Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Hybrid Meeting

Contact: Ceri Shotton 01352 702305  Email: ceri.shotton@flintshire.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

31.

Declarations of Interest (including Whipping Declarations)

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Ted Palmer declared a personal interest as a Council tenant. 

32.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 65 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2024.

Additional documents:

Decision:

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October be approved as a correct record.

33.

Forward Work Programme and Action Tracking pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

(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.

 

Minutes:

The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented a report (agenda item number 4) to consider the current Forward Work Programme (FWP) and Action Tracking progress.

 

It was suggested that the Local Housing Market Needs Assessment report be moved back to the January 2025 meeting on the FWP.

 

In response to a request from Councillor Kevin Rush for an inspector to be present during the site visit to a void property and information on the costs pre-inspection and costs following the inspection to be provided, the Service Manager - Housing & Assets suggested that this information be provided to Members once the inspection had been completed and following the void site visit.

 

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 progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.

34.

Budget 2025/26 – Stage 2 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Committee acknowledge the Housing and Communities cost pressures, as outlined within the report, and confirm that the cost pressures should be taken forward as part of the 2025/26 budget.

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Housing and Communities) and Strategic Finance Manager presented a report (agenda item number 5) to review cost pressures and associated risks for the Community & Education & Youth portfolio and Schools’ budget, under the remit of this Committee.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Committee acknowledge the Housing and Communities cost pressures, as outlined within the report, and confirm that the cost pressures should be taken forward as part of the 2025/26 budget.

35.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 30 Year Financial Business Plan pdf icon PDF 280 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

(a)       That the Committee support the HRA budget for 2025/26, as set out in the report;

 

(b)       That the Committee support the proposed minimum rent increase of 2.7%;

 

(c)       That the Committee support a garage rent increase of 2.7%;

 

(d)       That the Committee support the rent increase in service charges to full cost recovery;

 

(e) That the Committee support the pressures and efficiencies as set out in Appendix A of the report; and

 

(f) That the Committee support the proposed HRA Capital Programme for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix B of the report.

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Housing and Communities) and Strategic Finance Manager presented a report (agenda item number 6) to present for consideration the draft Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 30-year Financial Business Plan and the proposed HRA Budget for 2025/26.

 

A recorded vote was requested for which the requisite number of Members stood in support.

 

For the recommendations

Councillors: Tina Claydon, Geoff Collett, Rob Davies, Ron Davies, David Evans, Dennis Hutchinson, Alasdair Ibbotson, Ted Palmer and Kevin Rush

 

Against the recommendations

There were no votes against

 

Abstentions

Councillor Rosetta Dolphin

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the Committee support the HRA budget for 2025/26, as set out in the report;

 

(b)       That the Committee support the proposed minimum rent increase of 2.7%;

 

(c)       That the Committee support a garage rent increase of 2.7%;

 

(d)       That the Committee support the rent increase in service charges to full cost recovery;

 

(e)       That the Committee support the pressures and efficiencies as set out in Appendix A of the report; and

 

(f)        That the Committee support the proposed HRA Capital Programme for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix B of the report.

 

36.

Intensive Housing Management Solutions for Homeless Accommodation pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

(a)       That the Committee note the work undertaken to identify potential providers of an intensive housing management service for homeless accommodation;

 

(b)       That the Committee note the outcome of the Prior Information Notice (PIN) by way of testing the market; and

 

(c)       That the Committee support the direct award to D2 PropCo to engage them as a partner to provide an intensive housing management solution for homeless

accommodation.

Minutes:

Manager presented a report (agenda item number 7) to outline the model of intensive housing management services provided by D2 PropCo for homeless accommodation and the cost benefits of engaging a partner for these services.

 

It was suggested that if the recommendations were supported by Cabinet, D2 PropCo would be invited to provide a presentation to Members to provide information on successes from other Local Authorities and to showcase the service. 

 

The recommendations/comments made by the Committee would be reported to Cabinet. 

 

A recorded vote was requested for which the requisite number of Members stood in support.

 

For the recommendations

Councillors: Tina Claydon, Geoff Collett, Rob Davies, Ron Davies, Rosetta Dolphin, David Evans, Dennis Hutchinson, Ted Palmer and Kevin Rush

 

Against the recommendations

Councillor Alasdair Ibbotson

 

Abstentions

There were no absentions

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the Committee note the work undertaken to identify potential providers of an intensive housing management service for homeless accommodation;

 

(b)       That the Committee note the outcome of the Prior Information Notice (PIN) by way of testing the market; and

 

(c)       That the Committee support the direct award to D2 PropCo to engage them as a partner to provide an intensive housing management solution for homeless accommodation.

 

37.

Void Management pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the update be noted.

Minutes:

The Service Manager - Housing & Assets presented the key figures and key activities against the void action plan, as outlined in the briefing note (agenda item 8).

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the update be noted.

38.

Members of the Press and Public in Attendance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.