Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director (Resident Services and Climate Change)

The Executive Director (Resident Services and Climate Change) presented an update on the progress with the action planned in response to the tenant satisfaction measures survey 2023/24.

A Member asked how many properties there are in Band D and below.

The Executive Director (Resident Services and Climate Change) didn’t have the figure to hand but would make it available to go on the minutes.

Post meeting note:  As of July 2024, there were 1323 council homes that were EPC rated D and below. Many of these will be included in the decarbonisation and major works programmes.

The Member also made a comment that during Election time Councillors visit properties and there’s stuff that’s left in the staircase including plants or a mat and sometimes it’s hard to almost get up the stairs possibly causing a fire risk and asked if Officers do anything about it when they see it.

The Executive Director (Resident Services and Climate Change) responded that as part of the estate inspection they should be picking up on any obstructions either in the hallways or staircases. Other contractors are in and out of properties so this should certainly be reported back, and we will take the action to reduce the risk by seeking to get obstructions removed.

A Member commented that it was a thorough report and had worked very hard and asked if they could have a copy of the last chart with tenant satisfaction measures with the arrows and to look monitoring this.

The Executive Director (Resident Services and Climate Change) responded saying she had not sent it as she had only recently got the results. We will share that as part of the pack.

A Tenant Panel Member-s asked if the TSM action plan report can go to the panel to look at and also the Task & Finish as well.

The Assistant Director (Homes & Neighbourhoods) responded saying yes to both requests. Regarding the Task & Finish, one thing they asked for was the Tenant Panel report which we did do. I will share the slides and the outcomes.

Action: Janice White

A Member asked regarding the cleaning of communal areas and talking about going out getting cleaning contracts, whether the tenants are encouraged to put in a bid to keep their own block and pay them to keep their communal area tidy. He also suggested that if they were paid to do this it would become a contract and there would also need to be insurance.

The Assistant Director (Homes & Neighbourhoods) responded that residents can ask to clean their area and there was a recent case where residents suggested this, and we are exploring that. We will need to go out and do a consultation with the block, agree a frequency and the standard and it would have to be monitored in the same way. One thing being explored with Legal services is around insurance. We wouldn’t be able to pay the tenant because then it becomes something different, but if they wanted to volunteer a group and have an informal rota, we now have stricter laws and legislation in regard to health and safety and this can put residents off. 

A member had a question re communication and the tenant handbooks being given out to new tenants and asked if it was a hard copy.

The Executive Director (Resident Services and Climate Change) responded that they are hard copies, and they are looking to include existing tenants. They are also looking to put a digital copy on the website.

RESOLVED:

The Panel noted the report.