To receive and consider the report of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing and Public Protection together with appendices.
Minutes:
The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Housing. The strategy was due to be considered by the Cabinet in November but now more likely to be January / February 2019. The strategy is about improving the quality of the Council’s estates, the lives of the residents on those estates and help tenants maintain their tenancies. The Council is working to achieve WHQS by the end of 2018. Part of that is about improving the fabric of homes. The strategy is about improving the fabric of estates, what customers think about the estates and how to improve services and support for tenants and residents.
There are 3 themes:
· Understanding – how the Council engages with tenants, managing areas and services offered;
· Place – new approach to grounds maintenance (working with the Highways Service) and delivery of improvements on estates. There is also a need to consider a play strategy and play areas, and improving and rationalising garage provision;
· People – encouraging people to make the best of their area, rewarding tenants for taking part in activities.
Question: Garages – parking is a major issue on some estates. Action was to be undertaken on an estate in Knighton – is there an update? |
Response: The Head of Service agreed to review where the service was with garage clearances and will provide a Garage Improvement / Clearance Programme in early November. |
Question: Garages in Machynlleth – some in a poor state. There needs to be a decision to remove poor ones and repair others. Could some areas be turned into hard standing areas instead to take cars off estate roads rather than a need for parking restrictions. |
Response: There are parking problems throughout the county. There is a need for estate events to consider these issues as there were few or no cars when estates were developed from the 1940’s to the 1980’s. The cost of improvements to estates will come from rent income not from private individuals. The Head of Service agreed to publish a garage action plan once estate events had been undertaken. |
Question: Are garages sold with houses? There are a variety of arrangements in place – in some places the Council rents out garages, in other places they have leasehold tenancies. Parking is an issue and how is this to be funded? Has the service discussed improvement with local regeneration groups who could assist with improvements? There are also some poorly maintained private homes on estates which reflect badly on the remainder of the community. |
Response: Garages not sold with properties. The service would be happy to work with regeneration groups. |
Question: Parking and garages – do not agree with removing green spaces as putting in more tarmacadam can lead to more flooding. Energy efficiency in homes is not covered in the document. |
Response: The Wales Audit Office had inspected the service during the summer looking at WHQS. There were 3 recommendations around hard to heat homes. The service is therefore developing a separate strategy which is why it is not included in this document. |
Question: There is a need to engage with vulnerable individuals / people with disabilities who may not otherwise engage at main estate events. There are issues around tenant relationships – how does the Council resolve these issues? Understanding of relationships is important as some tenants will not engage. The title of the report is very engaging. The Sub-letting of garages by tenants is leading to complaints. |
Response: One of the key themes of the strategy is to get people to come together, this is why the Council is considering a rewards scheme. There are different types of schemes in place throughout the country. Loneliness is also an issue on estates and the question is how do you encourage a community spirit. This could also assist the service work collaboratively with other services. |
Question: Garages – does the Council sell them? Why is there a service charge imposed for services such as grass cutting? |
Response: The 2014 Housing Act meant that local housing authorities had to introduce service charges. Housing will look at bespoke options for each community in terms of garages. |
Question: Will the estate action events reach other estates? |
Response: Yes the intention is to hold events on all of the estates. |
Question: Parking is an issue on a particular estate in Ystradgynlais as well as the encroachment of ground – what happens in relation to this as there are licences for people to use this land. |
Response: Officers will speak directly to the Member about this specific issue. |
Question: Like the document and name. The rewards scheme is a good idea. Play areas are vital for children and getting them active and engaging with other children. Hopefully facilities will be enhanced rather than removed. There is also a need for the service to work with Town and Community Councils on such provision. |
Response: The issue for the housing service is how do you invest in play areas – is it appropriate for the tenants to provide these facilities where 50% or more of the houses have been sold or should there be provision on some of the smaller estates. Proposals will be brought forward in a draft strategy. With regards to the rewards scheme, the gardening scheme has ended but now nominations will be sought for tenants’ contributions to their area. |
Question: Is there anything the Council can do with regard to private landlords and the state of their properties? |
Response: The council has no general powers but can act where private landlords break the law. |
Question: With regard to tarmacadam on parking areas, there are other solutions which could alleviate potential flooding issues. There are examples in Powys where garages have been demolished and car parking spaces provided which have been successful (Welshpool). Is there a legal requirement for the numbers of population in an area before a children’s play area is required? |
Response: The Head of Service agreed to research whether there is a requirement. |
Question: The paving and roads on estates – who is responsible for this? as there is an estate in Knighton where a number of disabled people live and the road is broken in places. Why do we not place solar panels on our houses where there is electric heating? |
Response: Roads and pavements - It varies. With regard to solar panels it is not straightforward. It can depend on the orientation of the house and also whether there is capacity in the local grid network to take the additional power generated. However, with new battery technology this is less of an issue. The service will consider this as part of the new strategy. It could also be a planning issue as to whether solar panels would be allowed. |
Question: Could the Council work with wind farm developers to gain benefits such as installation of solar panels on Council properties? |
Response: The community benefits from wind farm development tend to go to communities rather than the County Council but there is a Community Benefits Scheme. However whether to engage in this scheme is a matter for individual developers. |
Question: Will the development on Newtown Bowling Green have some form of renewable energy? |
Response: Work is being undertaken with the company to provide a high energy efficiency rating for these properties. The new properties at Sarn will be passive houses. |
A Member commented that the new schools in Ystradgynlais were not using the renewable heating elements installed as part of the build as it was cheaper to use gas.
Scrutiny Observations to Cabinet:
Supporting documents: