Purpose

This report
provides an update for Cabinet on the Council’s progress in
improvements to its social housing management and maintenance and
in ensuring Council tenants live in safe, secure homes with access
to high quality landlord services. This includes its response to
the Regulator of Social Housing's findings. The Council was awarded
the lowest consumer grade, C4, in October 2024.
 

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report and its
appendices, Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree to:
 

i) 
To delegate authority to the Chief Executive, following
consultation with the Monitoring Officer, the Mayor and the Lead
Member for Council Housing Improvements, to agree the terms for and
entry into a Voluntary Undertaking with the Regulator of Social
Housing.

ii) 
Note The Council’s progress to date on the development and
implementation of its response to the Regulator of Social
Housing’s report; and

iii) 
Note building on lessons learned during the first year, the Housing
Services Improvement Programme plan will be updated to embed all
necessary actions that strengthen service delivery, ensure
compliance and competence, and 3 provide robust controls for
consistently high-quality outcomes for tenants, while meeting the
requirements of any Voluntary Undertaking commitment.
 
Alternatives
considered
 
a) 
Do nothing: given the C4 rating, it is not possible for the Council
to do nothing. Under the terms of the Social Housing Regulation Act
2023, the Council is required to comply with the Regulator’s
judgement and reach compliance with 13 the Consumer Standards. C4
and C3 ratings are non-compliant, so in order
to achieve compliance, the Council would be required to meet
a C2 or C1 grade.