Agenda item

The report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods is attached.

The Strategic Housing Manager presented the report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods which requested that members of the Group reviewed the performance of the Council’s partnership with Waterloo Housing, the second largest housing provider in Rushcliffe. It was noted that Waterloo Housing, Midlands Rural Housing and the Council have a successful record of partnership working to bring forward rural exception sites within the Borough. In addition, De Montfort Housing Association (one of the three local housing associations across Waterloo Housing Group) participates in the Choice Based Lettings scheme.

The Strategic Housing Manager advised that in order to address the need for new affordable housing in rural areas, a rural exceptions site programme had been developed and that rural housing needs surveys had been finalised for Cropwell Bishop, East Bridgford, Shelford and Willoughby on the Wolds, however despite surveys being received and housing need identified none of these areas had ultimately progressed to develop viable schemes. This was in part due to the progression of the Local Plan Part 2 which may assist in meeting local housing needs without the need for an exception site. It was also noted that there had been a negative response for rural exceptions site programmes from Hickling, Upper Broughton and Colston Bassett Parish Councils. The Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods assured the Group that they would continue to work with these Parish Councils in the future to see if they would agree to deliver a survey regarding rural exception sites.

Sarah Sutton – Head of Lettings at Waterloo Housing attended the meeting and delivered a presentation to the Group regarding performance across key service areas since the partnership had last been scrutinised in January 2017. It was noted that Waterloo Housing currently managed 377 general needs properties (95 shared ownerships) across Rushcliffe. It was also noted that Waterloo Housing were currently in talks regarding merging with Fortis Living in Worcestershire which would take their total housing stock to 45,000 which as a consequence would provide greater capacity for development. The Head of Lettings advised that Waterloo Housing’s current challenges were the roll out of Universal Credit and the uncertainty about future funding for supported housing. It was noted to the Group that there would be a voluntary Right to Buy scheme piloted in the West Midlands to test processes in advance of the launch of the national scheme.

The Head of Lettings advised the last completed housing site was at Cropwell Bishop in 2015 with two other sites currently under consideration in Gotham and Barnstone-cum-Langar and that Waterloo Housing were willing to attend Parish Council meetings in order to discuss the allocation of sites, marketing and promotion. Members of the Group asked about the use of any capital receipts received from properties sold under the Right to Buy scheme and were advised that any proceeds made under the Right to Buy scheme would be used to fund future affordable housing projects. Members of the Group also asked about the next steps regarding the potential housing site in Gotham, the Planning Policy Officer advised that a meeting would be held with the Parish Council to discuss the plans for the site, obtain comments from the Parish Council and then proceed with a formal planning application if their support was received.

Members of the Group were provided information on Waterloo Housing’s stock improvements and also on responsive repairs. It was noted that during this financial year eight inefficient heating systems had been replaced with modern fuel efficient gas fired central heating as part of the Warm Homes initiative. It was also stated that due to Waterloo Housing successfully securing additional grant funding from National Grid, 25 more homes in Rushcliffe would benefit from having their heating replaced by March 2018. Members of the Group were keen for Waterloo Housing to demonstrate the environmental efficiency of the new heating systems that had been replaced. The Head of Lettings advised that they would provide the members of the Group with the EPC ratings of the new systems so that they could assess if energy efficiency had improved. The Head of Lettings advised that there had been three anti-social behaviour cases within the Borough during the last year, which had all been resolved at the early intervention stage without the involvement of Waterloo Housing’s anti-social behaviour co-ordinator. The Head of Lettings provided an update regarding the impact of welfare reform and the introduction of Universal Credit and noted that in Rushcliffe average rent arrears currently stood at around £259.90, but that this figure was £60 lower in 2017 than it had been in 2016.

The Head of Lettings provided a progress report regarding Epperstone Court in West Bridgford, which was one of Waterloo Housing’s largest schemes, with 87 units for those aged over 55. It was noted that there were high level of voids in Epperstone Court. The Head of Lettings assured the Group that they were working with the Strategic Housing Manager to consider other options in order to re-let the homes. The Strategic Housing Manager advised that bids had been placed on the properties within Epperstone Court which indicated that there was a demand for the accommodation but further investigation was needed regarding why the bidders had not proceeded to move into a property. Members asked several specific questions regarding Epperstone Court. The Group were informed that most properties were usually void for 30 – 40 days which was usually during the period of leaving notice.

The Head of Lettings provided an update to the Group regarding Waterloo Housing’s performance on complaints and customer care. The Group were informed that Rushcliffe residents had expressed four expressions of dissatisfaction in 2017 which were all resolved at the informal stage of ‘expression of dissatisfaction’ and therefore, no formal process had been needed to resolve the complaint. It was also noted that overall customer satisfaction, as of November 2017 stood at 81% which Waterloo Housing were currently aiming to increase to their target of 86% satisfaction.

Members of the Group were also provided with an update about how Waterloo Housing engaged with their customers including providing online access for tenants to report repairs, make payments and access their statements and rent accounts. The Group were also informed that 40 – 50 residents were due to attend Waterloo Housing’s annual conference in February 2018.

The Group were informed that Greenfingers currently administered the grounds and maintenance contract for Waterloo Housing properties. Members of the Group asked if other suppliers had been considered to provide this service. The Head of Lettings advised that Streetwise could be considered a company to carry out the grounds and maintenance work of the properties in the future. Members of the Group asked several questions about fire safety awareness by tenants and were advised that following the Grenfell Tower disaster there had been a number of campaigns run regarding fire safety.

The Chairman thanked The Head of Lettings and the Officers for attending the meeting and for answering the Group’s questions.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the performance report of the Review of Waterloo Housing be noted.

b)    that the work of Waterloo Housing be endorsed.

c)     members of the Group to be supplied with the EPC ratings of the new heating systems that have been installed by Waterloo Housing.