Approved Minutes - Housing & Communities 01 05 24
West Dunbartonshire Council · 1 May 2024
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 1 May 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE At a Hybrid Meeting of the Housing and Communities Committee held in the Civic Space, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton on Wednesday, 1 May 2024 at 10.00 a.m. Present: Councillors Ian Dickson, Gurpreet Singh Johal, David McBride, Jonathan McColl, Michelle McGinty, John Millar, Karen Murray Conaghan, Lawrence O’Neill, Lauren Oxley, Martin Rooney, Hazel Sorrell and Sophie Traynor. Attending: Peter Barry – Chief Officer, Housing and Employability; John Kerr, Housing Development and Homelessness Manager; Nicola Pettigrew, Housing Operations Manager; Ryan Chalmers, Section Head (Revenues & Benefits); Nigel Ettles, Legal Officer; and Nicola Moorcroft, Scott Kelly and Lauren Simeon, Committee Officers. Also attending: Divisional Commander Gary L’Anson, Chief Superintendent Kirsteen McLatchie and Former Divisional Commander Lynn Ratcliffe, Police Scotland; Group Commander Paul Councill and Station Commander Brian Wardle, Argyll and Bute, East and West Dunbartonshire, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal in the Chair STATEMENT BY CHAIR – AUDIO STREAMING Councillor Singh Johal, Chair, advised that the meeting was being audio streamed and broadcast live to the internet and would be available for playback. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST It was noted that there were no declarations of interest in the item of business on the agenda. RECORDING OF VOTES The Committee agreed that all votes taken during the meeting would be done by roll call vote to ensure an accurate record.
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OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the Meeting of the Housing and Communities Committee held on 28 February 2024 were submitted and approved as a correct record. VALEDICTORY FORMER DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, POLICE SCOTLAND - LYNN RATCLIFFE Councillor Singh Johal advised that Lynn Ratcliffe, Former Divisional Commander had moved onto a new role in Glasgow. On behalf of all Members of the Committee, he thanked Ms Ratcliffe for all her work for West Dunbartonshire for the relationships built and wished her well for her future role. Councillor Michelle McGinty thanked Ms Ratcliffe for making her feel welcome when joining the Council, for the good times and the more serious times during her time in West Dunbartonshire and wished her all the best in her new role. Councillor Lawrence O’Neill thanked Ms Ratcliffe for all her efforts to ensure west Dunbartonshire was a safer place and hoped to catch up with her at events in Glasgow. In response, Ms Ratcliffe thanked everyone for their kind words and noted thanks to all current and past Members of the Housing and Communities Committee for their support and introduced Divisional Commander Gary L’Anson who will be her replacement within West Dunbartonshire. SCRUTINY REPORTS (a) POLICE SCRUTINY REPORT A report was submitted by the Divisional Commander, Police Scotland providing Members with an update on local policing in West Dunbartonshire. After discussion and having heard the Divisional Commander and the Chief Superintendent in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the update on policing in West Dunbartonshire. (b) FIRE AND RESCUE SCRUTINY REPORT A report was submitted by the Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service providing appropriate performance data measured against priorities in the West Dunbartonshire Local Fire and Rescue Plan.
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After discussion and having heard the Group Commander in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed note the update on the Local Fire and Rescue Plan in West Dunbartonshire. HOUSING AND EMPLOYABILITY DELIVERY PLAN 2023/24 - YEAR-END PROGRESS AND HOUSING AND EMPLOYABILITY DELIVERY PLAN 2024/25 A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability setting out the year-end progress of the 2023/24 Delivery Plan and presenting the new Delivery Plan for 2024/25. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager and the Housing Operations Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee noted the progress achieved at year-end and the new plan for 2024/25. MORE HOMES WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE – WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY DELIVERY PROGRAMME A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability providing an update on progress with West Dunbartonshire’s More Homes Programme which oversees the delivery of the Council’s new home building programme. After discussion and having heard the having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager and the Housing Operations Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the content of the report and the progress made to date in the delivery of the Council’s More Homes West Dunbartonshire approach including the recent site starts at the Pappert and Mount Pleasant developments which means 133 new council homes are at construction stage; (2) to note the amended housing mix within the Bonhill Gap Site (O’Hare) development project; (3) to note the anticipated 27% reduction in Affordable Housing Supply Programme funding available in 2024/25 in West Dunbartonshire and the ongoing work to refresh the Strategic Housing Investment Programme because of the funding reduction; and (4) to approve the undertaking to conduct all necessary procurement exercises for the identified sites within the Future New Build – West Dunbartonshire Affordable Housing Supply Programme in paragraph 4.4 of the report to deliver new council homes.
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ACCESS TO HOUSING WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability providing an update on Access to Housing in West Dunbartonshire, which includes housing for those on the general list, transferring tenants and households experiencing homelessness. Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal proposed the following motion: The Housing Committee thanks the Chief Officer and all his staff for the comprehensive Report on Access to Housing in West Dunbartonshire. Committee notes the unprecedented housing and homelessness issues affecting tenants and potential tenants in West Dunbartonshire. This committee agrees the recommendations at 2.1 with the exception of recommendation 2.1 (ii). As Housing and Communities Committee Convener I note with significant concern the content of this report, the previous report and through my discussions with the Chief Officer the extreme pressures facing housing and homelessness services in West Dunbartonshire today. These pressures exist despite the best endeavours and professionalism of housing and homelessness officers within the Council who have been supported by tenant representatives and have seen a number of positive achievements. These include: • 262 households prevented from experiencing homelessness; • Significant progress in reducing the number of empty homes: • The construction of 133 new council homes to meet evidenced need. However, the number of households assessed as homeless or in housing need waiting for a home to call their own remains of significant concern to me: At the end of the latest reporting year: • There were over 5500 households on our housing waiting lists; • 274 households living in temporary accommodation; sadly this includes 89 children without the safety, security and nurturing home environment to thrive in their early years; • Over 1000 homeless assessments; of which a quarter are young people. Our ability to meet our statutory duties around homelessness is also under significant strain on an ongoing basis: • In 23/24 WDC breached the unsuitable accommodation order 68 times; this was as result of 245 placements in bed and breakfast accommodation. Committee heard in an earlier report about the significant reduction in Affordable Housing Supply Programme funding. The proposed reduction is 27%, potentially the loss of 160 much needed homes in West Dunbartonshire.
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This a perilous situation and one that requires action today. This is why I’m moving an amendment to Recommendation 2 that: - Committee declares a Housing Emergency in West Dunbartonshire today. - Requests the Chief Officer Housing and Employability works with key partners internally and externally to bring forward a Housing Emergency Action Plan in advance of the summer recess. This plan will address how we will tackle homelessness and increase housing supply in the short and medium term. I also move that West Dunbartonshire Council’s Housing and Communities Committee requests that the Scottish Government urgently review the decision to cut the Affordable Housing Supply Programme allocation to West Dunbartonshire by 27% (£2.873m) for 2024/25. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the current housing and homeless context and unprecedented pressures in West Dunbartonshire; (2) to declare a ‘Housing Emergency’ as detailed in Councillor Singh Johal motion agreed and noted above; (3) to note the performance of our allocations for 2023/34 (paragraphs 4.5 and 4.6 of the report); (4) to note the current demand on our waiting list and level of needs and that there are 1342 (26%) applicants that have no recognised housing need; (5) to approve the revised target times in paragraph 4.10 and agreed letting target paragraphs 4.12 and 4.13 of the report, for those experiencing homelessness for 2024/25 to ensure we continue to meet our statutory obligations as a local authority; (6) to note our updated Regulatory Engagement Plan (paragraph 4.15 of the report); (7) to note the agreed letting targets for transferring tenants and those on the general housing list (paragraph 4.17 of the report); (8) to note and agree actions, in relation to transferring tenants, in paragraphs 4.18 and 4.19 of the report, of increasing the use of Home Swapper and creation of a transfer led lettings plan for new build completions; (9) to note the West Dunbartonshire Council funding allocation of £261k from the Distribution of Funding for Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTPs) funding for 2024/25 and approve that this allocation be utilised to deliver the Home at the Heart (WDC RRTP) priorities for 2024/25; and
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(10) to note in paragraph 7 of the report the risks identified regarding letting and our legislative duty to provide the statutory homeless and housing access service. HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT TO 31 JANUARY 2024 (PERIOD 10) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the financial performance to 31 January 2024 (Period 10) of the HRA revenue and capital budgets for 2023/24. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the HRA revenue account forecasts an adverse variance of £3.863m. The adverse variance will be offset by removing the £1.729m budgeted contribution from revenue to capital (CFCR) and using £2.134m of the HRA reserves; (2) to note that the use of HRA reserves, to address the projected adverse variance, will lead to a closing HRA reserves balance of £0.500m which is below the prudential target; (3) to note that work would continue to identify efficiencies across all areas of the housing budget to allow HRA reserves, to replenished and maintained in line with the prudential target, while ensuring that services are still delivered and that there was no corresponding reduction in service provision; and (4) to note the HRA capital budget is forecasting an in-year underspend of £69.166m which comprises £4.912m for projects that would be re-profiled into 2024/25 and projects with a net underspend of £64.253m this year, detailed in Appendix 4 of the report. GENERAL FUND HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES FINANCIAL REPORT 2023/24 AS AT PERIOD 10 (31 JANUARY 2024) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the financial performance to 31 January 2024 (Period 10) of General Fund services under the auspices of the Housing and Communities Committee. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the contents of this report which shows the revenue budget forecast to overspend against budget by £0.095m (2.49%) at the year-end; (2) to note the net projected annual position in relation to relevant capital projects which shows no projected variance; and
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(3) to note the progress on efficiencies incorporated into budgets for 2023/24. FORMER TENANT WRITE-OFFS 2023/24 QUARTER 4 A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability seeking approval for the write-off of rent arrears for Quarter 4 of 2023/24 for former tenants. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability and the Section Head (Revenues & Benefits) in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee approved the write off of former tenant arrears accounts totalling £209,257.69. The meeting closed at 12.26 p.m.