Agenda item

(a) That the progress made in delivering the planned activity previously outlined to the Committee in September 2022, the next steps and key milestones within the Voids Action Plan at attached at Appendix 1 be noted; and

(b) That the proposals for addressing the challenges identified within the Voids Action Plan be supported.

The Service Manager – Housing Assets presented a report to provide a further update on voids management and delivery. 

The Service Manager explained that there had been a number of challenges to overcome from the past 24 months, which included the pandemic, Brexit and the war in the Ukraine, which had increased pressures in securing skilled resources, raw materials and price increases and outlined work being undertaken to meet the key milestones within the Voids Action Plan, attached at Appendix 1 of the report, which covered the following areas:

• Budget
• Refurbishment
• Workforce
• Oversight & Reporting
• Compliance

The Service Manager also outlined the key activities delivered, adding that the Management Team met regularly to discuss progress and performance on the following areas:

• Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP) Funding
• Procurement of new Schedule of Rates (SORs)
• Procurement/tendering of the new framework
• Acquisition of new contractors
• Reallocation of internal resource positions (Team Leaders & Inspectors)
• Training for voids team
• Development of new allocations process.

• Identify any additional funding
• Looking at WHQs2 and de-carbonisation
• Full review of specification to voids standards, to build robust standard surveys
• Ensuring contractors were meeting benchmarks

In response to questions from Councillor Rosetta Dolphin around the average costs to bring a void property back into use and its comparison to neighbouring authorities, the Service Manager explained that neighbouring authorities typically spend between £18,000 to £20,000 on void properties, but the average costs for Flintshire was in the region of around £9,000.  He agreed to provide information on how many of the void properties required works costing more than £10,000 to Members of the Committee following the meeting.

Councillor Dale Selvester welcomed the detailed report.  He also welcomed that that all Team Leaders had returned to the workplace and recruitment exercises have been completed and said that he would like to see what improvement this had on the service.  The Service Manager agreed to provide data analysis on the benefits of additional posts in the future update reports.

Councillor Selvester also asked if external contractors were made aware of what their performance targets were and what measures were taken if they were not meeting their target.  He also questioned the multiple material and supply issues as outlined within the report and outlined conversations with a local builder who had stated that there were no material supply issues with materials such as windows.  The Service Manager explained that external contractors worked to performance targets set, for example, a small contractor would be given 2 void properties and when the property was 75% completed, they would then be allocated additional properties to assist with workflow and future planning.  Any contractor late on completing a property or where there were quality issues would be defaulted and it would affect their allocation of properties going forward.  In relation to materials, the report outlined the issues over the last 2 years during the pandemic and most of these issues had been resolved.  It was proposed to work closely with local suppliers to start building stock levels up and share forward work programmes going forward.    

Councillor Dave Evans asked if homes were regularly inspected in order to identify issues before they became major repairs when vacated.  The Service Manager reported that a stock condition survey commenced in 2020 but access was restricted during the pandemic.  A high-level stock condition survey to assess tenants’ homes would be commencing but any tenant who had previously refused entry into their home as part of the WHQS works, access was gained to ensure the kitchens and bathrooms were safe.  Any operative who attends a property where concerns were found, these would be reported as soon as possible.  He was confident that robust processes were in place.

In response to concerns raised by Councillor Pam Banks on repairs to properties in her ward where the tenants had been waiting a number of years, the Service Manager agreed to pick this up with Councillor Banks following the meeting.

In response to a question from Councillor Selvester around housing officers reporting safeguarding issues when accessing a property, the Service Manager advised that Housing Officers work closely alongside Children’s Services to ensure any concerns were reported as soon as possible. 

The recommendations, as outlined within the report, were moved by Councillor David Evans and seconded by Councillor Rosetta Dolphin.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the progress made in delivering the planned activity previously outlined to the Committee in September 2022, the next steps and key milestones within the Voids Action Plan at attached at Appendix 1 be noted; and

(b)       That the proposals for addressing the challenges identified within the Voids Action Plan be supported.