The Housing Committee of Stroud Council met on Tuesday 25 June 2024 to discuss a range of housing-related matters. Key decisions included the approval of an updated Housing and Tenancy Fraud Policy, the adoption of a new Temporary Accommodation Strategy, and the noting of the Housing Revenue Account outturn for 2023/24. The committee also received updates on the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and tenant complaints.

Housing and Tenancy Fraud Policy

The committee approved and adopted an updated Housing and Tenancy Fraud Policy. This policy aims to tackle various forms of housing and tenancy fraud, including illegal subletting and Right to Buy fraud, by providing a framework for prevention, detection, and prosecution. The policy replaces the previous version and has been reviewed to ensure it aligns with current legislation and council procedures. The Strategic Director of Communities, in consultation with relevant officers and the Chair of the Housing Committee, will be authorised to approve future minor amendments to the policy.

Housing Revenue Account Outturn 2023/24

The committee noted the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) outturn position for the 2023/24 financial year. The HRA revenue outturn showed a net underspend of £1,853,000, with £210,000 of this proposed for transfer to earmarked reserves and the remainder to general reserves. The capital outturn reported total expenditure of £16.057 million against a revised budget of £21.620 million, with a proposed capital slippage of £4,462,000. This underspend in revenue is partly attributed to vacancies in supervision and management roles and reduced utility costs in independent living properties. The capital programme saw significant slippage in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, environmental works, and external works, often due to procurement delays or contractor issues.

Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund

An update was provided on the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) available to the HRA. Stroud District Council has been successful in securing £3.9 million in grant funding across three bids, matched by £4.1 million from the council, delivering an overall £8 million project. The report detailed progress on the Demonstrator Project at Hamfallow Court, which achieved high energy efficiency ratings, and Wave 1 of the SHDF project, which improved 160 properties. Wave 2 of the project is underway, aiming to benefit 250 properties. The council's ongoing HRA investment programme also contributes to improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon production, with £3.246 million spent in 2023/24 on insulation, windows, doors, and external works.

Stroud Council Tenant Complaints

The committee received an update on the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code and the council's self-assessment against it. The self-assessment concluded that the council's complaints policy and approach are compliant with the Code. However, it was noted that some complaints extended beyond the initial timeframes, and an area for improvement identified was the analysis of complaint trends to drive service improvements. The committee was asked to scrutinise the self-assessment and performance data, challenge commentary, and produce a written statement to assure the accuracy of the assessment. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Housing Committee, acting as the Member Responsible for Complaints (MRC), reviewed the self-assessment and provided recommendations for continued improvement, including aiming for sector upper quartile performance in complaint response times.

Temporary Accommodation Strategy 2024-27

The committee approved the Temporary Accommodation Strategy 2024-27. This strategy aims to address the increasing demand for emergency accommodation and the associated financial and operational risks of relying heavily on private hotels. The current approach has seen a significant increase in homeless applications and placements, with a substantial overspend in the 2023/24 budget. The new strategy proposes a gradual transition to a more cost-effective model by utilising council-owned properties, including repurposing general needs housing and exploring modular units on council land. The aim is to increase the provision of temporary accommodation within the Stroud district, reduce reliance on external providers, and improve support for homeless households, with a target of having 40 units available in the district by March 2027.

Housing Revenue Account Outturn 2023/24

The committee noted the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) outturn position for the 2023/24 financial year. The report detailed a net underspend of £1,853,000 in the revenue budget, with proposed transfers to earmarked reserves and general reserves. The capital outturn showed expenditure of £16.057 million against a revised budget of £21.620 million, with proposed capital slippage of £4,462,000. The underspend in revenue was attributed to factors such as vacancies in management roles and reduced utility costs. The capital programme experienced slippage in several areas, including kitchens and bathrooms, environmental works, and external works, often due to procurement delays or contractor issues.

Work Programme

The committee considered the work programme for 2024/25, which outlines the key matters to be discussed at future meetings. These include budget monitoring, updates on housing and homelessness strategies, performance monitoring, tenant representatives, and the New Homes and Regeneration Programme.