Agenda item

This report sets out activities and progress on work areas within the Housing and Community Services Portfolio, which fall within the remit of this Committee.

Discussion:

Members received an overview of progress on the area within the terms of reference of this Committee covered by Councillor Howard Doe, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, i.e.

·         Adult Learning

·         Disabled adaptations to housing

·         Homelessness and housing options

·         Housing management and allocations

·         Housing strategy

·         Private sector housing

·         Housing Landlord Services

·         Development of the Council’s housing stock

Councillor Doe responded to Members’ questions and comments as follows:

Housing

A Member stated that one of her constituents had had a poor experience when visiting Kingsley House to seek advice and help from the Council about eviction. Councillor Doe responded he could not comment on the specifics of one case but what was described did not mirror his experience. He felt Kingsley House offered a good service and the staff there had a difficult and often stressful job. Given the limited resources and limited availability of housing the question of how long a person had to wait for housing to become available was always going to be a difficult one.

A Member acknowledged the improvements to the Council’s housing service in recent years. Referring to the increasing unaffordability of housing he asked what the Council was doing to prepare for increases in the costs of temporary accommodation and the need for extra resources in environmental health. He also commented that it might be helpful for the Housing Task Group to visit Kingsley House to help Members with their review. Finally, he asked for Councillor Doe’s views, given that the Member felt that not enough homes were being built, on the potential for the Council to use prudential borrowing to build, in partnership, market rent homes which would then give a return to the Council to make the scheme viable. In addition to providing much needed and good quality housing this approach would also offer security of tenure and a good landlord service.

Councillor Doe replied that it was very difficult to forecast temporary accommodation costs as there were so many variables involved. However, costs were being managed. With regard to borrowing to build new homes, Councillor Doe commented that he would discuss this with MHS Homes and the Chief Finance Officer and, if it had potential, he would look at it but at the moment he remained sceptical about the viability of such schemes. Councillor Doe welcomed the proposed visit to Kingsley House, as long as the privacy of customers was not affected.

A Member referred to the current legislation regarding serving S21 notices (i.e. notice to quit) on tenants. This led to tenants being subject to the same legal process and also receiving the same advice from the Council regardless of their circumstances. Councillor Doe replied that he had some sympathy with this point and he would look into it. If there was a case he would make representations to the Department for Communities and Local Government asking for the legislation regarding S21 notices to be changed.

A Member made the point that new legislation effectively turned landlords into immigration officers and could result in them leaving the sector.

A Member noted that Brighton and Hove Council had bought properties in order to rent them out to homeless people and asked what would happen if the Council ran out of accommodation for the homeless. Councillor Doe replied that Medway was not at that stage but, should it happen, then difficult decisions would have to be made. He undertook to look into the Brighton scheme and see if it was relevant for Medway.

Adult Learning

A Member commented on the improvements in the service in recent years and congratulated the staff on this.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to note the report.