Agenda item

Brent Housing Compact

This report provides an update on the development of the Brent Housing Compact, a new partnership framework between the Council and Registered Providers (RPs).

Decision:

Prior to considering the report, Cabinet NOTED the following representations received at the meeting:

(a) As an initial contribution Heather Thomas (Chief Executive, Sapphire Independent Housing- joining as an online participant) spoke to outline her support for Brent’s Housing Compact as one of the Registered Housing Providers who had been engaged in its development. Highlighting the importance of the Compact in providing a clear partnership framework between the Council and Registered Providers and support for the five core themes around which it had been developed, the collaborative approach towards its design was welcomed and a means of highlighting the commitment to continue working together to deliver the next outcomes for tenants across the borough.

(b) Councillor Georgiou was then invited to address Cabinet (having requested to speak on the same item). Whilst welcoming the intention behind development of the Compact, Councillor Georgiou advised he was keen to ensure this was used as a means of encouraging stronger partnership working between the Council, Registered Providers and Housing Associations. In seeking the necessary assurances relating to implementation and operation of the Compact, Councillor Georgiou highlighted a number of issues on which he felt further clarification was required, which included:

· The difference it was expected the Compact would make for residents given its status as a voluntary partnership and lack of legally enforceable statutory obligations that could be imposed on RPs or Housing Associations.

· The level of accountability in terms of being able to monitor and manage performance issues with RPs or Housing Associations.

· The level and extent of meaningful engagement with residents in development of the Compact and also in terms of its shaping its ongoing development.

· The lack of what was felt to be clear measurable outcomes and targets against which delivery of the Compact could be assessed and monitored.

As a result of the issues raised, Councillor Georgiou was keen to ensure that as the Compact developed the Council sought to utilise the experience from a wider range of stakeholders including councillors, resident and tenant groups and community representatives in seeking to reflect lived experience enabling the Compact to succeed and provide a meaningful vehicle for change backed by clear accountability, transparency, resident involvement and measurable outcomes.

Having noted the representations made and advising that the issues on which further clarification had been sought would be addressed following the meeting, Cabinet in welcoming the collaborative approach towards development of the Compact, RESOLVED:

(1) To note the progress to date in developing the Brent Housing Compact.

(2) To note that the next phase will include:

· Engagement with internal teams to confirm and align commitments.

· Establishment of an RP Working Group.

· Development of the governance model, including the proposed Housing Compact Board

(3) To endorse the Draft Housing Compact (as set out in Appendix 1 of the report).

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 29 June 2026

Minutes:

Prior to considering the report, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Heather Thomas (Chief Executive, Sapphire Independent Housing – as an online participant) and Councillor Georgiou (as Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group) to the meeting who he advised had both requested to speak on the Brent Housing Compact.

Speaking first, Heather Thomas thanked the Leader for providing the opportunity to outline her support for Brent’s Housing Compact as one of the Registered Housing Providers (RPs) who had been engaged in its development. Highlighting the importance of the Compact in providing a clear partnership framework between the Council and Registered Providers and support for the five core themes around which it had been developed, the collaborative approach towards its design was welcomed as a means of highlighting the commitment to continue working together to deliver the best outcomes for tenants across the borough.

Having thanked Heather Thomas for her contribution, the Leader then invited Councillor Georgiou to address Cabinet who, whilst welcoming the intention behind development of the Compact, advised he was also keen to ensure this was used as a means of encouraging stronger partnership working between the Council, Registered Providers and Housing Associations. In seeking the necessary assurances relating to implementation and operation of the Compact, Councillor Georgiou highlighted a number of issues on which he felt further clarification was required. These included:

· The level of accountability in terms of being able to monitor and manage performance issues with RPs and Housing Associations.

· The level and extent of meaningful engagement with residents in development of the Compact and also in terms of its shaping its ongoing development.

· The lack of what was felt to be clear measurable outcomes and targets against which delivery of the Compact could be assessed and monitored.

Having also thanked Councillor Georgiou for the representations made and advising that the issues on which further clarification had been sought would be addressed following the meeting, the Leader then invited Councillor Johnson (Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters) to introduce the report from the Corporate Director Resident and Housing Services providing an update on the development of the Brent Housing Compact as a new partnership framework between the Council and Registered Providers (RPs).

In presenting the report, Councillor Johnson highlighted housing as one of the biggest ongoing issues facing the borough. Whilst acknowledging that much of Brent’s social housing was owned and managed by Registered Providers it was pointed out that residents often failed to distinguish between the Council and these providers when issues arose meaning that many would approach their local councillors in seeking a resolution and ensuring that the responsible organisations were able to work together to address the issues raised.

Recognising the level of casework generated as a result, and the level of frustration often experienced in seeking to address issues with repairs, anti-social behaviour and the condition of properties when the outcome being sought involved other organisations often operating under different systems and standards, members were advised that the Compact had therefore been designed to bring the council and housing providers together around a shared set of commitments covering housing quality and safety, affordable housing, homelessness prevention, neighbourhood management and resident engagement. Outlining the approach taken towards design of the Compact, Councillor Johnson was also keen to highlight the collaborative nature of its development, which had involved residents and housing providers being able to actively shape the process, providing a much clearer picture of where it was felt things were working well as well as areas for improvement.

In highlighting the significant challenges involved in addressing the housing crisis, the opportunity represented through development of the Compact to bring partners together, raise standards and improve the experience of residents was therefore welcomed as a means of ensuring the necessary responsibility and ownership was taken in seeking to address issues on behalf of residents which members, in concluding, were advised reflected the spirit behind the Compact and its ongoing development.

In commending development of the Compact as an important initiative to improve standards, accountability, and collaboration across social housing providers in Brent, Cabinet took the opportunity to thank all those involved in its development recognising the efforts made to collaboratively engage with residents and housing providers. Highlighting the significant level of casework generated in relation to Housing Associations and challenges often experienced in being able to hold them to account, it was felt the more collaborative approach developed under the Compact would prove more effective in driving improvement and encouraging greater partnership working and development of shared performance frameworks. The engagement and participation with a range of housing associations and Registered Providers (which it was noted covered approx. 80% of social housing stock across the borough) was therefore welcomed along with the efforts to secure further signatories and increase engagement and participation from the larger housing associations.

Members were also keen to highlight the practical benefits of the Compact in terms of encouraging and delivering more standardised expectations and responses from providers, which it was felt would also provide a constructive step towards improving service quality for residents whilst also addressing concerns regarding accountability and seeking to improve standards.

In closing, Councillor Johnson thanked Cabinet for their support and took the opportunity to advise members of a number of additional Registered Providers who had agreed, in principle, to participate in the Compact including Notting Hill Genesis and ongoing engagement with Hyde Housing Association. Whilst acknowledging the limited enforceable powers directly available to the Council to hold Registered Providers to account (with those organisations accountable to the Social Housing Ombudsman) it was felt that the emphasis on partnership working and collaboration rather than enforcement within the Compact ultimately represented a more effective means of achieving the positive outcomes being sought for residents

In welcoming the collaborative approach towards development of the Compact as a new partnership framework designed to improve accountability, strengthen cooperation, enhance repair and safety standards, support homelessness prevention, and ensure that tenants and residents were provided with a stronger voice in raising concerns Cabinet RESOLVED: