Agenda item - Items from Resident Only Meetings

Items from Resident Only Meetings (copies attached).

5.1       The Chair asked for any comments on the responses provided to the issues raised at resident only meetings.

5.2      1) Tenants right to safety and security in their homes

·      Residents felt that the allocation policy did not provide adequate safeguarding against antisocial behaviour often placing individuals with a history of antisocial behaviour with vulnerable residents. Individuals were moved from area to area rather than issues being addressed. Where legal action had been taken by residents there was often no help from the council.

·      The Chair stated that a new allocations policy and letting plan had been agreed and this may see an increased number of individuals with complex issues moving from temporary accommodation in council properties. Dissatisfaction with antisocial behaviour was reflected in the STAR survey results. The Chair also suggested that antisocial behaviour could be an item for the next meeting’s agenda.

·      Officers responded that there was a choice based letting system in which bids were ranked by the allocations property and if families or individuals were moving it was due to successful bids. The council can direct lets but this is only done ever very rarely, two in the last 12 months. The police and council meet to discuss antisocial behaviour at regular cluster meetings but the conviction rate for antisocial behaviour is very low. The council does evict tenants and there had been 9 closure orders in 2017.

5.3      2) Review of procedures for mutual exchanges

·         Residents felt the response did not address the original question. The mutual exchange policy is flawed as there is no standard for the state of the properties being exchanged and individuals who had breached their tenancy agreements and had outstanding charges were able to leave them behind.

·         Officers responded that a mutual exchange was a transaction between two individuals and the council could not require properties to be at a lettable standard. The council does however carry out health and safety and pre-termination checks on properties. An individual remains a tenant after a mutual exchange so any outstanding charges can be recharged.

5.4       The Chair asked the panel if they noted the other responses provided.

5.5      Action Point: ‘Anti-social behaviour’ to be included as an agenda item at the next meeting or as the subject of a special meeting

5.6       RESOLVED: The report was noted