Approved Minutes - Housing & Communities 21 08 24
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 August 2024
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 21 August 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, 21 August 2024 at 10.00 a.m. Present: Councillors Ian Dickson, David McBride, Michelle McGinty, John Millar, Karen Murray Conaghan, Lawrence O’Neill, Martin Rooney, Hazel Sorrell and Sophie Traynor. Attending: Peter Barry – Chief Officer, Housing and Employability; John Kerr, Housing Development and Homelessness Manager; Martin Feeney, Building Services Manager; Nicola Pettigrew, Housing Operations Manager; Nigel Ettles, Legal Officer; and Nicola Moorcroft and Lauren Simeon, Committee Officers. Also attending: Divisional Commander Gary L’Anson and Chief Inspector Kirsteen McLatchie, Police Scotland; Group Commander Fraser Grant and Watch Commander Chris Spence, Argyll and Bute, East and West Dunbartonshire, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Gurpreet Singh Johal, Jonathan McColl and Lauren Oxley. Councillor Hazel Sorrell in the Chair STATEMENT BY CHAIR – AUDIO STREAMING Councillor Hazel Sorrell, 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 1 May 2024 were submitted and approved as a correct record. 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. After discussion and having heard the Group Commander and the Watch Commander in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the update on the Local Fire and Rescue Plan in West Dunbartonshire. 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 Chief Officer – Housing and Employability and the Housing Development and Homelessness 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
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forthcoming handover of new homes at the Clydebank East and Gilmour Avenue development; (2) to approve the updated estimated costs for Braehead and Campbell Street (Bonhill gap sites) and Bank Street development; (3) to approve the procurement exercise and to award the contract up to the updated estimated costs for the projects above; (4) to approve the procurement exercise of a multi-disciplinary design team for Clydebank Health Centre and to award the contract up to the approved costs for the project; and (5) to approve the procurement and award of the Queen Mary Avenue Design and Build development contract by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, in consultation with the Procurement Manager, to appoint a suitably experienced contractor to deliver the new homes within the approved budget through an appropriate procurement framework. RAPID REHOUSING TRANSITION PLAN A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability providing an update on “Home at the Heart” the Rapid Re-housing Transition Plan (RRTP) for the period 2019-24 and new approaches to homelessness. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, in further the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the progress and challenges made in the five years of “Home at the Heart”, which will inform a report to the Scottish Government at the end of August 2024 and note the main objectives for Year 6 in paragraphs 4.17 - 4.32 of the report; (2) to note that the Council’s housing allocation letting target, for homeless households remains at 64% for 2024/25 as set out in paragraph 4.25 of the report and note that the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability will keep the target under close review based on current modelling projections; (3) to note the continued uncertainty around future funding and specifically the risk to the embedded Housing First approach; (4) to note that Scottish Government funding of £261,000 was awarded for 2024/25 for the specific delivery of the West Dunbartonshire Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan; and (5) to note the Housing Emergency Declaration and Action Plan update provided in a separate committee paper.
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SCOTTISH SOCIAL HOUSING CHARTER/REGULATION ANNUAL UPDATE REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability providing an annual progress report on meeting the requirements of the Scottish Social Housing Charter and the Scottish Housing Regulator’s Regulatory Framework for social housing including the approval of the Annual Assurance Statement. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager and the Building Services Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the content of the current Engagement Plan published by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) in April 2024; (2) to note performance in terms of achieving the Scottish Social Housing Charter (SSHC) outcomes during 2023/24; (3) to note that a comprehensive assessment of 2023/24 performance was carried out and that this informed a Charter Improvement Plan covering all the SSHC outcomes and the key areas of focus for the Housing Improvement Board (HIB) during 2024/25, outlined at paragraph 4.13 of the report; (4) to note that this assessment of 2023/24 performance will inform the production and publication of our annual Charter Performance Report; (5) to approve the Annual Assurance Statement (AAS) in Appendix 1 of the report, to be signed by the Housing and Communities Committee Convener, on behalf of the Housing and Communities Committee and submitted to the Scottish Housing Regulator as per the regulatory requirement; and (6) that a further progress report on the Scottish Social Housing Charter/Regulatory Framework will be submitted to the November 2024 meeting of the Committee, to include detailed benchmarking performance, information against all local authorities in Scotland following the publication of validated performance information. HOUSING EMERGENCY DECLARATION ACTION PLAN A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability providing an update on the Housing Emergency Declaration made on 1st May 2024. Outlining an initial and high-level response through a Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan (HEDAP), formulated to address the situation. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:-
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(1) to note and approve the Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan in Appendix 1 of the report; (2) to note the establishment of the Housing Emergency Project Board led by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, supported by several Senior Council Officers, to oversee the implementation and further development of the Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan; and (3) that the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability will present an update report to the Housing and Communities Committee in November 2024. MOBILITY SCOOTER POLICY A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability seeking approval for the introduction of mobility scooter guidance and to note the amendment to the tenancy agreement. 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 agreed to approve the Mobility Scooter Guidance in Appendix 1 of the report. ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR STRATEGY A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability seeking approval for the revised Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy 2024 – 2027. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, in further explanation the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the content of the Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy 2024 – 2027; (2) to note the partnership approach and work to develop the Anti- Social Behaviour Strategy 2024 – 2027, which sets out the collective position to address unacceptable anti-social behaviour (ASB) throughout West Dunbartonshire Communities; and (3) to approve the Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy 2024 – 2027 and delegates the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability to publish and deliver the strategy in conjunction with key partners. FORMER TENANT WRITE-OFF'S A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability seeking approval for the write-off of rent arrears for Quarter 1 of 2024/25 for former tenants.
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After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to approve the write-off of former tenant arrears accounts totalling £55,529.44. BUILDING SERVICES PROCUREMENT PROVISION UPDATE A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability providing an update on tender requirements information for Building Services, seeking approval to continue with necessary procurement and tender processes and to allow subsequent award of the contract. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, in further explanation the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the contents of the report; (2) to approve the procurement processes to tender the requirements listed within the table in paragraph 4.2 of the report; and (3) to delegate approval to award contracts to successful bidders to the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability. GENERAL FUND HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES ACCOUNT TO PERIOD 3 (30 JUNE 2024) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the financial performance to 30 June 2024 (Period 3) of General Fund Revenue services under the auspices of the Housing and Communities Committee. Having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability in further explanation the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the contents of this report showing the revenue budget forecast to overspend against budget by £0.159m (4.4%) at the year-end; and (2) to note the progress on efficiencies incorporated into budgets for 2024/25. HOUSING REVENUE BCR TO PERIOD 3 A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the HRA revenue financial performance to 30 June 2024 (Period 3). After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability in further explanation the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the HRA revenue account forecasts an adverse variance of £0.082m. The adverse variance would be offset by using £0.082m of HRA reserves;
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(2) to note that the use of HRA reserves to address the projected adverse variance will lead to the closure of HRA reserves balance of £0.886m which is below the prudential target of £1.064m; and (3) to note that work continues to identify efficiencies across all areas of the HRA revenue account budget, to allow HRA reserves to replenished and maintained in line with the prudential target, while ensuring that services are delivered and that there is no corresponding reduction in service provision. HOUSING CAPITAL BCR TO PERIOD 3 A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the HRA capital financial performance to 30 June 2024 (Period 3). After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability in further explanation the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the current position of the 2024/25 HRA capital budget and the HRA capital plan; (2) to note that in-year financial performance was monitored against a 2024/25 capital expenditure budget of £73.664m and a 2024/25 capital income budget of £10.003m; (3) to note that project life performance was monitored against a project life expenditure budget of £319.738m and a project life income budget of £54.577m; (4) to note that all projects are currently on track, regarding achieving the planned completion dates and delivering within the updated capital budget; and (5) to approve the procurement and award of the CCTV upgrade project by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability, in consultation with the Procurement Manager, as set out in paragraph 4.4 of the report, to appoint the contractor of the returned tender, if the contract cost is within the approved budget and the tender is in line with normal tender parameters. The meeting closed at 11.59 a.m.