Agenda item

Members are asked to note the information provided by the Officer around management styles in multi storey flats and ask any questions to further the Board’s understanding of this issue.

The Chair introduced Sharon Guy to the Board for this item.

SG explained that the High Rise Strategy was introduced in 2016 and contains a 10 year investment programme and service delivery. The Board were explained the differences between the three management styles in multi storey blocks. In identifying the management style which would be applied to a block a number of factors were taken into account such as turnover in the block, demand, number of communal repairs, ASB levels and tenant perception (from the STAR survey). Housing Officers working on an enhanced block have patch size of 100-200 compared to a standard patch of 300-400.

Alongside this strategy is an investment programme of work on high rise blocks, which includes CCTV and connection to Leedswatch. It was noted by SG that enhanced blocks have been worked on first in order to see if it had a positive impact. This improvement work will also provide much better quality images and in enhanced blocks cameras are also in the stairwells and landings. Improved security measures have also been carried out on enhanced blocks and also standard management blocks where required.

SG noted that the STAR survey results would be available soon and the service is looking at this with interest to see if there has been a positive impact or not.

Going forward, it was noted that an enhanced block could be taken out of this type of management if there are improvements and new blocks could come into enhanced management style.

A question was asked around the fire safety checks which are carried out by the cleaners and if they are getting more time to carry out these checks. SG explained she was not aware of any increase however enhanced blocks do receive a second check.

A question was asked about how blocks with a bad ‘reputation’ were being given more investment than what could be termed ‘good blocks’. SG explained that the overall aim of the high rise strategy is to improve all blocks and that all blocks will receive investment but someone has to be first and someone has to be last.

Asked about Grenfell report and future investment as no additional government money for this work. SG explained that the capital programme is broken down into several parts and not all the investment is focused around enhanced blocks but this work is to be carried out over five years for some elements of the programme.

A member noted that in the past a blocks residents would be informed when work would be carried out to their block, however this no longer occurs and this partly drives the view that enhanced blocks are receiving all the investment. SG explained the recent engagement session in all blocks, and at these the investment plans should have been available for residents who came to them. However SG noted that Property and Contracts can provide this information but agreed that communication of this work programme is an area of improvement.

A discussion was held around block champions and that when this was presented to the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board it felt this was a ‘done deal’ and could the role of block champions be explained? The Scrutiny Officer explained that on the back of the Grenfell tragedy that all opportunities for tenants to be engaged with the Housing Service be explored. Benchmarking with other housing organisations bearing in mind not all residents want to attend meetings. It was also made clear Housing Leeds would not want to create a situation where tenants i.e. champions are becoming responsible for fire safety. Working with the High Rise Strategy Group, a questionnaire was developed which residents can complete online in order to give feedback on their block and by doing this a resident can pick and choose what they want to do within giving feedback on their block. The Chair noted that since his attendance at the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board that the role of Champions had been watered down.

A member noted that the block champion role in the past was subject to tenants who volunteered for this role being harassed when things don’t go right and that they were being blamed for things which ultimately they couldn’t control as it was down to Housing Leeds. It was explained that this shouldn’t happen and complaints around things which are raised by block champions should be referred to Housing Leeds.

The Chair in closing this item noted he would keep the Board updated around the block champion role through his attendance of the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board. The Chair thanked Sharon Guy for her attendance today.