The Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Northumberland Council met on Thursday, 17 September 2026, to review housing performance and progress on key improvement plans. The meeting's agenda included discussions on housing safety, quality, asset management, stock condition surveys, electrical inspection programmes, and updates on the Regulator of Social Housing's action plan.

Housing Performance Updates

The committee was scheduled to receive detailed performance updates on several key areas of housing management. These included a report and dashboard on housing safety, quality, and asset management, which would provide an overview of performance for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, up to 30 June 2026. This report indicated that while most statutory landlord safety workstreams achieved 100% compliance, moderate assurance was provided regarding domestic electrical safety, stock condition intelligence, and gas capping due to historic challenges. The report highlighted a reduction in open damp and mould cases and an increase in the number of homes with recent stock condition surveys.

Further details were to be provided on the progress of the stock condition surveys. As of 31 July 2026, surveys had been completed on 41% of the Council's housing stock, identifying 1,462 Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) hazards. Damp and mould, fire safety issues, and falls between levels were noted as the most common hazards. By 31 August 2026, survey coverage had increased to 60%, though access refusals had also risen, and the Category 1 completion rate had decreased due to access constraints.

The electrical inspection programme was also on the agenda, with a report detailing the position as of 31 August 2026. Domestic electrical safety remained a challenge, with compliance at 90%, primarily due to a backlog of inspections in properties where access had been difficult. However, no outstanding C1 (danger to life) electrical defects were reported, and eight C2 (potentially dangerous) remedial actions were under active management. The report indicated that progress had been made in implementing an improvement plan, including strengthening governance and access procedures.

An update on the action plan developed in response to the Council's C4 Regulatory Judgement by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) was also scheduled. A verbal update was expected, noting that an external, independent assessment had been commissioned and a revised draft of the Regulatory Compliance Improvement Plan (RCIP) was in development, with a final version anticipated for agreement in October.

Reports of the Scrutiny Officer

The committee was also scheduled to review the Forward Plan of key decisions made by the Cabinet since the previous meeting. Decisions noted included those made on 8 September 2026, concerning bus reform, the Council Tax Support Scheme, financial performance, capital proposals for solar PV and building safety, improvements at Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre, a new vehicle depot in Hexham, and the refresh of the Gambling Act licensing policy. The adoption of the North Pennines National Landscape Management Plan 2026-2031 was also noted as a decision.

The Forward Plan of forthcoming Cabinet key decisions from October 2026 onwards was also to be noted, outlining upcoming reports on topics such as active travel routes, theatre projects, port operations, food safety, fire service inspections, community approaches, housing enforcement policies, telecare services, renewable electricity sales, and capital programme amendments.