Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 192 KBVenue: Ground Floor Meeting Room G02A - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. View directions
Contact: Amit Alva Email: amit.alva@southwark.gov.uk
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Esme Hicks and also Councillor Barrie Hargrove who was substituted by Councillor Portia Mwangangye. |
|
|
Notification of any items of business which the chair deems urgent
In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to an agenda within five clear working days of the meeting. Minutes: There were no items of business which the Chair deemed urgent.
The Chair informed the commission of the change in membership, Councillor Kimberly McIntosh has now been replaced by Councillor Victoria Mills. The Chair also announced that this would be her last meeting as the Chair of this commission and that she would be stepping down due to a change in circumstances of her new job, which could possibly be politically restricted and an increased work load would mean limited time to dedicate to Chairing this commission.
The Chair also informed the commission that Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its last meeting on 4 October 2023 agreed to include Community Engagement within the remit of the Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Commission and also that this commission would now be renamed Housing, Community Safety and Community Engagement Scrutiny Commission. |
|
|
Disclosure of interests and dispensations.
Members to declare any interests and dispensations in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: There were no disclosure of interests and dispensations. |
|
|
Minutes
To approve the minutes of this meeting held on 13 July 2023 as a correct record. Supporting documents: Minutes: Minutes of the meeting held on 13 July 2023 were approved as a correct record.
|
|
|
Southwark's Temporary Accomodation Policy
To receive a report from Karen Shaw Head of Housing Solutions on Overview of Southwark’s temporary accommodation policy including the current and future budget impact. (Report to follow) Supporting documents: Minutes: The commission was first given an introduction to Temporary Accommodation (TA) by Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, Councillor Helen Dennis on the following points
· Exponential growth in temporary accommodation, increase of 10% since last year · One in 23 children in London live in temporary accommodation according London Councils Data · Factors- Lack of supply in the private rented sector decline of 41%; only 2.3 % available housing stock in London available to rent on benefits, Local Housing Allowance needs to be increased to cover the lower 30% rents; cuts to discretionary housing payments; Government policy of housing asylum and refugees - 7 day notice period to seek alternative accommodation. · Temporary Accommodation Policy revised two years ago to provide a better quality of housing The commission then received a report from Karen Shaw Head of Housing Solutions on Overview of Southwark’s temporary accommodation around the following themes
· Provision of temporary accommodation in Southwark with a total of 3653 households with the breakdown categories in para. 4 table 1 of report · Increase in Homelessness and approaches over time para. 10 table 2 of report · Reasons for homelessness over time para. 11 Table 3 of report · Growth in temporary accommodation over time with recent increase due to cost-of-living, asylum and refugees and inflation. Southwark has 3rd highest TA in London. · Significant cohort of homelessness in TA within Southwark; Pan London increase in use of provisions such as Bed & Breakfast, commercial hotels or shared nightly paid accommodation · Challenges in working effectively with the homeless and homelessness to manage demand; Procurement options to develop initiatives for TA The commission then asked questions around the following topics
· Stability of TA numbers across London Boroughs and reasons behind it · Mitigating the numbers in TA in Southwark · Budgeting for family interventions The commission learned that Newham which has the highest number in TA have been stable with the numbers in TA over the years, Southwark and Lambeth numbers have increased significantly over the last few years especially over the last 12 months, however Southwark has done well to keep the numbers in TA stable. Cost-of-living, inflation and high homeless approach numbers has led to high numbers of TA in Lambeth and Southwark. The commission clarified with Karen that numbers for Lambeth is not in the table due to figures not being published, however communications and data sharing between the council’s officers have indicated the high numbers of TA in Lambeth as well as Southwark.
Karen informed the commission that the Council is in process of redesigning the services operational process for TA mainly in demand management, eviction and working with families to find longer term solutions based on their circumstances. The commission also learnt that currently there is a small visiting team within housing solutions and depending on its success, a restructure and review is planned to look at resources and budget for family interventions.
The commission then asked further questions on the following themes
· Quality of TA · Budgetary pressures on TA · Selective licensing in ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
|
|
Compensation scheme for heating outages
To receive a report from Simon Holmes, Head of Engineering. Housing and Modernisation and Tom Vosper, Strategic Project Manager, Housing and Modernisation on the Compensation Scheme for heating outages. Supporting documents: Minutes: The commission then received a report from Tom Vosper, Strategic Project Manager, Housing and Modernisation on the Compensation Scheme for heating outages on the following topics
The commission requested information/update on the compensation policy review which was meant to take place in 2022/23.
The commission then asked questions on the following themes
The commission heard from Tom that there are currently no legislations in place to regulate the market for district heating outages by Ofgem, however legislation is planned on being introduced in 2024 and regulation to begin in 2025.
The commission considered making a recommendation that compensation for district heating outages go into private tenant bank accounts through an application process rather than private landlords and leaseholders who already benefit from all-inclusive energy bills included within the rents. This would however involve the council maintaining a database in customer services for private landlords who have all-inclusive energy bills as part of their tenancy agreements.
Tom explained to the commission that only consecutive 24 hours only qualify to automated compensation, residents can raise an additional complaints for substantive inconsecutive outages, time taken to resolve the issue, detriment to their health and inconvenience. The commission was informed that real time updating of district heating outage compensation amounts with fluctuation in market prices could be considered in line with practices in other boroughs.
The commission then asked questions on the following points
The commission learnt from Tom that tenants receive a quarterly payment to their rent accounts for consecutive 24 hour heating outages and leaseholders into their service charge accounts. The council has received fewer individual complaints and applications for heating outages which is a positive, however today’s scrutiny of the scheme does raise the need for a review amongst officers with regards to currently changing cost of living circumstances. |
|
|
Cabinet Response to the Southwark Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Commission (2022-2023 review) - Housing Repairs Service, Council Leaseholders and Empty Homes.
To note the Cabinet Response to the Southwark Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Commission (2022-2023 review) - Housing Repairs Service, Council Leaseholders and Empty Homes. Supporting documents: Minutes: The commission then discussed the response from Cabinet to the commission’s recommendations on Housing Repairs and Leaseholders from 2022-2023
· Recommendation 1 - the response seemed to be focused on managing calls within customer service rather than addressing the issues within the repairs service
· Recommendation 4 & 5 - there is a lack of clarity, transparency and ambiguity in the responses
· Recommendation 3 – response seems to be from repairs without any input from customer services
|
|
|
Cabinet Response to the Southwark Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Commission (2022-2023 review) - Violence Against Women and Girls, Hate Crime and Domestic Abuse.
To note the Cabinet response to the Southwark Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Commission (2022-2023 review) - Violence Against Women and Girls, Hate Crime and Domestic Abuse. Supporting documents: Minutes: The commission then discussed the response from Cabinet to the commission’s recommendations on VAWG, Hate Crime and Domestic Abuse from 2022-23
In conclusion of the discussion of both (agenda Items 7 & 8) responses to recommendations from Cabinet
|
|
|
Proposed Work Programme 2023-2024
To consider the proposed work programme for the 2023-2024 year. Supporting documents: Minutes: The commission acknowledged that Community Engagement is now a part of this commission’s remit after a decision at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. As a result there is a need for an extra meeting to be added to cover Community Engagement and Cabinet Member Interviews.
The commission also felt that the Baroness Casey review on the work programme could be combined with the Borough Police Commander Interview and the Cabinet Member Interview for Community Safety.
|