The Holborn District Management Committee met to discuss the Housing Revenue Account's medium-term financial strategy and resident engagement for budget setting, alongside an update on the communal heating breakdown at the Brunswick Centre. The meeting also covered a report on the Homes and Communities Directorate's performance for the first quarter of 2026/27, and the results of the Tenant Satisfaction Measures for the financial year 2025/26.

HRA Medium Term Financial Strategy & Engagement for Budget Setting 2027/28

A report from the Strategic Finance Lead – Housing outlined significant financial challenges facing the Council, impacting the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). It was noted that the Council needs to find approximately £85 million to £90 million in savings by 2029/30, with around £65 million required in 2027/28. The HRA budget is also under strain due to rising costs for repairs, maintenance, fire safety improvements, and compliance with new legislation such as the Building Safety Act and Awaab's Law. The report estimated that the HRA would need to find £8 million to £12 million in savings over the next three years, even with maximum allowable rent increases.

The report also proposed changes to the resident engagement process for budget and rent setting. Historically, this engagement has been primarily through District Management Committees (DMCs), but feedback indicated that residents felt unable to influence outcomes. The proposed new approach aims to be more open, accessible, and meaningful to all tenants, offering online and offline participation options, alongside face-to-face events. While DMCs will continue to provide feedback as representative groups, the Joint DMC meeting in January is proposed to be replaced with wider consultation exercises. Key dates for the new timetable include a Meet the Heads Property Event in October, preview of proposals at DMCs in December, and a consultation window leading up to the January Cabinet decision.

Brunswick Centre Heating

An update was provided on the communal heating breakdown at the Brunswick Centre estate, which affected residents between October 2025 and January 2026. The report from the Interim Head of Repairs indicated that boiler-house and pump renewal works were nearing completion, with operational completion expected in mid-September. However, outstanding pipework and access issues meant the estate would remain under winter review.

Lessons learned from the incident included the need for earlier identification and escalation of problems, strengthened winter contingency planning, clearer management responsibilities for significant incidents, and improved communication with residents. The report detailed progress on implementing recommendations, such as strengthening water treatment management, enhancing planned maintenance, reviewing future asset replacement strategies, and standardising project delivery approaches. Further investment in roof-level equipment and insulation was identified as a future priority. The report also noted that heating and hot water surveys were continuing across affected properties to identify and address issues before the winter season.

Update from the Cabinet Member for Better Homes and Homelessness Prevention

Councillor Anna Wright, Cabinet Member for Better Homes and Homelessness Prevention, provided an update on several key areas. She reported progress on reducing void property turnaround times, with active voids decreasing and routine turnaround times improving, though acknowledging further work is needed. Residents were encouraged to highlight any council homes they believe have been empty for a long period or appear abandoned, with officers to cross-check these against existing records.

Improvements to IT systems supporting the Homes and Communities Directorate were also highlighted, focusing on Temporary Accommodation, Awaab's Law, Resident Interaction (Project Lighthouse), and a compliance management system (True Compliance). Significant work was underway to improve data quality and consistency. Councillor Wright also expressed pleasure with the new in-house gas boiler team based at Holmes Road, noting positive resident feedback despite ongoing IT issues. An automated SMS notification service for lift repairs had been introduced, with over 33,000 notifications sent since January 2026. Updates were also provided on the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) and winter preparedness for heating and hot water systems. Finally, the report detailed the completion of the major works programme at the Chalcots Estate, including A1 fire-rated cladding and new windows, and acknowledged the difficult experience for residents during the works.

Holborn DMC Budget

The Senior Engagement Officer presented the Holborn DMC budget report for 2026/2027. The total budget for the financial year was £147,650, with £20,547 of bids approved to date, leaving a balance of £127,103. The report detailed two new bids for consideration: £4,435 for Medway Court TRA for a Gerda lock to improve security, and £887 for an officer-led bid for 50 Britannia Street, also for a Gerda lock to address unauthorised access and anti-social behaviour. The report also listed itemised bids approved to date, including garden works at Medway Court and a sheltered housing project for Holborn.

Local Issues

Under this item, local issues were scheduled for consideration, including an update on the Sub-Committee to Scrutinise Application of the Procurement Act 2023 in Camden.

Homes & Communities Performance Report - Quarter 1 2026/27

This report, from the Head of Housing Policy, Performance and Assurance, provided an overview of the Homes & Communities Directorate's performance from April to June 2026. It highlighted high demand for housing services, with over 1,100 homelessness approaches and an increasing number of households in temporary accommodation. Positive improvements were noted in housing income performance, with rent collection exceeding amounts due and arrears reducing. Building safety and compliance performance remained strong overall, though challenges persisted with gas certification and overdue fire and building safety actions. The repairs service continued to focus on reducing backlogs and improving home quality, with a significant reduction in households waiting for major adaptations and improved key-to-key re-let times. However, performance against non-emergency repairs timescales had declined. Neighbourhood management showed continued action to support residents affected by anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse, alongside an increase in tenancy visits.

Tenant Engagement Quarterly Report: June, July, August 2026

The Head of Housing & Property Engagement & Customer Service presented insights and recommendations from tenant engagement activities. The report highlighted record numbers of attendees at Neighbourhood Action Days and proposed a more tenant-led format for future borough-wide tenant conferences. Feedback from the January 2026 Rent Setting Event was overwhelmingly negative regarding its consultative nature, leading to proposals for a more accessible and wider-reaching rent-setting consultation process for 2027/28. The report detailed attendance figures, showing a concentration in specific districts and a higher participation rate among older residents and female attendees. Resident feedback was largely positive, with attendees valuing in-person access to services and opportunities to voice opinions. Areas for improvement included more frequent events, increased publicity, and enhanced venue accessibility. The report also covered applications to the Special Projects Grant and the District Management Committee Fund.

Engagement Report

This report provided an update on engagement activities in the Holborn District from July to September 2026. Key focuses included supporting Tenant and Resident Associations (TRAs) to hold Annual General Meetings (AGMs) to regain A-listed status, with successful AGMs held for Derby Lodge, Hastings House, and the new Cavendish Mansions TRA. Progress was also noted in establishing a new TRA in Grafton Way. The Holborn Neighbourhood Action Day took place at the beginning of September, involving coordination with partners to provide access to services for residents. The report also detailed the autumn term programme for Your Home, Your Learning, offering free courses to tenants and leaseholders. Challenges and successes were noted, including improved engagement with the Your Home, Your Learning programme following a refreshed marketing approach and a successful AGM at Cavendish Mansions. Priorities for the next quarter included supporting the establishment of further TRAs in Holborn and motivating TRAs to submit bids for estate improvements.

TSM Results FY25/26

The Head of Housing Policy, Performance and Assurance presented Camden's Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM) results for the 2025/2026 financial year. These measures, required by the Regulator of Social Housing, provide a standardised view of landlord performance from tenants' perspectives, covering perception and management information. The report indicated a slight decrease in overall satisfaction to 69.3%, with seven of the twelve perception measures declining. Notable improvements were seen in satisfaction with repair times and complaints handling, while declines were observed in tenants' perceptions of being listened to and the handling of anti-social behaviour. Satisfaction remained highest for home safety and lowest for complaints handling and ASB. The report also detailed management information on repairs, complaints, building safety compliance, and anti-social behaviour. A decrease in communal lift safety checks was attributed to improved accuracy in reporting, identifying access issues.

Action Points Update

The DMC was asked to note the progress of action points arising from the previous meeting held on 30th June 2026. These included considerations regarding the constitution and code of conduct, the refreshed DMC funding and bidding process, and updates on Awaab's Law progress. Specific actions related to investigating fund transfers for Powis House, clarifying responsibility for Public Liability Insurance, and considering requests for streamlined bid processes were detailed. Updates were also provided on local issues concerning leaks at the Bourne Estate and the potential requisitioning of a flat on Tybalds Estate for TRA use.