Agenda and minutes
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PDF 451 KBVenue: Town Hall, Market Street, Chorley
Contact: Ruth Hawes
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Apologies for absence Minutes: No apologies for absence were submitted. |
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Declarations of Any Interests Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.
If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter. Minutes: No Members declared any interests in respect of items on the agenda. |
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To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group - Chorley Community Housing held on 9 July 2008 (enclosed). Minutes: RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task Group – Chorley Community Housing held on 9 July 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair. |
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Public Questions Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the Panel. Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes. Minutes: No members of the public requested to speak at the meeting. |
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The inquiry scoping document and two reports previously submitted to the task group are attached for consideration and discussion as agreed at the last meeting. Additional documents:
Minutes: Members noted the documents enclosed with the agenda: a, inquiry scoping document, b, briefing note from the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) Chorley Community Housing contract and promises to tenants, c, Delivery of promises to tenants one year on from stock transfer (26th April 2008).
RESOLVED – That the information be accepted. |
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Information received from Chorley Community Housing Further information has now been received and is enclosed. There are also further queries on the responses to questions received from Chorley Community Housing. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair introduced Paul Lees, Annabelle Robinson and Morna Maines from Adactus to the meeting and thanked them for the information received so far.
It was considered that several of the concerns listed as questions had been adequately answered within the information CCH had supplied.
Reorganisation Paul outlined the recent reorganisation of CCH which made the organisational structure more like the Adactus model, with a reduction in the management tier and increased staffing on the service delivery front. It was noted that communication had previously been an issue for customers both with CCH and contractors used. Assurances were given that this issue was being addressed and if there were any specific cases Members could contact Morna.
Performance In response to a queries it was clarified that the performance statistics reported as year 0 were for 2007 2008 and the year was mainly fact finding. Surveys were completed, the contractor was appointed and consultation was underway. The figures within the report were work achieved and based on the first quarter of 2008 2009 (year 2).
Partial renovations Members received assurances that CCH was anxious to consider alternative accommodation needs when properties were being renovated and acknowledged past shortcomings had been addressed. The importance of recording renovations, including where tenants requested that certain work should not be done was accepted and recorded. It was also established that there had been little feedback from tenants and it was therefore assumed that the work done was satisfactory. However, some concerns were expressed by Councillors. Officers from CCH were also concerned that any dissatisfaction was passed to them for investigation.
A particular issue was the state of the central heating systems, including boilers over 10 years old and the compatibility between the actual heating installation and the central heating unit. CCH stated they were aware of the problem and were working as quickly as possible to upgrade older heating systems. This work was being undertaken in a well programmed manner, but this was being made more difficult by having to react to older boiler breakdowns.
It was clarified that if tenants do not take up the offer of a new kitchen or bathroom (for example as they have just redecorated) and the work being offered is being done to all properties the money not spent on a particular property will be ring fenced to keep the money in the renovations account. Accurate records are kept about work done to each property for the decent homes standard.
The appointment system for maintenance was still in place. CCH have their own maintenance workforce and felt this was important as experience showed a better quality of work than contractors. Despite a restructure, the maintenance staff were very positive and it was promised that a marked improvement in performance would be seen over next few months.
Some partial renovation has been done in all areas of the Borough, though going forward the focus will be area by area. It was acknowledged that if there are houses requiring work to ... view the full minutes text for item 21. |
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Collection and consideration of evidence from Members and their constituents Members of the Task Group will feed back any information submitted to them since the last meeting. Minutes: Members noted the positive response to queries by the CCH representatives.
Councillors Walsh and Lees outlined issued raised with them in relation to anti social behaviour. Contact had been made with CCH and the problems were in the process of being resolved.
Members discussed the importance of partnership working on issues such as anti social behaviour, car parking, speeding motorists and litter.
It was queried how long the Council would receive a percentage of the funds made from the sale of houses. This would be reported to a future meeting.
Members AGREED to continue to gather evidence from their constituents to be reported back at the next meeting. |
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The way forward Members will determine the next steps for the inquiry. Minutes: Members requested the following for the next meeting of the task group:
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Date of next meeting Minutes:
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