Final scrutiny recommendations to be discussed and agreed by the commission members.
Minutes:
The commission then discussed the following draft recommendations circulated in writing at the meeting
Housing
1) That the Cabinet set a clear target for the housing repairs contact centre to reduce multiple failures which lead to repeat calls by the end of the year 2023-2024 and collect data on causes and recurring themes.
2) That the Cabinet update the Repairs Improvement Plan to include a commitment to pro-active maintenance as a part of its new Asset Management Strategy and also that repairs improvement targets are reviewed quarterly.
3) That the Cabinet review the funding for resources in the repairs service to ensure the right levels of staffing and also endeavour to provide fit for purpose IT systems such as the integrated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform to fulfil the aspirations in the new Asset Management Strategy and the Repairs Improvement Plan. (New recommendation derived from discussions at the meeting, subject to review by the Chair and commission members)
4) That the Cabinet ensure that there is clear and transparent communication with Council leaseholders on decisions to undertake repair works, including value for money, and also set out a clear process for Council leaseholders to challenge estimations and requirements of major works through complaint and escalation procedures; and also ensure that this process is widely understood and publicised through all resident communication channels.
5) That the Cabinet commit to ensuring that all service charges statements and specifications of works will be written in plain English by the end of the year 2023-24, and that appropriate training of officers is in place to support this.
6) That the Cabinet ensure that appropriate residents’ organisations have the access to audit major repair works and that this is a key component of the repairs review processes.
7) That the Cabinet carry out quarterly reviews and assessments of major repair works, especially with regards to competency, quality, value for money, timely completion and resident feedback, and make this information available to ward councillors and residents’ associations.
8) That the Cabinet include empty homes on the agendas for meetings held with housing associations with more than 1000 units from the start of the year 2023-24.
Community Safety
1) That the Cabinet prioritise the delivery of the Women’s Safety Centre, aiming to launch a consultation with relevant voluntary sector organisations in the borough within the year 2023-24.
2) That the Cabinet Member for Community Safety work with the Metropolitan Police, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and the voluntary sector to establish enhanced collection of data on sex-related hate crime and non-hate crime incidents, including how this intersects with the other protected characteristics in the borough of Southwark and that the data from these reports is reviewed annually.
3) That the Cabinet Member for Community Safety liaise with the Metropolitan Police, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and the voluntary sector to ensure that feedback is routinely collected from victims of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse about their experience of the police, in line with the findings of The Baroness Casey Review.