To discuss any other business at the discretion of the Chair.
Minutes:
The Director for Housing Assessments and Solutions introduced the item and provided an update on the proposed senior management restructure.
The restructure was being led by the Chief Executive and it was launched on the 10 December 2020 and the consultation ended on 29January 2021. The consultation and restructure was for the senior management teams, which included the Chief Executive, the Executive Directors, Directors and Heads of Services. The changes had led to the removal of the Director of Housing Assessment and Solutions post, which had been replaced by the Director of Housing post and had seen all of housing services being assigned to them.
It was explained that this would allow the council to have greater oversight of all of the HRA services in one place and have greater accountability.
The Chief Executive was currently in the process of collating the feedback from the consultation and this would be published in due course.
The Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance asked the Panel whether a representative from the insurance company could attend future meetings in order to address certain issues with insurance within tenants and leaseholders. In response, the Chair asked the Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance to send an email to the Resident Involvement Manager with a summary of her problems with insurance, and further stated that they could add this topic as an item for the next meeting.
The Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance also asked about the situation regarding unfinished construction work on her estate. In response, the Head of Assets and Involvement asked her to send either him or the Resident Involvement Manager an email so that they could find out from the Electrical Contract Manager why they had not completed the works.
A resident asked the Interim Head of Assets and Involvement whether he could clarify when the electrical work would resume on Church road. In response the Interim Head of Assets and Involvement stated that he would speak to his colleague in the General Building Works team who was leading this project, to find out more information.
The Chair asked the Panel whether the bike sheds on Handcroft Estate were also present on other estates throughout Croydon. In response, the Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance informed the Chair that the bike sheds were not on every estate. These bike sheds were installed as part of an initiative to encourage residents to ride bikes rather than drive where possible.
The Chair also asked why residents should be required to park their bikes in the bike sheds rather than inside their flat. In response, the Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance stated that bikes take up a lot of space, creating an obstacle in hallways that could be dangerous in the event of an emergency.
The Chair then asked whether residents were consulted about whether the bike sheds were necessary. The Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance stated that she was unsure about the details of the consultation as it was conducted by the better health team rather than the housing department.
A resident asked the Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance whether the bike sheds could be removed from the estates as many residents do not use them. In response the Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance informed the Panel that residents would receive a letter shortly which would explain the need for keeping communal hallways clear, so they would continue to encourage people to use communal bike sheds.
A resident asked the Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance whether the residents of Ashwood Gardens care home would also receive a letter, as disabled residents usually charge their mobility scooters in the hallway. In response the Head of Service for Repairs & Maintenance informed the Panel that the Council were looking at implementing a storage facility which would allow residents to charge their scooters whilst they were stored.
A resident asked the Panel why the waste was being collected on her estate late at night. In response, the Waste & Recycling Manager informed the Panel that the reason that they were collecting late at night was because during lockdown none of the waste vehicles could receive an MOT or be serviced as service stations were not open. This had led the Council to schedule double shifts, both late at night and early in the morning, due to lack of vehicle availability.