Issue - meetings

That the update be noted.

The Chief Officer (Housing & Communities) introduced the Void Management update as shown within the agenda.  The update provided key figures on the number of void properties and the key activities against the void action plan.  The Committee would continue to receive this information monthly with a formal report on voids being presented to the Committee in September. 

The Service Manager – Housing Assets presented the key figures and key activities against the void action plan, as outlined in the briefing note. 

He outlined the number of new voids and those which had been completed.  From March, 26 void properties were received, and 23 properties were completed, which had been completed prior to the appointment of the new contractors to the service.  From April, 24 void properties were received and 18 completed.  Delays experienced were due to absences and delays in certification.  More voids had been completed, but due to delays in certification they were still yet to be signed off.

The Service Manager also outlined the number of properties requiring major works and those which required minor works along with demand for the properties.

In relation to the key activities against the void action plan, the Service Manager outlined the following:-

·         The Service had met with all newly commissioned contractors;

·         6 out of 6 pre-contract meetings had been undertaken with the new contractors;

·         The signing of contractors were nearing completion;

·         The stock condition survey had commenced in October 2022;

·         Additional resources had been allocated to undertake the stock condition surveys;

·         The Training Coordinator was now in post;

·         The Coordinator was scheduling all required core training for the next 12 months.

The Service Manager also drew the Committee’s attention to the budget information and top 3 reasons for tenancy terminations, which had been requested by Members of the Committee at previous meetings.

Councillor David Evans commented on the number of void properties which had increased in April compared with March and asked whether the Committee would see this figure decrease in future months.  He said that there was a need for more void properties to be brought back into use to get on top of the current situation.  He also asked if the following information could be provided in future briefing updates:- 

• Information on the bedroom type of property becoming void alongside the breakdown of total void figures;
• Type of properties tenants were moving to as part of a transfer to another FCC property;
• Geographical areas of void properties.

The Service Manager commented on the increase of void properties and reminded the Committee that the newly commissioned contractors were only recently in place.  He reiterated his previous comments that the process could not be rushed and that the number of void properties may increase prior to them consistently reducing.  In relation to the request for additional information, he said that information on bedroom types and a heat map to show the geographical location of void properties could be provided and that he would look into whether information on the type of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6