Agenda item

In November 2016 the Cabinet agreed that the preferred option for future housing management service provision to the Council’s tenants and leaseholders is an In-house service, subject to consultation. This report sets out the outcomes from the formal consultation exercise undertaken.

RESOLVED:

5.1. Cabinet agreed to cease the delegation of housing management functions and other delegated roles to Brent Housing Partnership Ltd and sought termination of the Management Agreement with Brent Housing Partnership Ltd.

5.2 Cabinet agreed to giving Brent Housing Partnership Ltd. notice of its intention to cease its delegation of housing management functions and other delegated roles and its consequent wish to terminate the Management Agreement.

5.3 Cabinet agreed to delegate to the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing the power to take all necessary and required steps to achieve the above recommendations in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer (on legal issues),

Chief Finance Officer (on financial issues), Director of HR & Organisational Development (on HR issues) and the Cabinet Member for Housing (on strategic

issues).

Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, informed the meeting that he had received and accepted three requests to speak from Councillor Pat Harrison, (Preston Ward), Ms Farida Adjerit and Mr Phil Bromberg.

Councillor Pat Harrison (Preston Ward) and Ms Farida Adjerit had asked to address the meeting on Housing Management Options Review: outcome of formal consultation and Mr Bromberg on Developing a strategic approach for community libraries in the community and voluntary sector.

Councillor Pat Harrison informed Cabinet Members that is currently appointed by the Council to the Brent Housing Partnership Board. She asked the Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform about the future governance arrangements for the Brent Housing Partnership Board.

Ms Farida Adjerit outlined her concerns as a current BHP tenant and also a member of the BHP Board. She asked the Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform to outline what, if any, savings would be achieved by an in-house service.

Mr Phil Bromberg, Chair, Preston Community Library, addressed the meeting on agenda item 6 Developing a strategic approach for community libraries in the community and voluntary sector. Mr Bromberg welcomed the report and welcomed the collaborate process that has led to the revised approach to community libraries.

Councillor Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, introduced the report stating that the Cabinet, in November 2016, agreed that the preferred option for future housing management service provision to the Council’s tenants and leaseholders would be an In-house service, subject to consultation.

He stated that this report sets out the outcomes from the formal consultation exercise undertaken.

he primary means of consultation, a survey, found that for every respondent who expressed support for the continuation of the service through Brent Housing Partnership Ltd (8.1% in total), 6 respondents supported the Cabinet’s preferred option (49.1% in total). The majority of the other respondents did not express a view, did not mind or were undecided.

Councillors Miller, Tatler, McLennnan and Southwood spoke in favour of an in house option. Councillor Southwood asked that the Council starts by looking at the volume and nature of complaints in each ward.

Councillor Farah outlined the proposals for a new Housing Scrutiny Committee which would, he hoped, be approved by Full Council in May 2017.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, thanked Members for their contribution and thanked the speakers for attending the meeting. He stated that the Cabinet would be responsible for an effective transition of the management of the housing stock. The in house option would also present opportunities for savings, notably around management costs. He stated that all ward Members would have responsibility for monitoring former BHP housing stock in their areas. He informed Cabinet that a new Operational Director of Housing had recently been appointed. He informed the meeting that the services would also be reliant of the many good staff that currently work for BHP.

RESOLVED:

5.1.      Cabinet agreed to cease the delegation of housing management functions and other delegated roles to Brent Housing Partnership Ltd and sought termination of the Management Agreement with Brent Housing Partnership Ltd.

5.2       Cabinet agreed to giving Brent Housing Partnership Ltd. notice of its intention to cease its delegation of housing management functions and other delegated roles and its consequent wish to terminate the Management Agreement.

5.3       Cabinet agreed to delegate to the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing the power to take all necessary and required steps to achieve the above recommendations in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer (on legal issues), Chief Finance Officer (on financial issues), Director of HR & Organisational Development (on HR issues) and the Cabinet Member for Housing (on strategic issues).