Agenda, decisions and minutes

The minutes from the meeting held on 7 February, 6 March and 22 April were approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings held on 7 February minutes, 6 March minutes

and 22 April, 2024 minutes be approved as a correct record.

The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented the current Forward Work Programme for consideration, which included an update on outstanding actions.

The recommendations in the report were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

(b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c) That the Committee notes the progress made in completing the outstanding actions.

The Chief Officer (Housing and Communities) presented a report which proposed recharges for 2024/25.

It was explained that the comments of the Committee would be presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 18 June, 2024.

The recommendations in the report were supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee support the proposed changes to the current heating charges at Council properties with communal heating schemes, as outlined in the report.

The Chief Officer (Housing and Communities) presented a report which provided an overview of the Audit Wales report ‘‘Together we can’ Community resilience and self-reliance’’, which highlighted how building community resilience and self-reliance may help reduce reliance on local authority services in future, if local authorities shifted from being a ‘direct provider’ to ‘enabler’.

It was explained that the comments of the Committee would be presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 18 June, 2024.

The recommendations in the report were supported together with an additional motion.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Committee note the findings and recommendations of the Audit Wales ‘Together we can Community resilience and self-reliance’ report;

(b) That the Committee note the recommended response in relation to Audit Wales recommendations; and

(c) That the Committee recognises the work of numerous voluntary organisations and individuals across the County and feedback this to Cabinet when considering the report at its meeting on 18^th June.

The Chief Officer (Housing and Communities) and Strategic Housing & Delivery Programme Manager introduced a report to provide an update on delivery of the Housing Strategy Delivery Plan 2019-2024 with a particular focus on the financial year 2023/24.

As requested by Councillor Helen Brown, a briefing note on the risks going forward would be circulated to Members of the Committee ahead of the Housing Strategy workshops.

The recommendations in the report were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Committee note the progress on delivery of the Housing Strategy Action Plan 2019-2024; and

(b) That the Committee note the changes as outlined in the report to the following:

·         The alignment of standards and intervention rate for acquisition under the Social Housing Grant (SHG) with those under the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP).

·         The updated timeframe for renewal of the current Housing Strategy.

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

Following comments made by Councillor Helen Brown around the positive actions of a housing operative, it was agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to the operative from the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the update be noted.