To consider progress to date on the current reviews against the terms set by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The current reviews in progress are:
1. Council Flat Communal Cleaning – Chair, Councillor P Mould;
2. Dial-A-Ride – Chair, Councillor R King;
3. Housing Mutual Exchange – Chair, Councillor D Smith; and
4. National Angling Museum – Chair, Councillor P Mould.
(Oral reports)
Minutes:
The Committee received reports in relation to current reviews.
a) Council Flat Communal Cleaning – Chair, Councillor P Mould
Councillor Mould explained that the Council Flat Communal Cleaning Task and Finish Group had hosted a consultation event to which leaseholder tenants had been invited. This consultation event had been poorly attended. However, those people who had attended the event had been broadly in favour of the Group’s draft proposals.
Councillor Mould informed Members that the Group would be meeting again in May. He explained that it was likely that the Group would be recommending that the terms of the cleaning contract be extended to ensure that all Council residential properties received a cleansing service in communal areas.
b) Dial-A-Ride – Chair, Councillor R King
Councillor King informed the Committee that, as agreed at the previous meeting of the Committee, he had met with relevant Officers to discuss the terms of reference for the review. As a consequence of this meeting the objectives had been altered to extend the scope of the exercise. He informed Members that every effort had been taken to ensure that this exercise would not duplicate the review of the Dial-A-Ride service that was being undertaken by Officers. The scrutiny review would focus on the Council’s long-term vision for the service from 2010/11 whilst the Officer review would focus on more immediate considerations for 2009/10.
Members were informed that the other Members of the Group would be Councillors Chance, A Clayton and Norton. The review was scheduled to be completed within six months.
c) Housing Mutual Exchange – Chair, Councillor Smith
Councillor Smith reported that the Group had convened for a second meeting on Wednesday 29 April. They had concluded that the Council’s Housing Mutual Exchange procedures were satisfactory and that there was therefore no need for the Task and Finish review to continue.
The Group had approved one recommendation for the consideration of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Chair explained that the Group had felt that the procedures that were followed by Officers during a mutual exchange needed to be more explicitly stated in the Council’s Housing Mutual Exchange Policy and Procedure documentation. Members were informed that there were no financial implications attached to this recommendation as the recommendation referred to current practice by Officers.
d) National Angling Museum – Chair, Councillor P Mould
Councillor Mould informed Members that the other Members who had been appointed to the Group were Councillors Enderby, Hopkins, Hunt and Norton. He explained that Councillor Quinney had expressed an interest in the review and would be attending meetings of the Group.
RECOMMENDED that
subject to suitable rewording by Officers the following details should be incorporated into the Council’s Housing Mutual Exchange Policy and Procedure:
“The Repair and Maintenance Officers should be employed to make the initial checks on each property to establish that no unauthorised alterations have been made to the properties and whether any rechargeable works need to be undertaken.
Any defects should be photographed and the details placed on file together with written reports concerning both properties.
Electrical tests for both properties should be arranged by Repairs and Maintenance.
The Tenancy Officer who is responsible for the mutual exchange together with the tenants involved should be advised in writing of any works required to be undertaken by them or the Council.
Normal Housing Mutual Exchange and Home Swap procedures should commence after the actions listed above have been completed satisfactorily. (i.e. the Tenancy Officer responsible for the exchange should visit both properties with both tenants).”
RESOLVED that
1) the revised terms of reference for the Dial-A-Ride review be approved; and
2) the Task and Finish Group update reports be noted.