Issue - meetings

To present to members the revised draft Council Housing Rent Collection policy

Members were presented with the revised draft Council Housing Rent Collection policy.

They key policy areas included:-

-       Rent Setting

-       Service Charge

-       Rent Collections and Arrears Management

-       Former Tenant Arrears Recovery

-       Monitoring and Reporting

-       Tenant Engagement.

It was moved by Councillor Mullaney, seconded by Councillor Crooks and

                        RESOLVED –

(i)            That Executive noted the report and accompanying policy.

(ii)          That Executive endorsed a period of tenant consultation.

(iii)         That Executive supported the delegation of authority to the interim Director of Community Services and the Executive Member for Housing & Community Safety to make any amendments to the policy arising from the consultation and to agree an implementation date, following tenant consultation.

To seek support for the draft rent collection policy and consultation with tenants.

The Council Housing Service Rent policy was presented to the Scrutiny Commission. It was noted that the policy had been informed by a workshop with tenants to ensure they were involved with shaping and influencing the policy. It was noted that the policy would be subject to wider tenant consultation before being finalised.

In response to a member’s question, it was confirmed that those in arrears were signposted to support to assist with financial management. It was noted that whilst the capacity of the team hadn’t increased, the structure of the team had changed to ensure more staff were able to support residents with rent issues which had reduced arrears over the previous year.

It was moved by Councillor Crooks, seconded by Councillor Webber-Jones and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The report and policy be endorsed and recommended to the Executive;

(ii)          A period of tenant consultation be endorsed;

(iii)         Delegation of authority to the Interim Director of Community Services and the Executive member for Housing and Community Safety to make amendments to the policy arising from the consultation and agree an implementation date be endorsed.