The Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to discuss updates from registered providers of social housing, review the work programme for the upcoming year, and consider future reports. The panel was also set to review declarations of interest and confirm the minutes from its previous meeting.

Annual Meeting with Registered Providers of Social Housing

The panel was scheduled to receive an update from registered providers of social housing operating within the borough. This included information on their management of anti-social behaviour and hate crime, their lettings and shared ownership schemes, and their engagement with ward members and management of repairs. The report pack indicated that seven of the largest registered providers in Greenwich would be attending to provide an update on their housing management and services over the past year. These providers were Hexagon, Hyde, L&Q, Moat, Paragon Asra (PA), Peabody, and Southern Housing. An introductory presentation by Royal Borough of Greenwich (RBG) officers was planned, which would include details on existing stock and upcoming developments by these providers.

Southern Housing's presentation highlighted their homes in Greenwich, with a concentration in the Royal Arsenal and Kidbrooke areas. They reported an overall tenant satisfaction of 72% in Greenwich for 2024/25, with key areas for focus being complaint handling, repair completion times, and anti-social behaviour (ASB) handling. Regarding ASB, Southern Housing reported 111 new cases in 2025, with the top categories being verbal harassment, noise, and misuse of communal areas. The presentation also detailed lettings for 2024/25 and 2025/26, and provided information on their home ownership properties. They noted an increase in their repairs budget by £8m and a 21% increase in their repairs workforce since their merger.

Moat Housing's update indicated low ASB and hate crime numbers in Greenwich, representing approximately 2% of their stock, with 19 cases reported between April 2025 and the meeting date. Two of these cases related to hate crime and were under active investigation. Moat also reported on their lettings, with 12 properties relet in the borough between April 2025 and the meeting date, noting that void relet times were high due to delivery issues. Their presentation also covered repairs, stating that the Southeast London area accounted for 16% of Moat's total works in progress. They noted a higher than usual proportion of emergency and urgent jobs, partly due to Awaab's Law¹ related repairs and contact centre diagnosis errors. Moat also detailed their engagement with ward members and MPs, with a dedicated inbox for enquiries, and provided a breakdown of their 91 complaints received year-to-date.

Work Programme Discussion 2026-27

The panel was scheduled to discuss and identify potential items for inclusion in the Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny work programme for the 2026-27 municipal year. This discussion would help shape the panel's focus and priorities for the following year.

Commissioning of Future Reports

The panel was asked to note the work items scheduled to be presented at the Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel meeting on 01 April 2026. These included a report on temporary accommodation and homelessness, an update on repairs practices and efficiency across the borough, and a report on the use of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). The panel was invited to consider the scope of these forthcoming reports and specify any detailed requirements to ensure the information provided would be relevant and effective for their scrutiny.

Declarations of Interest

Members were reminded to declare any personal and financial interests in relation to the items on the agenda. A list of councillors' memberships on outside bodies, joint committees, and school governing bodies was provided for their reference. Councillor John Fahy is listed as a Member of the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency, Councillor Leo Fletcher is a Member of the Blackheath Joint Working Party and the John Roan Foundation, and Councillor Fletcher is also listed for Greenwich Service Plus and the Greenwich Bluecoat Foundation.