Issue - items at meetings - Housing services the city deserves

Report of Strategic Director Place (copy attached).

8.1       The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director Place which provided further details regarding the restructuring of the Housing & Social Inclusion Service in order to further improve customer service, increase support for vulnerable residents and provide a platform for meeting the council’s current and future Challenges.   The changes taking place reflected improvements the wider council was making under the banner ‘A council the city deserves’ and were therefore under the heading ‘Housing services the city deserves’. 

8.2       The Head of Tenancy Services presented the report and informed members that the report was for noting as there had already been a consultation process. 

8.3       Councillor Mears referred to the financial implications.  She stressed the need for the Sub-Committee to see a budget breakdown of the savings.   Councillor Mears asked if any work had been carried out to monitor the result of the move from Manor Place Office to the Whitehawk Hub.   She stressed that it would be important to monitor visitor numbers to see if they had improved. 

8.4       The Head of Tenancy Services agreed that it would be important to  monitor visitor numbers.  She reported that the savings had been made from deleting management grade posts.  This money would be invested back into front line posts.  The savings were made by people leaving through the voluntary severance scheme or by people being redeployed.

8.5       The Head of Housing and Social Inclusion confirmed that total savings of £146,000 had been achieved following consideration of redeployment.  

8.6       Councillor Peltzer Dunn referred to paragraph 3.31 relating to the single phone number commencing in autumn 2012.  He was concerned that part of the service was to be launched before the phone number was introduced.  The Senior Project Manager explained that officers were planning to introduce the phone number in September/October 2012.  A little more work was required to ensure this service was effective.   

8.7             Councillor Peltzer Dunn referred to the consultation process set out in paragraph 4 of the report.  He reminded members that the City Assembly in November 2011 had been consulted.  He asked whether the views of the City Assembly were reflected in the report. 

8.8             The Head of Tenancy services confirmed that the views expressed at the November City Assembly were very important.  There had been four breakout groups which had expressed slightly different views.  The groups had stressed the importance of investment in improving people’s homes, and investment for those in financial difficulty. 

8.9             The Head of Tenancy Services gave a specific example of how officers changed their thinking as a result of this feedback.  Officers were planning to invest in fencing, but were told this was not a priority for tenants.  They were told that matters such as extensions, tackling damp and overcrowding were more important. 

8.10         John Melson referred to paragraph 3.14.  He made the point that there were a large number of debt agencies and charities and it would be easier to refer residents to them rather than create a whole new team to provide support in the way suggested in the report.   Mr Melson was concerned that the teams were expanding unnecessarily.  The Head of Housing & Social Inclusion explained that it was the intention to provide help to people in additional difficulties.  He suggested that it would be helpful to have a report to a future HMCSC meeting which focused on future welfare reforms.   The Chair suggested that there could be a report on the impact of welfare reform upon council tenants.

8.11    The Head of Tenancy Services stressed that the small team would be co-ordinating a proactive approach of helping people in financial risk. 

8.12    Mr Melson referred to paragraph 3.19.  He questioned why there would be two roles of Neighbourhood Team and Community Wardens.  The Head of Tenancy Services explained that the Community Warden role would be deleted, but the functions that the Community Wardens currently undertake would continue through the work of the new neighbourhood team.

8.13    Mr Melson referred to Appendix 1 – New Housing and Social Inclusion Structure Chart which referred to a Travellers Liaison Team.  He asked why travellers were getting special attention as opposed to other cultures/ethnicities.  He considered that people should all be treated the same.   The Head of Housing & Social Inclusion explained that council services were for everyone and for all ethnicities.  However, travellers came to the city and the council had an obligation to travellers and the settled community.  The team on the structure chart was a small team of 2 Traveller Liaison Officers and an administration officer. 

8.14    Councillor Farrow stated that he was broadly in favour of the changes to be implemented.  However he considered that they were not radical enough.  He was in favour of a flat management structure.  This would lead to more money being made available for services.  The Head of Customer Access and Business Improvement agreed that there was the potential for future savings in the staff structure. 

8.15    Councillor Farrow expressed concern about the change from Community Participation Officer to Resident Involvement Officer.  He considered that there would not be the links with associations.  The Head of Customer Access & Business Improvement stressed that residents would continue to be supported.

8.16    Councillor Jarrett considered the report to be very good.  With regard to money advice, he stressed that voluntary organisations were seeing an increased demand and were seriously overstrained.  They were also under financial stress. 

8.17    Roy Crowhurst asked how the changes impacted on sheltered housing.  The Head of Tenancy Services explained that sheltered housing was not directly affected.  She was still the head of service. 

8.18    David Murtagh was supportive of the changes and stressed that under the current system, being allocated a particular housing officer could cause problems if they were not in the office and no-one else was able to answer a specific query.

8.19    The Head of Housing & Social Inclusion reported that officers were in the process of finalising changes.  He considered that there would be many improvements for the housing service.

8.20    RESOLVED – (1) That the changes detailed in the report be noted.