Issue - meetings

That the report be noted.

The Chief Officer introduced the report for the Committee to consider progress towards the delivery of the impacts set out in the 2015/16 Improvement Plan, focussing on the areas of under-performance relevant to the Committee during the first quarter of 2015/16.

A short presentation was given on each of the red (high level) risk areas under priority headings, highlighting work which had been undertaken to improve performance to meet the targets.

On the supply of affordable housing to meet community need, it was reported that an update on the Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP) would be brought to the October meeting.

Councillor Marion Bateman raised her ongoing concerns about a property which had been adapted for a particular member of that household who had since moved on.  In referring to the costs of the adaptations, she explained that the remaining occupiers were unwilling to move on, which meant that the property could not be made available to someone else in need of the equipment.  On the SHARP programme, she was aware that garage sites were being considered but asked if void properties with large gardens could also be looked at.  The Chief Officer agreed that examples could be considered if brought to officers’ attention.

In response to a query from Councillor Rosetta Dolphin about the development of extra care provision, the Chief Officer advised that options were being collated by Wales & West Housing on a range of sites identified, including Holywell.

On improving the local broadband infrastructure, Councillor Dolphin reported significant problems with broadband speed in areas away from towns, including the Deeside Industrial Park.  It was reported that the contract between Welsh Government (WG) and British Telecom to rollout the Superfast Cymru programme was currently focussed on residential use rather than commercial.  However, following representations made by Local Authorities and the Chair of the Deeside Forum, it was thought that WG would aim to give commercial properties a higher priority in the rollout across Wales.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.