Agenda and minutes

To note any substitution of Members made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.

The following substitution of Members had been made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules:

Cllr Thomson for Cllr Michaelides.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Michaelides.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2023 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2023 (previously circulated) were approved as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

Cllr S Thusu and F Thomson advised they are Members of Hertfordshire County Council.

Upcoming

·        Budget Task and Finish Group – 4 October 2023, 5.30pm

·        Recruitment, Retention and Leaver Processes Task and Finish Group – 14 December 2023, 5.30pm

The Committee noted the dates of forthcoming task and finish panels as set out in the agenda.

To receive a report from the Chief Executive on Housing Maintainence.

The Chief Executive set out the report, noting both Cabinet Housing Panel and a cross party Housing Maintenance Group had been looking at housing maintenance. Based on the scoring matrix, Overview and Scrutiny Committee had wanted to understand whether these groups were working as efficiently and effectively as they should, which was why the report had been produced; it highlighted performance data, minutes of the cross party group, and the outcome and recommendations of the previous task and finish group which was reported back to Overview and Scrutiny Committee in January 2022.

Members raised a number of issues:

·       Asked whether housing maintenance came under her purview, the Chief Executive explained that in the absence of the relevant Service Director (Property Maintenance and Climate Change), she had attended the cross party group since its inception and oversaw the service; she would continue to do so until the post was recruited to.

·       Members asked whether RAG ratings would be helpful and commented that key performance indicators (KPIs) were not clear in the report. Officers noted the KPIs were detailed in Cabinet Housing Panel reports and a Member reflected it would be helpful to look at what had been captured overall and how it fitted into a scrutiny role.

·       A Member commented that the report said there were no risk management or climate change implications whereas there was a relationship between them and, for example, building more social housing or installing EV charging points. It was noted that while there were implications for specific housing maintenance projects, the report was based on information Scrutiny had asked for.

·       A Member asked what would happen if KPIs were not met. It was explained that officers discussed KPIs regularly and corrective actions were taken to get them on track where necessary. The Senior Management Team considered KPIs on a monthly basis and they were considered quarterly through performance clinic at Cabinet. KPIs were also reported to Cabinet Housing Panel and via Cabinet exception reports. 

·       A Member asked about progress with damp and mould and whether all affected properties had been identified. Officers advised the action plan had previously been reported and was available on the Member Hub. A comprehensive response had been provided to the government last year, Cabinet Housing Panel had been provided with an update, and information would be included in the next ONE magazine.

·       A Member asked about the homelessness strategy and it was explained that Cabinet Housing Panel received updates.

·       Members asked whether the customer survey referenced in the report had taken place. Morgan Sindall had a regular customer satisfaction questionnaire via text messaging.

·       Members asked about the outcome of the stock conditions survey. It was explained the data had not yet been received and it was intended to provide a report to Cabinet Housing Panel. The survey would help inform the planned maintenance programme. 

·       Members reflected that they were routinely contacted by residents about housing maintenance issues and wanted to know what other committees were doing; this was a live issue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

The Committee is asked to resolve:

That under Section 100(A)(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting for Item 10 and 11 (if any) on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of confidential or exempt information as defined in Section 100(A)(3) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended).

In resolving to exclude the public in respect of the exempt information, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100(A)(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting for agenda item 10 (Minute 77 refers) on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of confidential or exempt information as defined in Section 100A(3) and paragraph 3 (private financial or business information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended).

In resolving to exclude the public in respect of the exempt information, it was considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

To receive a report from the Assistant Director (ICT & Digital Services) on Cyber Security.

The following item of an exempt nature was considered:

Committee received the restricted report on cyber security.

RESOLVED:

The Committee noted the report.