Issue - meetings

To provide an update on the activities of the Council’s Housing Service.

Members received an update on the activities of the Council’s Housing Service. It was highlighted that Covid-19 had significantly impacted on service delivery and officers had been very flexible in their working practices and taken on additional responsibilities. They also provided a proactive support service to the most vulnerable tenants and made more than 3,500 phone calls to ensure tenants were supported.

Other consequences of Covid-19 included:

·         decreased rent collections as tenants suffered financial hardship

·         reduced number of repairs carried out as only essential and urgent repairs were permitted

·         increased reports of anti-social behaviour as people were concerned about breaches of Covid-19 government guidelines

·         increased reports of loneliness and a decline in well-being amongst residents of independent living schemes as social activities were suspended

In response to members’ questions it was noted that:

·         reducing the council’s carbon footprint and using other forms of energy needed to be considered

·         planning for an increased demand for more sheltered accommodation needed investigation

·         the service has an aspiration to build more homes and will be working towards government directives to provide electric charging points, subject to available financial resources

·         additional resources would be needed to continue working with young people to reduce anti-social behaviour, however partnership working with schools would continue

Members highlighted they had received positive feedback for the work officers had carried out during the pandemic and wanted to pass on their thanks to the teams.

Members noted the report.