Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Cabinet Member for Homes, Councillor Patricia Hay-Justice

Officer: Interim Executive Director of Housing, Alison Knight

Key decision: no

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

RESOLVED: To

1.            Note the further progress in improving housing conditions at 1-87 Regina Road and further actions in response to the recommendations of the report by ARK, detailed at Appendix 1 of the report.

2.            Note the draft Terms of Reference of the Housing Improvement Board, detailed at Appendix 2 of the report, to be agreed under delegated authority.

3.            Note the approach to development of the emerging improvement plan for the housing service to be put to the Housing Improvement Board for input.

The Cabinet Member for Homes (Councillor Patricia Hay-Justice) introduced the Housing Improvement Plan, which she noted had been designed to provide an update to Cabinet on further progress to resolve problems at 1-87 Regina Road and assist the residents affected. Furthermore the report outlined the actions taken to address the issues identified by an independent assessment carried out by ARK Consultancy (ARK) as requiring an immediate response. The Cabinet Member reminded Cabinet that on 17 May 2021 Cabinet approved an initial action plan for the housing service and agreed to the establishment of an independently-chaired Housing Improvement Board. The Cabinet Member advised that the report asked Cabinet to note the draft terms of reference of the Housing Improvement Board that would oversee implementation of the Housing Improvement Plan and ensure that tenants and leaseholders have a say in shaping the future of the housing service.

It was noted that the report also asked Cabinet to note the approach the Council was taking to develop the emerging Croydon Housing Improvement Plan for the housing service, which built upon the initial Action Plan.

The Leader of the Council questioned if there was any information coming from council residents from the door to door visits which councillors had been undertaking across the borough. The Cabinet Member advised that the Road Shows were underway and that they had been very popular and the community was very engaged. The Interim Executive Director of Housing (Alison Knight) provided further advised that thus far on the whole people were pleased to have been engaged and had asked how they could become a part of the resident panels or as part of the Housing Improvement Plan. Members were advised that ward councillors would be informed of any particular issues, as they arose.

The Cabinet Member for Families, Health & Social Care (Councillor Janet Campbell) queried what type of engagement opportunities had been provided to the residents of Regina Road and what type of feedback had been provided. The Cabinet Member for Homes clarified that types of engagement had ranged from virtual meetings, direct contact via written letters to individuals, door knocking by tenancy officers and other officers and councillors, as well as information provided via community notice boards. Thus far residents had been pleased by the level of engagement and continued to be interested in the next steps. The Cabinet Member further advised that the Leader of the Council would also be engaging with Regina Road residents via a meeting in August 2021.

Councillor Leila Ben-Hassel thanked officers and the Cabinet Member for engaging with the Streets, Environment & Homes Scrutiny Sub-Committee which welcomed the update on the Housing Improvement Plan and were assured that the emerging plan was on the right track, noting that progress had been impeded by the council’s restructure. The Councillor noted that the plan provided lines of accountability that would underpin the Improvement Plan moving forward. The Sub-Committee also noted that there were concerns around resourcing of the casework for officers and recommended a diagram  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115