Agenda item - Proposal for Environmental Improvement Budget

Report of Executive Director for Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing (copy attached).

(1)            That the Committee agrees that the sum of £0.500m is proposed as part of the HRA Budget and Capital Investment Programme 2019/20 to be approved by Policy, Resources & Growth Committee (PR&G) for improvements to communal areas.

(2)      That the Committee agrees that the budget allocated in paragraph 2.1 is committed for a minimum period of three years, subject to the relevant approval by PR&G.

(3)      That the Committee agrees that the fair geographical distribution of the budget is best considered in the context of needs arising on estates, as is the case with other repairs budgets.

56.1   The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing which provided further detail on the Housing Revenue Account Environmental Improvement Budget proposed in a report to Housing & New Homes Committee on 14 November 2018. The suggested environmental improvement budget would enable the council to respond in an effective and speedy manner to aspects within communal areas. The report was presented by the Head of Income, Involvement & Improvement.

56.2   Councillor Gibson proposed the following amendment which was seconded by Councillor Phillips.

          To add recommendation 2.4 as shown in bold italics below;

2.4 That a task and finish working group with tenant representatives and councillors be convened, to consider:

i) How best to monitor the budget:

ii) How to ensure that there is effective consultation and involvement with tenants on schemes, in order to offer assurance that  projects and improvements undertaken have support of local tenants;
and that tenants have (where applicable) had an opportunity to input into the design of any environmental schemes

56.3   Councillor Gibson referred to the section on monitoring and reporting in paragraph 3.9 which stated that “tenants across the city have been delighted with the changes made.” He hoped that there would be more objective monitoring. Councillor Gibson stated that he welcomed recommendations to set up an environmental improvement budget. The amendment was proposed on behalf of the tenants of the Central Area Housing Management Panel. Tenants had discussed the environmental improvement budget and were concerned that they should have more input on how this should be monitored. The suggestion they asked Councillor Gibson to put to the Committee was to have a Task & Finish Group so it could meet briefly and efficiently to decide how the project could be monitored. Councillor Gibson stated that he had been invited and attended a tenant only meeting.

56.4   Councillor Mears pointed out that she chaired the East Area Housing Management Panel and there was a process for bringing matters forward to committee. If an idea was put forward at one particular panel it should be submitted to all the other panels so that there could be a collective view. To do so with one panel was not appropriate. She would not support the amendment. Councillor Mears expressed concern to hear that Councillor Gibson had attended a tenant only meeting. 

56.5   Councillor Bell stated that he sat on the East Area Panel and was Chairman of the Woodingdean Resident and Tenant Association. The Association were fully aware of what went on at the East Area Panel and received regular updates. Councillor Bell would not support the amendment which gave the wrong impression. He was concerned at the impact in the city and the other area panels.

56.6   Councillor Hill welcomed the officers’ report and hoped it would be agreed without amendments. She shared the concerns expressed by Councillor Mears and Bell and was concerned that a member had attended a tenant only meeting. 

56.7   Councillor Gibson explained that idea of a Task & Finish Group had been suggested at the Panel meeting. Residents had changed their constitution to allow councillors to their tenant only meeting on their invitation. The tenants had invited Councillor Gibson so they could express their views and had talked about the report on the Environmental Improvement Budget. Councillor Gibson referred to a question he had asked about tenants’ attendance at Panels (Item 52 - Written Questions). Attendance had been low. It was relevant to have views beyond residents’ and tenants’ panels. 

56.8   Councillor Mears stated that it was very important for a Chair of an Area Panel to ensure that their tenant representatives were engaged. She suggested that it might be helpful for Councillor Gibson to have some training around working with tenants so that they were involved. Tenants were aware that the way the suggestion for a Task and Finish Group had been brought forward was not the right procedure. It was for the Chair of an Area Panel to direct and say that the tenants needed to talk to the other Area Panels for a collective view. It was not appropriate for a Tenants’ Association to bring forward a proposal in this way.

56.9   The Chair stated that the report was written in response to residents who attended the City Assembly who lived on the estates but did not have a tenants’ association. As the Co-Chair of the North Area Panel she was aware that the proposal was very well received. The tenants also understood that when budget proposals were discussed they would have to trust their colleagues on the Service Improvement Group. There was a wish to see more Tenants and Residents Associations across the city.

56.10  At this point the Committee voted on the amendments outlined in paragraph 56.2 above.

56.11  Members voted on the amendment as follows. 2.4 was not agreed. 2 voted for the amendment and 8 voted against.  

56.12  Councillor Mears explained that the Conservative members would abstain from voting as the matter would be discussed at Budget Council.

56.13            Members voted on the substantive recommendations which were agreed by 6 votes.  There were 4 abstentions.

56.14  RESOLVED:-

(1)            That the Committee agrees that the sum of £0.500m is proposed as part of the HRA Budget and Capital Investment Programme 2019/20 to be approved by Policy, Resources & Growth Committee (PR&G) for improvements to communal areas.

(2)      That the Committee agrees that the budget allocated in paragraph 2.1 is committed for a minimum period of three years, subject to the relevant approval by PR&G.

(3)      That the Committee agrees that the fair geographical distribution of the budget is best considered in the context of needs arising on estates, as is the case with other repairs budgets.