Issue - meetings

This report provides information on how the council meets its responsibilities in ensuring that all council housing within the Housing Revenue Account is managed in a way that meets compliance with current health and safety legislation, best practice and regulatory standards to ensure the health and safety of residents. It also sets out issues concerning compliance and demonstrates how these are being managed.

The report provides performance information to the end of quarter 2, 2023/24. There are no significant issues of non-compliance to report.

There are increased responsibilities placed on social landlords to manage the health and safety of residents primarily included in the Building Safety Act 2022 although many of its provisions require further secondary legislation.

With the creation of BCP Homes, work has commenced to align policies and procedures regarding property compliance.

Changes have also been made to the regulatory regime overseen by the Regulator of Social Housing through the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023. New national Tenant Satisfaction Measures are reported on since April 2023 which include those relating to maintaining building safety.

A BCP Homes Advisory Board is in place to support the work of the new BCP Homes service and the Portfolio Holder for People and Homes. The Board, consisting of independent, resident and councillor members will provide an additional element of oversight and assurance around many areas including property compliance.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)           Cabinet notes the compliance information provided which details how the council is performing against statutory building compliance relating to its council housing; and

(b)           a performance report be made annually to Cabinet in future years.

Voting: Unanimous/

Portfolio Holder: Housing and Regulatory Services

Reason

The council, as a landlord, has many legal obligations it must satisfy to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its tenants and leaseholders. It must also adhere to the regulatory standards as set out by the Regulator of Social Housing, particularly the Home Standard.

Councillors should also have oversight and assurance of compliance against the legal and regulatory requirements that are placed upon it through this annual report to Cabinet.

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

Cabinet was advised that the report provided information on how the council meets its responsibilities in ensuring that all council housing within the Housing Revenue Account is managed in a way that meets compliance with current health and safety legislation, best practice and regulatory standards to ensure the health and safety of residents and also sets out issues concerning compliance and demonstrates how these are being managed.

In addition Cabinet was informed that the report provided performance information to the end of quarter 2, 2023/24 with there being no significant issues of non-compliance to report.

Cabinet was informed that there are increased responsibilities placed on social landlords to manage the health and safety of residents primarily included in the Building Safety Act 2022 although many of its provisions require further secondary legislation.

Cabinet was advised that wth the creation of BCP Homes, work has commenced to align policies and procedures regarding property compliance, and that changes have also been made to the regulatory regime overseen by the Regulator of Social Housing through the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, and New national Tenant Satisfaction Measures are reported on since April 2023 which include those relating to maintaining building safety.

Cabinet was informed that a BCP Homes Advisory Board is in place to support the work of the new BCP Homes service and the Portfolio Holder for People and Homes, and the Board, consisting of independent, resident and councillor members will provide an additional element of oversight and assurance around many areas including property compliance.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)           Cabinet notes the compliance information provided which details how the council is performing against statutory building compliance relating to its council housing; and

(b)           a performance report be made annually to Cabinet in future years.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing and Regulatory Services

Reason

The council, as a landlord, has many legal obligations it must satisfy to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its tenants and leaseholders. It must also adhere to the regulatory standards as set out by the Regulator of Social Housing, particularly the Home Standard.

Councillors should also have oversight and assurance of compliance against the legal and regulatory requirements that are placed upon it through this annual report to Cabinet.