Issue - meetings

(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That the Committee support the Housing Assets service to continue to manage the Housing Disrepair (HDR) protocol on behalf of the Council, ensuring the obligations placed upon the Council were met.

The Chief Executive introduced a report to provide an update on the Council’s current position relation to disrepair and the number of disrepair claims received, settled and successfully defended. 

The Service Manager Housing Assets reported that the Housing Assets Service was responsible for ensuring all stock was complaint with the various housing standards and regulations and the report provided an update on the measures the Council had in place to ensure all repairs were completed in a timely manner and that the work associated with any disrepair claims the Council may receive are completed effectively and efficiently.

He also outlined the disrepair statistical data, as outlined in the report, and reported that the Housing Assets service team hold weekly meetings relating to active disrepair claims and hold monthly management meetings to report progress and discuss any trends or concerns that may have been identified.

  The Service Manager Housing Assets concluded that the team encourage all tenants to work with the Council.  The majority of resources committed to defending all disrepair claims were in-hose, with only the appointed solicitors external to the Council. 

Councillor Dennis Hutchinson praised the team and the work carried out as part of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) in terms of replacement windows, kitchens and bathrooms etc. but asked whether tenants could refuse works to be completed to their property.  The Service Manager Housing Assets advised that a tenants had the right to refuse elements of works but only after a full assessment had been carried out to ensure the safety of the tenants.  Tenants were not allowed to refuse works on boilers or gas elements. 

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

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That the Committee support the Housing Assets service to continue to manage the Housing Disrepair (HDR) protocol on behalf of the Council, ensuring the obligations placed upon the Council were met.