Agenda, decisions and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

No declarations of interest were made.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2012.

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2012 had been circulated with the agenda.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(a)       That the Committee notes the measures outlined in the report that are being implemented to help address the impact of the Welfare Reforms;

(b)       That Flintshire County Council establish either their own social lettings agency or employ the services of an established agency;

(c)        That Flintshire County Council enter into discussion with housing construction companies to push for more investment in affordable housing;

(d)       That Council owned housing be allocated on the basis of need and not means to pay; and

(e)       That the Homelessness and Welfare Reform Report be sent to all elected Members for comment.

The Supporting People Manager introduced the report about the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and its implications for benefit recipients and Flintshire County Council.

The purpose of the report was two-fold in that it informed Members of the current work being undertaken to mitigate the effects of Welfare Reform and it sought comments from the Committee to key questions that would be used to develop policies within the Neighbourhood Housing Service for presentation at Cabinet.

The Advice and Homelessness Team Manager explained that in response to the Welfare Reform Act 2012, a Welfare Reform Programme Board had been established.  He highlighted the changes to housing benefit, work undertaken by the Council and recent trends in homelessness.

·                     The changes to the social security system would have the potential to reduce benefit income in households across all of Flintshire’s economies.

It had been assumed by the government that the majority of households would replace lost benefit income.

·                     The Council expected that some of the more vulnerable households in the county would experience the most severe financial pressures and would be unable to secure employment which in turn would affect a household’s ability to pay their contractual housing costs and increase the threat of homelessness.

·                     The Council’s Advice and Homelessness Team had already seen an increase in enquiries from residents.  During the period October to December 2012, 54 formal homeless applications had been made in contrast to 34 applications made in the period October to December 2011.  This represented a 58% increase in formal homeless applications.

·                     Council tenants identified as under occupying their home had been contacted and offered the opportunity of meeting with a member of the housing team to discuss the Housing Benefit reforms with them.

·                     1152 tenants had been contacted. 78% of these tenants had responded and were engaged with the Housing Team.  32% indicated they would pay the shortfall whilst 10% stated that they wished to move.

The Advice and Homelessness Team Manager said that Neighbourhood Housing teams were offering 12 week money management courses to those tenants already in arrears.  An increase in homeless applications was anticipated and new provision was being developed such as the lease of 17 bed sits and organised house-shares for groups of three or more young people.  Flintshire was looking at official property lettings agencies, in order that more private landlords could be engaged with the council to provide affordable homes.

A series of eight key questions outlined in paragraph 3.07 of the report were posed which related to the duty to collect rent and the duty of care as a landlord.  The Committee was asked to quantify the level of arrears that would result in legal proceedings and the financial position for bad debt over the next three years.

Councillor R. Dolphin said that council tenants in her area had received letters from the council which wrongly claimed that they were in arrears with rent payments.  She asked if future letters could be sent out two weeks after a non payment of rent,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

(a)       That Members support the development of a Sustainability Strategy for Housing in line with appropriate standards and consultation with planning control and that Members note the success of energy efficiency schemes to date;

(b)       That Members note changes to energy efficiency funding, with the ending of the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) and the introduction of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and the Green Deal; and

(c)        That Members support the collection of water charges based upon the rationale presented.

The Housing Renewal Manager introduced the report which sought to inform Members of the changes to the energy efficiency funding streams and to outline to Members the rationale for the collection of water charges.

            Energy Efficiency

• The cost of building social housing was higher than private sector because of a higher specification.  Government grants had been reduced in spite of more demand for this housing.

• New Building regulations for social housing would be more rigorous in terms of energy efficiency in the future.

• Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) had delivered approximately 439 measures in over 200 council homes over past two years and 132 private homes over the same period.

• Bids had been made for Mostyn and Oakenholt to obtain “Arbed “funding from the Welsh Government.

• The need for the reduction of reliance on oil for heating.  Successful bids for mains gas funding had resulted in mains gas installations in Sealand Manor, Isabella Court and Coppa View.

            ECO and the Green Deal

All existing UK wide energy programmes came to an end on 31 December 2012, which included CERT and CESP.  They had been replaced by the new Energy Company Obligation (ECO) from January 2013.  ECO was a levy placed on utility companies to provide funding for energy efficiency measures.

• Arrangements for the scheme were to be confirmed at the end of January 2013.

• The Green Deal was the energy efficiency programme which aimed to provide finance in the form of Green Deal loans for energy efficiency measures.  Flintshire must decide how it would be involved in Green Deal, whether as a promoter of other providers, a partner to other providers or to provide funding for loans in the form of a prudential borrowing capital programme.

The Neighbourhood Housing Manager introduced the second part of the report to review the Flintshire county Council contract with Welsh Water and Dee Valley Water which collected water charges along with the rent for Council dwellings.  The Council collected the charges which were paid to the water companies in one lump sum in exchange for commission.

• In 2011/12 the Council earned commission from the contract of £481,548 which was ring fenced to the HRA account and was re-invested to improve homes and services.  The Council could identify households struggling with water bills and refer them to The Welsh Water Assist programme.

• Disadvantages were that the Council carried arrears of water rates as “rent arrears”.  It was not possible to calculate exact percentage of arrears on an account solely due to water charges.  Housing was looking at devising a solution with IT.

• It was estimated that water arrears accounted for 10% of current debt.  No evictions of Council tenancies had occurred for water rate arrears alone.  Water rates as opposed to water meters benefited the majority of tenants.

Councillor P.G. Heesom said that this was a good report which dealt with a diversity of issues.  He said that quality housing was required at the right price and that they should aim for Code  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

a)         That Members note the progress of the Housing Renewal Service over the last 8 months and that 6 monthly reports are submitted to this Committee; and

b)         That Members support the proposal to remove the DFG regime for Council Tenants from 1 April 2013, excluding those that have moved from owner occupation in the previous 12 months.

The Housing Renewal Manager introduced a report to update Members on the last six month’s activity in the Housing Renewal Service.

Loans for Repairs and Improvements

• The transition from Grants to Loans in 2010 has resulted in a loan register to date of £768K (monies to be repaid to the Council).

• Demand for assistance remained high, with 26 loans completed in Quarter 2 and a similar forecast for Quarter 3.

            Empty Homes activity and Houses into Homes Scheme

• Flintshire Housing Renewal was the lead for the North Wales region and had to date claimed for the region £1,570,597 out of a total of £2,332,532. 

• Flintshire’s current claimed share of this resource was £526K.  This would provide loans for 22 units of accommodation across the county.

• The empty property database was now operational and contained details of 406 properties.

Disabled Facilities Grant

The Housing Renewal Manager reported that there was a proposal to remove the Disabled Facilities Grant Regime for Council tenants from 1 April 2013, excluding those that had moved from owner occupation in the previous 12 months. It was proposed that work would instead be scheduled upon receipt, without the need for application forms, means testing and requesting applicants to evidence income and savings, which would mean less administration and greater control.

Councillor P.G. Heesom said that he agreed with the recommendations and asked for records of Council houses with disabled adaptations to be kept.

            RESOLVED:

a)         That Members note the progress of the Housing Renewal Service over the last 8 months and that 6 monthly reports are submitted to this Committee; and

b)         That Members support the proposal to remove the DFG regime for Council Tenants from 1 April 2013, excluding those that have moved from owner occupation in the previous 12 months.

That the item be deferred.

Councillor P.G. Heesom proposed that the agenda item be deferred due to outstanding issues around the report.  This was seconded by Councillor A. M. Halford.

A vote was taken and the proposal to defer the agenda item was agreed by the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the item be deferred.

That the Forward Work Programme as submitted be approved with the following inclusions outlined below;

(a)       That PDA and Capita Update be scheduled for the February meeting and removed from the March meeting;

(b)       That six monthly reports be received from the Housing Renewal Service; and

(c)        That Tracking be included in the April Meeting.

The Member Engagement Manager introduced the report to consider the  Forward Work Programme.

Councillor P.G. Heesom asked if the papers for the 21 February 2013 meeting could be circulated one week in advance as opposed to the statutory three days.  The Member Engagement Manager said that he would see if this was possible.

Councillor A.M. Halford asked if PDA and Capita Update could be moved to the 21 February 2013 meeting.  The Member Engagement Manager informed the Committee that the PDA and Capita Update would move to the February meeting, thus negating the need for the matter to be discussed at the March meeting as previously scheduled.

Councillor Halford asked if Tracking could be included in the April meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the Forward Work Programme as submitted be approved with the following inclusions outlined below;

(a)       That PDA and Capita Update be scheduled for the February meeting and removed from the March meeting;

(b)       That six monthly reports be received from the Housing Renewal Service; and

(c)        That Tracking be included in the April Meeting.

There were no members of the public or press in attendance.