Issue - meetings

This report brings forward the recommendations required to establish the new operating model for council housing services.  It will recommend the cessation of the management agreement for services delivered from Poole Housing Partnership and set out the new operating model and approach to service delivery under BCP Homes.  The recommendations will enable the ending of legacy approaches for housing the creation of new service models embedded within the council and operating under new refreshed service models. 

RECOMMENDED that: -

  (i)           Cabinet recommend that Full Council approves the Termination Agreement to describe and novate all current assets and liabilities from PHP into BCP Council;

  (ii)         Cabinet recommend that Full Council approves the termination of the PHP management agreement and delegates authorisation for the final decisions in relation to the closure of PHP and the establishment of BCP Homes to the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for People and Homes;

That subject to the approval by Council of i and ii above

(iii)         Cabinet approves the establishment of a Housing advisory board to advise on delivery of all HRA funded activities and the establishment of, and ongoing development of the resident involvement structures as described in the paper; and

(iv)         Cabinet approves the new Housing Management operating model

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: People and Homes

Reason

These recommendations will enable the required actions which will dissolve the current legacy arrangements and create the new operating model for housing services.

The Portfolio Holder for People and Homes presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report brings forward the recommendations required to establish the new operating model for council housing services.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the report recommends the cessation of the management agreement services delivered from Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) and set out the new operating model and approach to service delivery under BCP Homes.

Cabinet was further advised that the recommendations would enable the ending of legacy approaches for housing, the creation of new service models embedded within the council and operating under new refreshed services models.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board advised that at their recent meeting the Board had been broadly supportive of the report.

RECOMMENDED that: -

    (i)         Cabinet recommend that Full Council approves the Termination Agreement to describe and novate all current assets and liabilities from PHP into BCP Council;

  (ii)         Cabinet recommend that Full Council approves the termination of the PHP management agreement and delegates authorisation for the final decisions in relation to the closure of PHP and the establishment of BCP Homes to the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for People and Homes;

That subject to the approval by Council of i and ii above

(iii)         Cabinet approves the establishment of a Housing advisory board to advise on delivery of all HRA funded activities and the establishment of, and ongoing development of the resident involvement structures as described in the paper; and

(iv)         Cabinet approves the new Housing Management operating model

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: People and Homes

To consider the Housing Management Model report scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 13 April 2022.

The O&S Board is asked to scrutinise and comment on the report and if required make recommendations or observations as appropriate.

Cabinet member invited to attend for this item: Councillor Karen Rampton, Portfolio Holder for People and Homes

The Cabinet report for this item is included with the agenda for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

The Portfolio Holder for People and Homes presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each member of the Board and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these minutes in the Minute Book. The Portfolio Holder and Chief Executive of Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) addressed the points raised by the Board, including:

·     A Board member sought clarification on the numbers of residents supporting the proposal. It was confirmed that those numbers outlined in the executive summary included tenants and leaseholders of both Poole and Bournemouth. Overall 51 percent of residents agreed with the proposal but when this was broken down into areas there were 56 percent in agreement in Bournemouth and 46 percent in Poole. There was also a further 27 percent who neither agreed nor disagreed.

·     Communication was raised as an issue in the consultation. A Board member asked about the plan to improve this within the new structure. There was a need to make sure communication was improved and it was important to let people know what was happening even when there was nothing to communicate. One of the panels within the resident involvement structure would be for communications. The Panel would have a wide remit to look into the best means of communication.

·     In a related question the Board asked whether there would continue to be in person hubs or contact points for residents. It was explained that from the date of the service provision change residents would continue accessing services in the same way as previously. Most communication was by telephone. There was a commitment to residents that they would be able to access housing services through many different channels.

·     It was suggested that since local government reorganisation some people had wanted to bring PHP back within the Council. There were concerns raised about this as PHP provided a good service and this may be affected by bringing it back into the Council. There was a concern that by being a small part of a much larger organisation there may be a lack of focus and funding. It was noted that the Housing Revenue Account was ringfenced and therefore any efficiencies achieved were reinvested.

·     A Board member asked for assurance that the culture and positive behaviours of PHP will be expanded and absorbed within the Council. The Portfolio Holder advised that it was not sustainable or equitable to have two housing models going forward. PHP was a great model and residents were very satisfied with it but Bournemouth residents were also very satisfied with their housing service. HRA is ringfenced any efficiencies are reinvested.

·     Although some teams would not be in Bournemouth Homes but part of the corporate model, the customer service team would be providing the same service to residents following the transition from 1 July. It was noted that the intention of the new model was to provide the best of both existing housing services. The Service also wanted to ensure that there were no artificial barriers put  ...  view the full minutes text for item 186