Issue - meetings

That the update be noted.

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 and reported that 33 properties had been completed ready for allocation.  He also outlined the following, as presented in the briefing note:-

·         The number of major voids

·         Total overall number of void properties which had reduced to 234

·         The performance of the current contractors

·         Top reasons for terminations

The Chair commented on positive feedback that had been provided on the condition of the void properties being returned.

Councillor Dale Selvester commented on the low and high demand properties outlined in the briefing note and asked why low demand properties were being returned sooner.  He commented on the 1-bed properties and felt that they should be returned sooner to assist with the pressure on the homelessness budget and also was concerned that there had not been an improvement in the number of voids within the Deeside area in comparison to other district areas across the County.  He was also concerned about the high number of major voids given the work being undertaken as part of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) and questioned why so many properties required major improvement.

The Service Manager explained that the total figures where the number of properties at the current time and were not necessarily the same properties and said that he was happy to provide further information on the breakdown of the figures to Councillor Selvester following the meeting.  In relation to the poor condition of some properties, he advised that the team were working closely with housing management and that they were carrying out 100% pre-termination visits to ascertain the condition of properties.  Unfortunately, the WHQS works had not included plastering work which was the major work required on the void properties. 

In response to a question from Councillor Selvester around how many void properties had been empty for longer than six months, meaning a Council Tax cost to the Council, the Service Manager agreed to speak to the Service Manager – Revenues and Procurement and provide a response following the meeting. 

The Chair asked who determined whether a property was low demand or high demand.  The Service Manager explained that a property was classed as high demand where there was already an allocation for a tenant.  A property was classed as low demand if there wasn’t a tenant allocated which could be due to access issues.  Once a tenant had been allocated or improvements made to accessibility, the property would be moved to be classed as high demand.

Councillor David Evans supported the comments made by Councillor Selvester around the number of properties by district area and whilst acknowledging the response provided by the Service Manager, he felt that over the last six months the Committee would see a reduction in the number of void properties in the Deeside district area, but this was not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35