Councillor Asima Qayyum declared she lived in a Council property; it was not a pecuniary interest but made the declaration for reasons of transparency.

None.

Cabinet, at its meeting on11 December 2024, will consider a report from the Executive Director (Communities and People) presenting the HRA 40-year Business Plan for approval and implementation.

Cllr Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Peter Matthew, Executive Director (Communities and People) and Nerys Parry, Head of Housing Services have been invited to attend the meeting and answer questions.

The Panel is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Peter Matthew, Executive Director (Communities and People), Nerys Parry, Head of Housing Services and Lourdes DeBarry, Housing and Tenancy Consultant were in attendance to present the report and answer questions.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, noted that the reports presented to the Panel at this meeting reflected significant changes to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The Executive Director (Communities and People) highlighted the series of workstream undertaken over the past year to thoroughly review the HRA functions comprehensively. These efforts were driven by key challenges in Oxford: the increasing homelessness in the city and issues with temporary accommodation faced by the council; a new, tougher regulatory regime for the HRA partly influenced by post-Grenfell reforms; and ongoing challenges related to tenant engagement with the council.

Cllr Diggins joined the meeting.

The Executive Director (Communities and People) stated that the business plan was a requirement for all Housing Authorities, and modelled against the expenditure set out on the Council’s budget, due at Cabinet in December 2024.

Councillor Diggins raised a question about the balance between investments on the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFS) and longer-term investments, asking whether any consideration had been given to regulatory changes that might necessitate further work. The Executive Director (Communities) responded that while ‘what-if’ scenarios could not be modelled into the plan, the HRA is required to review its Business Plan annually. Councillor Qayyum then asked if the Panel would have the opportunity to review the Business Plan each year. It was explained that unless there were substantial changes to the HRA, the Panel would not be asked to review the document.

Councillor Diggins followed up with a question about risks of slippage in the programme. The Executive Director (Communities and People) clarified that slippages would not impact the Business Plan itself, but a significant delay could reduce the number of houses coming onstream. This would require a remodel and potential Cabinet approval, particularly if additional funding was needed.

Councillor Diggins queried if there was a threshold that would trigger a formal review of the Business Plan, to which the Executive Director (Communities and People) said that there would not be specific scenario but emphasised that any review would be aligned with the Council’s budget setting process.

Councillor Diggins also noted the assumptions relating to rent increases and building costs, asking how the figures were confirmed. It was explained that the rental figure was based on Government policy while building costs were determined by current inflation rates. 

Councillor Mundy queried the financial repercussions if the rental inflations exceeded 1%. The Executive Director (Communities People) replied that the figures were based on Government policy projections for the next five years.

The Panel noted the report; there were no recommendations.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 11 December 2024, will consider a report from the Executive Director (Communities and People) presenting the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Asset Management Strategy and 5-Year Investment Programmes for adoption and approval.

Cllr Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Peter Matthew, Executive Director (Communities and People), and Nerys Parry, Head of Housing Services have been invited to present the report and answer questions.

The Panel is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Peter Matthew, Executive Director (Communities and People), Nerys Parry, Head of Housing Services and Lourdes DeBarry, Housing and Tenancy Consultant were in attendance to present the report and answer questions.

The Housing and Tenant Consultant introduced the report, explaining its connection to the HRA Business Plan and how it supports governance and forward planning. It was noted that the 3-year Asset Management Strategy set the foundation for Council’s long-term approach to replenishing the housing supply. The 5-year Investment Programme was based on resident surveys and data on the Council’s current housing stock, with Governance arrangements ensuring value for money and improved client management.

Councillor Diggins queried the percentage of residents satisfied with their landlord services. The Head of Housing Services confirmed that 71% of residents were satisfied, exceeding the target of 70%, to which Councillor Diggins asked if the Council could aim higher. The Housing and Tenant Consultant acknowledged that while the Council could be more ambitious, Oxford already has a very high satisfaction rating from its tenants.

Councillor Diggins asked about the demand led programmes. It was explained that demand could not be predicted but noted that the budget included provisions to increase funding if there was an unexpected surge in housing repair requests.

Councillor Diggins also asked about the management of the transition period. The Housing and Tenant Consultant referred to the five-year investment plan, which would ensure the programme was properly resourced and support the Council’s tenants to ensure necessary work was completed.  

Councillor Mundy raised a question about the satisfaction targets mentioned in the report. The Head of Housing Services clarified that the survey aligns with the definitions in the Tenant Satisfaction Measure. The Executive Director (Communities and People) added that there was a standard approach to conducting tenancy surveys in accordance with regulations.

The Panel agreed to make the following recommendation: 

1.     That Cabinet sets more ambitious targets for tenant satisfaction, aiming to exceed the current benchmark of 70%, but aligning with best practices from top-performing authorities and exploring opportunities for enhanced engagement with tenants.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 11 December 2024, will consider a report from the Executive Director (Communities and People) setting out and seeking approval for the reset of the Council’s Tenant Engagement work, in its role as a social landlord and in alignment with the new Consumer Standards issued by the Regulator for Social Housing.

Cllr Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Peter Matthew, Executive Director (Communities and People), and Nerys Parry, Head of Housing Services have been invited to attend the meeting and answer questions.

The Panel is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Peter Matthew, Executive Director (Communities and People) and Nerys Parry, Head of Housing Services in attendance to present the report and answer questions.

The Head of Housing Services introduced the report, emphasising its focus on the Council's tenants. She said that this marked a reset in the Council’s approach on tenant engagement and reorganisation of its Landlord Services to ensure compliance with the Housing Act. The new approach aims to improve tenant engagement, establish clearer governance structures, communicate the Council’s performance data to tenants, and develop a strategy for ongoing improvement.

Councillor Rawle welcomed the report but questioned why the Young People Forum was separate from the other forums. The Head of Housing Services explained that the number of tenants aged 16-25 was relatively low compared to other demographics, but the Council recognises the need to engage with younger residents and understand their level of interest in working with the Council.

Councillor Diggins further queried about the Young People Forum, particularly the demographic anticipated to attend these meetings. Councillor Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, clarified that the forum was aimed to young people living in Council homes, providing an opportunity for the Council to hear directly from young residents about how to improve their estates. The Executive Director (Communities) added that the Council effectively engaged specific groups within its housing stock and separated different governance levels to tailor its approach. Engaging with young tenants, in particular, would allow the Council to improve overall engagement. It was noted that launching this new initiative would take time, but it was expected to begin in the new year.

Councillor Diggins raised a question on how the new approach differed from the current process. The Head of Housing Services responded that the current approach was reactive, whereas the new strategy will be preventative, allowing the Council to identify and address issues earlier. The Executive Director (Communities and People) added that the new plan would help the Council better understand its tenants and their needs.

The Panel agreed to make the following recommendation: 

1. That Cabinet reconsiders its approach of Young People within the tenant engagement structure to ensure their representation is given greater prominence, by elevating their role within the governance structure, providing a direct pathway for their contributions to the Tenant Representative Forum and creating a bespoke mechanism for their input to be highlighted at the top level; and that innovative and youth-focused methods of engagements are continually explored to ensure their voices are actively included in strategic decision-making.

The Panel is asked to note the dates and times of future meetings of the Housing and Homelessness Panel:

·       04 March 2025, 6pm

Meetings will take place remotely via Zoom.

The Panel noted the dates of future meetings, and the next meeting on 6 March 2025.