Agenda and minutes

Housing Scrutiny Panel - Tuesday, 5th July, 2022 7.00 pm

Venue: Conference Room, Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, EN1 3XA. View directions

Contact: Stacey Gilmour Email: Stacey.gilmour@enfield.gov.uk 020 8132 1383

Items
No.	Item
1.	WELCOME & APOLOGIES View the background to item 1. Minutes: The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made. Apologies were received from Cllrs Lee Chamberlain (Vice-Chair) and Nelly Gyosheva. Cllrs Elisa Morreale was substituting for Cllr Chamberlain and Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya was substituting for Cllr Gyosheva.
2.	DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST View the background to item 2. Members of the Council are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary of non-pecuniary interests relevant to the items on the agenda. Minutes: The Chair, Cllr Alexandrou, stated an interest as she is a landlord.
3.	INTRODUCTION-PURPOSE OF MEETING View the background to item 3. The Chair to introduce the purpose of the meeting. Minutes: The Chair explained that the panel will hear from the Cabinet Member for Social Housing, Cllr George Savva and the Director of Housing & Regeneration, Joanne Drew, outlining the department’s priorities and areas of challenge for the upcoming municipal year. The Cabinet Member and Officer would then be asked to leave the meeting at which point members of the panel will discuss and agree the Housing Scrutiny Panel work programme for 2022/2023.
4.	MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING PDF 125 KB View the background to item 4. To agree the minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 17 March 2022. Minutes: AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2022.
5.	TERMS OF REFERENCE PDF 60 KB View the background to item 5. To note, for information, the attached Terms of Reference for the Housing Scrutiny Panel. Minutes: NOTED, for information, the attached Terms of Reference for the Housing Scrutiny Panel.
6.	LOCAL PRIORITIES FOR 2022/23 View the background to item 6. The Scrutiny Panel will hear from the Cabinet Member and Officers, outlining priorities and areas of challenge. Cabinet Members and Officers will be asked to leave the meeting at this point. Minutes: The Chair invited Cllr George Savva, Cabinet Member, Social Housing and Joanne Drew, Director of Housing & Regeneration to present the Local Priorities for 2022/23, highlighting the following: The remit of the Housing Scrutiny Panel is informed by two strategies agreed by Cabinet. Delivering on the Housing and Growth Strategy 2020: o The housing crisis is currently a hot topic, with lots happening regarding this from a Central Government perspective which Local Governments need to respond to. It is therefore time for Enfield to review its Housing Strategy to ensure that we provide a balanced housing market for all. More affordable housing – this sits under the remit of the Regeneration and Economic Development Scrutiny Panel. Being proud of and investing in our council homes to make sure they provide safe and secure homes for future generations and offer high-quality management services. Maintain clean and green estates and expand the Enfield Repairs Direct Service. Support residents impacted on by the cost of living crisis including access to employment. The Social Housing (Regulation) Bill aims to facilitate a new, proactive approach to regulating social housing landlords on consumer issues such as safety, transparency and tenant engagement, with new enforcement powers to tackle failing landlords. It aims to drive significant change in landlord behaviour to focus on the needs of their tenants and ensure landlords are held to account for their performance. Quality and variety in the private housing sector – many vulnerable residents are living in the private sector, there is a focus to intervene to improve and enable access for residents Enfield Let was mobilised in October 2020, there are plans for Housing Gateway growth. Private Renters Reform Bill- Renters to receive new rights to challenge landlords in the biggest shake up in thirty years. A private renter’s Ombudsman will be appointed to settle disputes between renters and landlords. Development of Housing Asset Management Strategy which includes support for bringing dwellings up to EPC B (Energy Performance Certificate) · Delivering the Homelessness Prevention Strategy 2020 - Making homelessness something that is rare, brief and non-recurring: o A better future for rough sleepers –permanent housing of residents taken in during the pandemic. o To enable everyone to access a stable, secure and decent home regardless of tenure. o Step in to prevent people from becoming homeless at the earliest possible stage, rather than waiting until they have a crisis. o Equip people with the skills to manage a tenancy in the PRS (private rented sector) through training and support. o Reshape the housing market to improve access to housing in the private rented sector for residents whilst improving quality. o Housing Advisory Service -Aims within five years: - Fewer than 500 households in Temporary Accommodation. - No one in Temporary Accommodation for more than 6 months. o Housing Advisory Service – Priorities 2022-23 - Prevention – preventing homelessness and improving outcomes for residents is our top priority. - Housing Supply – the supply of privately rented homes has halved in 12 months. - ... view the full minutes text for item 6.
7.	PLANNING THE WORK PROGRAMME FOR 2022/23 View the background to item 7. To agree and prioritise items for the Work Programme 2022/23. Minutes: The Chair opened discussions in terms of the work programme. It was suggested that there were two items per meeting, with three as a maximum Following discussions, the process for extra meetings was confirmed. Discussions were held on the most appropriate timings for items. The following items and timings were agreed: September’s meeting Social Housing Regulation Bill Private Renters Reform Bill Enfield Repairs Direct – overview on progress, delivery, efficiency, response times and out of hours repairs. November’s meeting Draft Housing & Good Growth Strategy Delivery of Social & Affordable Housing (to include an update on Meridian Water) March’s meeting Housing Gateway/Enfield Let - update Temporary Accommodation and Empty Homes – levels and strategy to reduce Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping – update & review of strategy
8.	DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS View the background to item 8. To note that the dates of future meetings are as follows: Thursday 22 September 2022 Tuesday 29 November 2022 Wednesday 22 March 2023 These meetings will commence at 7:00pm and will be held in the Conference Room at the Civic Centre. Minutes: NOTED the dates of future meetings as follows: Thursday 22 September 2022 Tuesday 29 November 2022 Wednesday 22 March 2023. These meetings will commence at 7:00pm and will be held in the Conference Room at the Civic Centre.