards the cost of the stock condition survey and the feasibility work for sites identified as potential development opportunities. If the bid is not successful, the council has an allocated budget of £50,000 which will be used to fund the cost of the stock condition survey.

Suniel Pillai, New Build Project Officer, is named as the report author.

Tenant Satisfaction Measures Survey

The Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be updated with the results from the first wave of Tenant Satisfaction Measures Surveys.

The Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM) Survey is a mandatory requirement placed on Social Landlords by the Regulator of Social Housing to comply with the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard of the Social Housing Regulation Act (2023).

The survey was undertaken by Acuity on behalf of the council, and included 12 mandatory questions. A target was set to complete 275 surveys with 20% online and 80% by telephone interview. At the close of the survey, 275 completed responses were received alongside a further 16 incomplete responses. Of the completed responses, 57% were online and 218 by telephone, resulting in a 21%/79% split.

The report pack compares the results received for 2024/25 and for the first tranche of surveys in 2025/26. It shows that there has been positive movement on all of the results except for TP07, which has remained the same, and TP12 and TP09, where the scores have reduced.

The report pack notes that the Housing team are committed to ensuring improvements are delivered across the service area and Acuity has recommended areas which should be focus on. These are:

• Responsiveness to non-urgent repairs and the quality of work by some repair staff.
• Communication regarding the progress of resolving reported issues.

Alison Hall-Wright, Director of Housing and Projects, is named as the report author.

Work Programme 2025/26

The committee will note the Work Programme updated.