Report attached.

The Committee noted the report from the Council’s internal auditors, BDO, detailing the findings and recommendations of the audit review of Empty and Void Property Management.

Gurpreet Dulay, BDO, presented the report. He said that there was good management oversight of the service and recognition of the challenges it faced.  He highlighted the weekly Choice Based Letting website as an example of good practice.  There were however a number of areas for improvement, particularly around the need for a clear understanding of the individual roles and shared responsibilities of each of the three teams working to deliver the service.

In response to questions from the Committee regarding the observed problems in communication between the different teams the Building Operations Manager said that the review had been conducted during a period a transition and re-organisation for the service teams; that the teams were not co-located; and that although the teams did use a common database there was scope for improvement.

The Committee asked that details of the re-organisation of the service teams should be circulated to Committee members.

The Committee discussed the recommendation that the Council should undertake a cost/benefit analysis of introducing an incentive scheme for tenants with the aim of improving void turnaround time.  The Committee felt that this was something that the Scrutiny Housing Standing Panel might wish to consider and agreed to refer the matter to them.

The Committee noted the report and the recommendations.