The Head of Housing and Property submitted a report to the City Executive Board (attached) which details the proposed Housing Asset Management Strategy and associated action plan for Oxford City Council’s housing stock.

The relevant minute (21) of the City Executive Board meeting on 11 June 2015 is attached later in the agenda.

The City Executive Board recommends that Council adopt the Housing Asset Management Strategy along with the Oxford Standard as part of the Council’s policy framework.

Council had before it a report setting out the proposed Housing Asset Management Strategy and associated action plan for Oxford City Council’s housing stock and the recommendations of the City Executive Board meeting on 11 June 2015.

Council resolved to adopt the Housing Asset Management Strategy along with the Oxford Standard as part of the Council’s policy framework.

The Scrutiny Officer has submitted a report which presents recommendations from the Housing Panel on the Housing Asset Management Strategy

Recommendation of the Housing Panel to the City Executive Board:

We note that a number City Council owned garages are not in use and recommend that the City Council reviews how it could make better use of these assets (for example as sites for new affordable housing or free off street car parking for residents), treating several garage sites as a virtual site.  Consideration should be given to explicitly stating this aim, currently implied, in the Asset Management Strategy. 

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed the conclusions of the Housing Panel, drawing attention to their concerns regarding the number of unused garages and the potential to make better use of these assets.

Cllr Seamons explained that as garages were no longer included in the Housing Revenue Account they did not come under the Housing Asset Management Strategy but he acknowledged the point made by the Housing Panel and said that this was something that officers would consider.

The City Executive Board resolved to NOTE the Housing Panel report and to provide a formal written response to the recommendations.

The Head of Housing and Property Services has submitted a report which details the proposed Housing Asset Management Strategy and associated action plan for Oxford City Council’s housing stock.

Officer Recommendations:  That the City Executive Board

1.    Recommends to Council the adoption of the Housing Asset Management Strategy along with the Oxford Standard as part of the Council’s policy framework;

2.    Endorses the action plan;

3.    Notes that an Energy Strategy will be presented to the Board later this year.

The Head of Housing and Property Services submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed the proposed Housing Asset Management Strategy and associated action plan for Oxford City Council’s housing stock.

Cllr Seamons, Executive Board Member for Housing presented the report, highlighting the proposal to adopt and deliver an Oxford Standard which would be higher than the statutory Decent Homes standard.  The Head of Housing and Property Services said that the Council was already commissioning work that would meet this enhanced standard.

In considering this report the City Executive Board discussed the implications of the Government’s proposals for housing association tenants to buy their homes at discounted prices. The Chief Executive said that this was potentially a very serious issue for the Council which would challenge all aspects of the Council’s housing strategy and management of its housing stock. 

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    RECOMMEND to Council the adoption of the Housing Asset Management Strategy along with the Oxford Standard as part of the Council’s policy framework;

2.    ENDORSE the action plan;

3.    NOTE that an Energy Strategy will be presented to the Board later this year.

The Committee Services Manager and two co-opted tenants, Linda Hill and Celia Mathews (joint chair with former Cllr Smith) presented the Scrutiny Panel’s report on the Oxford Standard. They outlined the Scrutiny recommendations made to the Board. These covered what the standard of Council housing should be and how it is delivered.

Overall they had received a positive response from the Board Member with the only disagreement being around how frequently bathroom/kitchens should be replaced. The Panel understood why the Board member could not deliver on the bathroom/kitchen recommendation but wants it to be considered in the future.

Cllr Turner welcomed more feedback from tenants on the frequency of bathroom and kitchen replacements during the budget consultation.

The Board accepted and endorsed all of the Panel’s recommendations except for two elements of recommendation 3 around bathroom and kitchen specifications.

The Head of Head of Housing and Property Services has submitted a report which details the Asset Management Strategy and associated action plan for Oxford City Council’s housing stock.

Officer Recommendations: That the City Executive Board:

1. Agree the draft strategy and associated action plan for consultation.

2. Include the Housing Asset Management Strategy as part of the Council’s Policy Framework.

The  Head of Housing and Property Services submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed the Asset Management Strategy and associated action plan for Oxford City Council’s housing stock.

Cllr Seamons, Board Member for Housing and Estate Regeneration presented the report. A stock condition survey had been done to determine the priorities of the strategy. Consultation with tenants and other key stakeholders had already taken place and their ideas have been incorporated into the strategy.  The strategy will go out for full public consultation as part of the budget consultation process.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Housing Panel’s report.  He outlined the panel’s 4 recommendations.  Cllr Seamons was happy to accept all of the recommendations. The Head of Housing and Property explained that information on the national house swap scheme was already available to tenants and that he would implement all 4 recommendations.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1. Agree the draft strategy and associated action plan for consultation.

2. Include the Housing Asset Management Strategy as part of the Council’s Policy Framework.

Contact Officer: Martin Shaw, Interim Project Manager

Tel: 01865 252775

Email: mshaw2@oxford.gov.uk

The Housing Panel considered the Asset Management Strategy – Council Housing Stock at its public meeting on 10 December 2014.  The Committee would like to thank Martin Shaw and Allison Dalton for assisting this wide-ranging discussion.

The Housing Panel support the Strategy and the direction of travel it provides.

The Panel reviewed what the strategy says about void property repairs and felt that the wording on page 13 could be stronger than ‘encourage tenants to leave their home in a good state of repair’.  Members sought assurances that the City Council does all it can within the resources available to ensure that houses are in good condition when left vacant.  The Panel recognises that the City Council would not want to hold deposits, and that recharges can be difficult to recover after the event, so the focus should be on working with tenants prior to properties becoming vacant.

The panel discussed heating and ventilation and noted that where new heating systems are installed, it is vital that residents are shown how to use them correctly.  It was also noted that agencies such as Age UK advise older residents to keep their windows closed.  The Panel sought assurances that the City Council works closely with such partners to ensure consistency of such communications.

Members questioned how widespread the problem of mould is across the Council’s housing stock.  Members commented that it has been known for mould to be painted over and sought assurances that this was not common practice.

The Panel recognise the need to make better use of the Council’s existing housing stock and questioned whether information about the National Home Swap scheme is made available to tenants who are under-occupying. 

Officers agreed to look into issues with night light systems that have installed in communal areas.

The Housing Panel will monitor delivery against the aims set out in the strategy.  The panel will also consider the Council’s Energy Strategy, Private Sector Housing Policy and its approach to under-occupancy in due course.