Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

None.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September and 12 October, 2022.

That the minutes of the meetings held on 27 September and 12 October be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27September, 2022 were approved as a correct record, as moved and seconded by Councillor Bernie Attridge and Councillor David Evans.        

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 October, 2022 were approved as a correct record, as moved, and seconded by Councillor Bernie Attridge and Councillor Linda Thew.  

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings held on 27 September and 12 October be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c)        That the Committee notes the progress made in completing the outstanding actions.

The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented the current Forward Work Programme for consideration.

The Facilitator referred to the number of items listed for the next meeting scheduled for 14^th December and suggested that she liaise with the Chair and Chief Officer following the meeting to move some items to other meetings, to allow for a full debate on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) & Budget Setting 2023-24 (Stage 2) report.  The Committee supported this suggestion.

The Facilitator outlined the following changes that had been made to the Forward Work Programme since the last meeting:-

• Temporary Accommodation Audit Update – this report has been moved to April, 2023 to allow for the final Rapid Rehousing Plan to be submitted;
• Housing Register Service Customer Satisfaction – this information will be included as part of the Housing Register report being presented to the Committee in February, 2023; and
• Sheltered Housing Review – this report will now be presented in February 2023

In relation to the Actions arising from the last meeting, the Facilitator reported that a site visit to view Void properties has been arranged for 9^th December, 2022.  Additional information on the site visit will be sent to Members of the Committee in due course.  On the action relating to a report on Poverty being brought forward on the Forward Work Programme, the Facilitator advised that a report was recently presented to Cabinet on the cost of living crisis and she would share this with Members of the Committee after the meeting.  Performance on poverty would also be presented to the Committee at its meeting in December, 2022.

Councillor Bernie Attridge asked if a briefing note could be provided to all Members of the Council on how the Council dealt with older properties that had damp and mould.  He also asked if information on triple vent ventilation, which he believed should be provided when installing replacement windows, could be provided as part of the briefing note.  He said that he appreciated that the Committee had a busy Forward Work Programme, and therefore would appreciate a briefing note to provide assurance to Members, if a report could not be accommodated within the Forward Work Programme.  The Chair suggested that a report on this matter be included on the Forward Work Programme for January, 2023.

The Facilitator suggested that a briefing note be provided to all Members following the meeting and a decision on whether a report should also be brought to the Committee could be made at a later date. 

            The recommendations, as outlined within the report, were moved by Councillor Bernie Attridge and seconded by Councillor Rob Davies.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c)        That the Committee notes the progress made in completing the outstanding actions.

(a)       That the Committee note the changes proposed to the way all landlords in Wales rent their properties for implementation from 1 December 2022;

(b)       That the Committee has serious concerns on the removal of introductory tenancies from the policy; and

(c)        That the Senior Manager review consultation previously undertaken and enquire with the WG and legal partners on whether a review of the Act was planned, and provide this information, if available to Cabinet when considering the report in November, 2022.

The Senior Manager - Housing Management introduced the report to provide an overview of the new Renting Homes Act and the changes that would be brought into effect from 1^st December, 2022.  The Act aimed to simplify the process of renting a home in Wales and to provide parties with more information about their rights and obligations.     

            The Senior Manager explained that once fully enacted, the Act would create a completely new system for residential tenancies in Wales.  It was intended to entirely replace the secure, assured shorthold and assured agricultural occupancies tenancy regimes which currently operated under the Housing Act 1985 and Housing Act 1988. 

            In highlighting the fundamental changes within the Act, the Senior Manager advised that under the new law tenants and licensees would become ‘contract-holders’ and tenancy agreements would be replaced with ‘occupation contracts’.  The Occupation Contracts would have to be set out in a ‘written statement’ and its purpose was to confirm the terms of the contract.  There would be two types of contract, as follows:- 

1.    Secure – which Flintshire will adopt as landlord.

2.    Standard Contract – Which will be mainly used in the private sector.

The implementation in Flintshire from 1^st December would see any new contract holders receiving a new contract, and any existing contract holders would be entered into a period of consultation to encourage them to convert from their existing tenancies to a contract to comply with the new regulations.  A series of roadshows would take place from February 2023 to explain the new Act to tenants. 

Councillor Bernie Attridge raised concern around the role of the Scrutiny Committee in considering the report and providing feedback prior to the Cabinet meeting the following week.  He did not feel that there was any opportunity to amend the changes proposed within the Act as it would become law from 1^st December.  He said that he could find no background information on consultation undertaken and asked what consultation had been carried out by the Cabinet Member and Leader of the Council through the Welsh Government (WG) on the proposed changes and was consultation carried out with the tenants ahead of the changes being brought into effect from 1^st December 2022.  He also raised concerns around the removal of the introductory tenancies which were in pace to the Council to remove bad tenants.

The Senior Manager said that she was not aware of the consultation process but explained that the Act became law in 2016 with WG delaying the roll out and implementation of the law until 1^st December, 2022.  She explained that it was an Act of law which the Council had to implement and that the consultation with residents and tenants would ensure that they understood what the changes meant.  There were some positive changes within the Act, around giving tenants greater rights and holding landlords to account if property repairs were not undertaken. 

The Chief Officer (Housing and Communities) advised that feedback from the Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded for the remainder of the meeting for the following items by virtue of exempt information under paragraph(s) 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

(a)       That the Committee note the award of the managed stores contract, as outlined in the report, via the ADRA All Wales Materials framework; and

(b)       That the Committee note the award of a four year contract with the option to extend for a further four years subject to performance.

The Business Manager presented the proposals for the future supply of building materials and associated services through a managed stores via the ADRA All Wales Materials framework.  The framework offers opportunities across Wales for collaboration with other authorities and housing providers, thus providing potential materials cost savings due to economies of scale.

The Council would continue to monitor performance of the contract through receipt of key performance indicators.  This would allow early identification of any concerns with performance and presents opportunities for continuous improvement measures to be developed.

The Business Manager responded to questions raised by Councillor Bernie Attridge around other available sites and community benefit.

The recommendations, as outlined within the report, were moved by Councillor Bernie Attridge, and seconded by Councillor Rob Davies. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee note the award of the managed stores contract, as outlined in the report, via the ADRA All Wales Materials framework; and

(b)       That the Committee note the award of a four year contract with the option to extend for a further four years subject to performance.

There were no members of the press in attendance.