The Housing and Inclusive Economy Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss a determination by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, a proposed Inclusive Growth and Economy Framework, and a Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy. The committee was also expected to review action and recommendation trackers, and to suggest any items for the 2025/26 draft work programme.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman determination

The committee was scheduled to review a report providing a summary and analysis of a determination received from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). The determination, received on 3 December 2024, related to a complaint from Miss X regarding the council's Prevention and Assessment Team's approach to assessing the affordability of private rented sector accommodation, advice and signposting, and record keeping.

The LGSCO found fault in the way the council communicated with Miss X, as well as in its record keeping and complaint handling, which caused injustice to the complainant. The council was required to send a written apology to Miss X, provide information on how she could pursue various housing options, pay £75 to acknowledge her distress caused by communication failures, and £75 for the time and trouble taken to pursue her complaint. The council was also required to prepare an action plan to improve record keeping within the Prevention and Assessment Service, send a full review of its complaint handling process and system, and ensure the Housing and Inclusive Economy Scrutiny Committee reviews the LGSCO’s decision.

The report also noted that in January 2023, the council commenced a Housing Transformation Programme (HTP), and that an internal diagnostic focusing on the Prevention and Assessment Team was undertaken that same year.

Inclusive Growth and Economy Framework

The committee was scheduled to review a report on the proposed Inclusive Growth and Economy Framework, described as a key mechanism to build an economy that works for everyone in Waltham Forest. The framework is intended to guide actions to create a fairer and more equal borough by delivering place-based inclusive growth and affordable housing, securing high quality exemplar design, responding to the climate emergency and creating safer spaces.

The framework outlines a new cross-council approach across five pillars:

• Exemplar Design
• Place Based Growth
• Equitable Innovation and Productivity
• Relationship Centered Approach
• Community Wealth

The report identifies communities of focus, including:

• Low-income Families: Residents in Temporary Accommodation
• Long Term Health Conditions: Adults with Learning Disabilities
• Young People: Black Young Men
• Black and South Asian Women

The framework identifies a number of key enablers that will work across the borough to support, develop and deliver interventions targeted at identified communities of focus, including a Social Investment Fund and the Voluntary and Community Sector.

The report states that the development of the framework and potential action areas was the subject of a Growth Scrutiny Themed Review and recommendations were presented to Cabinet on 1 October 2024.

Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy

The committee was scheduled to review the proposed Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy. The proposed policy sets out the council's approach as a social housing landlord to managing the repairs and maintenance in the council’s housing stock of general needs, independent living, and temporary accommodation homes.

The revised Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy sets out the council’s approach to delivering a repairs and maintenance service which meets the needs of tenants and leaseholders, and enables the council to meet its statutory, regulatory, and contractual obligations. This policy sets clear service standards, outlining what tenant, leaseholders and shared owners can expect from the council’s repairs and maintenance services, including timescales.

The proposed policy incorporates the following key changes:

• The structure has been altered to offer improved clarity and order of each section including setting out resident and landlord repair responsibilities more clearly and in more detail.
• A new section setting out the purpose of the policy has been introduced to reflect the current aims of the service.
• Clearer information on target timescales for responsive repairs.
• Updates for the section relating to residents with exceptional needs or who are vulnerable.
• A new section in relation to how operatives will behave in residents’ homes and communicate about the works they are carrying out.
• A new section clarifying the position in relation to mutual exchanges and repair responsibilities.
• A new section on planned and cyclical maintenance.
• Appendices clearly setting out tenant, leaseholder, shared owner, and landlord repair responsibilities.

The draft policy and an online survey were published on the council’s Let’s Talk website and promoted to tenants, leaseholders, and shared owners to invite their feedback. Feedback from this engagement has been incorporated into the final draft of the policy and has resulted in changes including additional commitments added to how contractors will behave in residents’ homes and communicate with residents, and additional information for residents with exceptional needs and who are vulnerable.

The report notes that the Social Housing (Regulation) Act received Royal Assent on the 20 July 2023, and that the Act introduced ‘Awaab's law’, which will require landlords to fix reported health and safety hazards within specified timescales.

The Scrutiny Report

The committee was scheduled to review the action and recommendation trackers and ask any questions as necessary. The committee was also invited to review the draft summary of committee activity and suggest any amendments or additions.