The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday 11 September 2024, discussing responsive repairs performance, planning obligations, and the council's revenue budget. The committee resolved to note progress on responsive repairs and receive a further report on the service recovery plan, while also noting the Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document and the Revenue Budget Monitoring report.

Responsive Repairs Performance

The committee received an update on Barking and Dagenham Trading Partnership's (BDTP) responsive repairs performance. Significant progress has been made in reducing legacy jobs, with a 100% reduction achieved by April 2024. Void management has also seen improvements, with open void properties decreasing from 62 to 31 by July 2024. Emergency repairs performance has improved to 86.3% for 2024/25, up from 69.9% in 2022/23, and resident satisfaction has risen from 76.1% in November 2023 to 82% in August 2024.

Concerns were raised regarding the 223 open damp and mould repair jobs. The Strategic Director for My Place explained that a damp and mould policy ensures all properties are inspected within a ten-day window, with the first treatment also carried out within this timeframe. A wider plan is in place to be more proactive, including preventative maintenance such as gutter cleaning. Ten vulnerable individuals were identified among those with overdue damp and mould jobs, and these cases are prioritised using diagnostic metrics. It was clarified that moving residents to alternative accommodation is rare. Jobs are classified as overdue if they surpass their allocated timescale, with historical overdue jobs being a result of long-standing legacy issues, whereas current overdue jobs are for shorter periods.

Improvements in void jobs have seen a decreased timeline from 53 days to 24.2 days. The Chief Executive for BDTP attributed the significant reduction in open cases from 5,000 to 2,131 to a one-off investment in completing legacy work and a change in BDTP leadership. Legal disrepair cases have decreased from 193 to 110, with a restructure of BDTP aimed at addressing these cases more quickly. The Council, as the landlord, bears the financial risk associated with legal disrepair cases. BDTP is transitioning away from agency staff, with repair and maintenance operatives becoming full-time employees from October 1st. The process for handling snagging repairs on new developments has been strengthened to reduce BDMS involvement, and the council is exploring ways to recharge developers for these repairs.

The Committee resolved to:

• Note the progress made since the previous report in March 2024.
• Agree to receive a further report detailing the service recovery plan for challenges articulated in the report to enable OSC to monitor and challenge the performance of the BDMS responsive repair service over the next 12 months.

Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

The committee reviewed the Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which, alongside the Local Plan, provides guidance on Section 106 planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The SPD will be a material consideration in determining future planning applications and aims to ensure infrastructure, such as schools, is in place to support new developments. The CIL is a mandatory charge to help councils deliver infrastructure.

The plan to build 4,000 new homes within the Borough was discussed, with questions raised about viability assessments to ensure local infrastructure can support these developments. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Economic Development stated that the Local Plan's approval by the planning inspector indicated confidence in the Borough's infrastructure capacity. The Council's Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) outlines specific infrastructure requirements.

Concerns were raised about the lack of car parking spaces in new developments and how CIL obligations would be met. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Economic Development noted that London-wide efforts aim to reduce car use. The committee also highlighted a lack of transport links within the Borough. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Economic Development confirmed that improving public transport is a key priority, with investment from Transport for London (TfL) secured for better bus and cycling routes. Ward councillors will be updated on transport developments.

Replacement works for the A13 flyover are scheduled to begin in 2025 and are expected to take 18 months to a year. A new bus link along Goresbrook Road is also planned to allow buses to divert from the A13. The committee noted the report.

Revenue Budget Monitoring 2024/25 (Quarter 1, June 2024)

The Revenue Budget Monitoring report for Quarter 1 (June 2024) indicated a forecasted expenditure of £225.590m against a budget of £221.745m, resulting in a forecasted overspend of £3.844m. The council needs to identify sustainable savings for the next financial year. An underspend of £6m on employee costs is anticipated due to vacancy management, and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) shows a forecasted underspend of £395,000, an improvement from the previous year's £6m overspend.

A significant overspend of £5.319m was reported in people and resilience, primarily within Adult Social Care. The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Integration attributed this to the constantly changing needs of residents, including a 100% increase in people with learning difficulties over seven years, and a lower average age of residents experiencing life-limiting diseases compared to other London Boroughs. The council's statutory obligation to provide services, coupled with external factors like the closure of the private care home Chaseview, has increased pressure on the service.

The overspend in people and resilience is largely due to high volumes in domiciliary care, with an increased number of hours provided per individual. A pilot reablement service, a 12-week package for hospital discharge patients, is underway. Further investment in Adult Social Care, including preventative work, is deemed necessary.

The council has significant borrowing on a 5% fixed-term rate, which is short-term, with hopes for interest rates to decrease. The majority of the council's £6m borrowing is already secured below a 2% interest rate.

Regarding loans to subsidiaries, independent and internal reviews have assessed the viability of Be First. An interest cost of £600k associated with the loan to BD Energy was highlighted, with concerns raised about its financial viability. While the council receives some returns from its loans, they are lower than budgeted due to factors like delayed scheme completion. The £600k interest cost for BD Energy has been deferred but is expected to be paid from the next financial year. Growth is anticipated once new developments, such as Abbey Road, are connected.

General Fund reserves stand at £14.4m, with £2.4m available for use. The council must retain £12m in reserves to avoid potentially filing a section 114 notice. Improving debt collection rates for Reside rent and Council Tax is also a priority.

The meeting's Standing Order 7.1 was extended to allow it to continue beyond the two-hour threshold.

Work Programme

The Committee noted the work programme.