Agenda item

Representatives of the Spadesbourne Homes Limited Board presented the Performance Monitoring Report for Quarter 1 of 2025/26 for Members’ consideration.

The Committee was advised that overall, the company was performing well in relation to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that had been agreed by Members at the previous Committee meeting.  In total, 100 per cent of the properties managed through the company had been let.  Rental income was good, with only one household in rental arrears and this was being addressed through an ongoing legal process.  Whilst there had been some void properties on occasion, these had been turned around relatively quickly, within the space of a maximum of seven working days.

Performance was also reported to be positive in respect of health and safety related KPIs.  Health and safety inspections were on track.  Unfortunately, one of the heat pumps at one of the properties had experienced a technical fault but this had been addressed.  Electric lighting checks had not yet taken place but Members were asked to note that these were scheduled to take place in December on an annual basis.

Members were reminded that at the previous meeting of the Committee, a request had been made for an additional KPI to be added to the suite of performance data monitored for the company.  This had related to repair target times for properties.  Following that meeting, work had been undertaken to investigate whether other housing companies had a similar KPI and a target applying to this KPI but none had been identified.  Therefore, the Committee was being asked to consider introducing a KPI where target times for repairs would match those for the social housing sector.

As requested by the Committee at the previous meeting, an annual survey was due to be conducted.  This would take place later in the year.

Once the report had been presented, Members discussed the following points:

·             The extent to which technical faults connected to the heat pumps at properties and the impact that this would have on access to cooking facilities and hot showers should be classified as emergency repairs.  Members were informed that where tenants had no access to cooking facilities as a result of a fault at a property, remedial action would be classified as an emergency repair.

·             The potential for the annual survey to be shared with the Committee.  Confirmation was provided that the draft survey would be shared with Members at the following meeting of the Committee.

·             The annual inspections of properties and the fact that these inspections would be undertaken by the company’s agents.

·             The number of tenants that had moved on since the company was launched.  The Committee was advised that figures would be clarified and communicated to Members after the meeting.

·             The number of months that a tenant had been in rental arrears.

·             The action that could be taken by the company in cases where tenants fell into rental arrears.

·             The potential for insurance to cover any rental arrears and the extent to which there might be wider financial implications arising from the insurance coverage for this purpose.

·             The circumstances under which tenants were required to have guarantors.  Clarification was provided that guarantors were only required in cases where it was understood that a tenant was close to not being able to pay rent at a particular level.

RESOLVED that

1)          The Performance Monitoring Report Quarter 1 be noted.

2)          The following repair target times be approved:

a)          Emergency Repairs – 24 Hours

b)          Urgent Repairs – 7 days

c)           Non-Urgent Repairs – 30 Days.