Issue - meetings

This report set out a headline options appraisal of future housing management options, taking into consideration the current arrangements between the four councils (Canterbury City Council, Dover District Council, Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Thanet District) and East Kent Housing.

The report set out a headline options appraisal of future housing management options, taking into consideration the current arrangements between the four councils (Canterbury City Council, Dover District Council, Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Thanet District) and East Kent Housing.

The report had also been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting held on 15 October 2019. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet members at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Godfrey,

Seconded by Councillor Collier; and

RESOLVED:

1.            That report C/19/29 be received and noted.

2.            That the council’s preferred option be withdrawal from EKH, returning housing management services back in-house under direct management of the council, subject to formal consultation with all tenants (and leaseholders) to satisfy the requirements of Section 105 of the Housing Act 1985.

3.            That council makes available up to £250,000 from the HRA in 2019/20 and 2020/21 (split to be determined) to support interim transition management costs, subject to option 2 being supported.

4.            That any minor amendments to the options and consultation documents to be delegated to the Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Special Projects.

5.            That the consultation results be presented to Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet for consideration in early 2020.

6.            That on receiving the consultation results, the report be referred to Full Council for discussion, prior to the final decision being taken by Cabinet.

(Voting figures: 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

There have been  concerns regarding the performance of East Kent Housing in terms of asset management, procurement and the delivery of the capital programme for some time and more recently these concerns have been heightened by the apparent deterioration in tenant health and safety compliance. In July 2019, Cabinet agreed for an options appraisal to be undertaken regarding the future delivery of housing management in the district.