Agenda item

A presentation will also be provided at the meeting.

The Chief Executive of Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) presented to the Board with the key points discussed as follows:

• BDHT’s objectives included being an excellent landlord, employer, and a community-based Housing Association.
• Stock levels had grown to over four thousand homes, with a strong focus on the Bromsgrove District.
• Financial viability remained critical with all expenditure funded through rental income.
• Compliance and safety were highlighted as top priorities following national regulatory changes.
• Recruitment and retention of skilled staff were proving challenging.
• Complaints were increasing, partly due to external claims companies and rising customer expectations.

Member comments and questions were as follows:

• How could a tenant continue to pay their rent monthly which had been initially agreed and preferred option?  BDHT advised that although it was stated and suggested in the tenancy agreement to pay rent weekly, individual cases could be assessed and it was advised for individuals to contact BDHT for further advice.
• Did BDHT hold a land banking and development strategy?  In response BDHT confirmed that they did not hold any land bank developments and relied mainly on Section 106 agreements for new developments. 
• Concerns were raised concerns about the potential impact of rent caps and inflation on affordable housing supply. BDHT acknowledged that there were pressures and confirmed development targets had reduced from five hundred to three hundred and fifty units annually.
• Members were informed that over a thousand properties were built under the S106 option.  Nationally housing developers struggled to source providers for affordable homes which ensured that BDHT were a suitable and often successful bidder.
• Were there any potential future government funding opportunities?  In response it was confirmed that bids were possible but it was noted that grants required match funding from BDHT to secure the bids and compliance imposed a strict criteria regime.
• Concerns were raised on the lack of some estate maintenance improvements within the district, in particular, with regards to footpaths and garages.  It was agreed that these areas would be reviewed as a priority and allocation of funds for communal area provision would be looked at.
• A request for contact details of Housing Officers which were allocated to specific ward areas was agreed by BDHT to provide to Members.
• The Board also requested access to the asset register for footpaths owned by BDHT.  In response it was agreed that this would be reviewed to have available for Members.
• Was there a prevention plan to ensure the homeless was housed and remained in employment and if there was relevant data to demonstrate this?  It was advised that it wasn’t within the contract agreement to provide a plan but BDHT did assist where possible.  The necessary data was shown on returns to Central Government which included employment status.
• Parking issues within the district was discussed with Members, suggesting that repossessed land, formerly for garages could assist with the problem.  BDHT explained that selling the land was less costly than maintaining the specific areas, however, there were some areas of land within the district which had been made into parking spaces.
• Clarity on complaints handling procedures was requested.  In response BDHT outlined the two-stage process and confirmed the Housing Ombudsman involvement where necessary.  BDHT also discussed Members’ involvement as an advocate between BDHT and residents.  It was suggested that to ensure complaints were dealt with effectively, all Members should contact via email (as discussed during the presentation) to ensure that complaints were processed in one isolated area.  Members suggested a unique complaints reference numbering system could be devised.  In response, BDHT agreed to review the complaints procedure further.

The portfolio holder for Health and Wellbeing and Strategic Housing added her thanks to BDHT for giving up their time and attending the Board meeting.  She also expressed her gratitude to the Homelessness and Domestic Abuse teams for their efforts when dealing with individual cases for the Council.

RESOLVED that the Strategic Overview of BDHT briefing paper and presentation be noted.