Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director of Environment and Housing which provides a summary of the most recent performance data against the new six Housing Leeds priorities and informs the Board of progress with the development performance measures and dashboards for each priority.  The purpose of the dashboards and extended range of performance measures is to give greater insight on matters that affect tenants and to help to put service performance into context.

(Report attached)

The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report which provided a summary of the most recent performance data against the new six Housing Leeds priorities and informed the Board of progress with the development performance measures and dashboards for each priority.  It was reported that the purpose of the dashboards and extended range of performance measures was to give greater insight on matters that affected tenants and to help to put service performance into context.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/ comment of the meeting:

·  Priority 1 Dashboard – Environmental Improvement(Appendix 1 referred)

·  Priority 2 Dashboard – Rents and Benefits (Appendix 2 referred)

·  Priority 4 Dashboard – Repairs (Appendix 3 referred)

Debra Scott, Head of Resources and Strategy, Environment and Housing, presented the report and responded to Members comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report which included:

·  Progress on Environmental Improvement schemes

·  Improvements in rent collection and arrears performance in quarter 2

·  Homeless preventions

·  Temporary Accommodations

·  Re-Let Days

·  Number of Void Lettable Properties

·  Adaptation

·  Repairs

·  Annual Home Visits and outcomes

·  Disrepair

Referring to paragraph 3.1 of the report, Environmental Improvement, Councillor Ritchie highlighted concerns with one of the city-wide schemes and suggested that there be some evaluation of the quality and impact of these schemes.

Ted Wilson confirmed that the Chair’s group had also asked for a value for money evaluation.

Referring to paragraph 3.3.5 of the report, voids, Councillor Hamilton queried the inclusion of PFI new builds if, by doing so, it gave a distorted view of performance, and asked what was likely to be causing delays in getting the new properties let. 

In responding, Simon  Costigan, Chief Officer Property and Contracts, explained that the PFI properties were not ‘voids’ and shouldn’t be included. He went on to say that performance measures needed to reflect the whole process, including void works and lettings.

Referring to paragraph 3.6.3, Annual Home Visit Outcomes and the 12% of tenants would did not have bank accounts. Councillor Anderson asked what arrangements were being put in place for those tenants when Universal Credit was implemented.

Andrew Feldhaus also noted the high number of rent arrears within the £100 to £500 band, which may point to short-term pressures associated with variations in income and those without bank accounts

In responding on these points Liz Cook, Chief Officer, Housing Management, said discussions were taking place with tenants around future rent arrangements. The use of bank accounts and credit union accounts was been explained and promoted. Tenants would also receive additional support during the transition to Universal Credit.

Referring to paragraph 3.4 of the report, Councillor Hamilton noted that there had been a significant number of outstanding repairs reported via the Annual Homes Visits. 

Councillor Anderson had also noted this and suggested that some analysis be done to determine whether they are new issues requiring attention or existing repairs that have already been reported.

A discussion then took place in relation to repairs performance and the ability to accurately compare the respective performance of contractors and the in-house service. 

In responding, Simon Costigan, Chief Officer, Property and Contracts, confirmed that work was being done to develop more consistency of performance measurement across contractors and the Leeds Building Service

Ted Wilson, referring to Repairs Satisfaction, asked for further information on the telephone survey that had been introduced.

David Glew referring to the Annual Home Visits asked if he could be supplied with a copy of the proforma used when undertaking annual home visits.

The Chair suggested that the contents of the proforma may be of interest to other Board Members and that it be circulated accordingly. 

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the most recent performance information relating to the Six Housing Leeds Priorities

(ii)  To note the progress being made to develop dashboards for each of the Six Housing Leeds priorities which will be reported to future meetings of the Board

(iii)  That Members be supplied with the additional performance information requested in order to give a more accurate assessment of performance across voids and repairs, and to better understand rent collection rates

(iv)  That an evaluation be undertaken of city-wide environmental schemes

(v)  That a copy of the proforma used in the Annual Home Visits be circulated to Board Members for information