Issue - meetings

To receive the report of Joanne Drew, Acting Executive Director, Place.

RECEIVED the report of Karen Lucas, Head of Housing Management.

NOTED

1.    Cllr George Savva, Cabinet Member for Social Housing introduced the report and explained that it reviews the preparation of the Council Housing Service for the Social Housing Regulation bill which is anticipated to pass through parliament in spring/summer 2023.

2.    In relation to the information eluded to on page 15, paragraph 2 of the report, clarification was provided on the expected shortfall should rent increases be capped next year. Officers explained that whilst this is necessary to support tenants during the cost of living crisis it will put significant strain on resources – because actual costs of the service are rising significantly faster than the proposed rent increases. Options rea being considered but this will mean reductions to service standards and impacts on the investment in existing council homes and the new build programme whilst seeking to balance costs with income.

3.    Preparation for the enactment of the Social Housing Regulation Bill outlined in the report seek to deliver on the Council’s commitment to ensure all residents, regardless of whether they are council tenants or housing association tenants, are provided with good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods and the creation or management of safe, healthy and confident communities.

4.    Officers highlighted various aspects of the report and said that it is anticipated that the Bill will introduce key changes in how social housing is regulated which included strengthening the ability of the Regulator of Social Housing to regulate the condition of social housing and the quality of the services provided by registered providers, non-profit organisations such as housing associations and co-operatives, profit making registered providers and local authorities.

5.    Further information was provided, and discussions took place regarding the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM’s). The twenty-two proposed TSM’s are broken into two groups – those where the Council will be asked to provide performance data and those where the Council will collect information from residents directly on their satisfaction with elements of the service.

6.    Officers confirmed that work is ongoing to ensure that Enfield Council is prepared for the new regulatory regime and to understand how it is currently performing in comparison with other authorities and Registered Providers (RPs). This includes partnership with other London boroughs in commissioning a benchmarking report to understand performance across London relative to the rest of the country and areas for improvement against TSM’s.

7.    The Panel noted the Council’s preparation for the new social housing regulatory regime whilst acknowledging the challenges faced as set out in the report.