This meeting will include a presentation on the performance of the Housing Service, a verbal update on the Draft Rent Setting Report and presentations about the Regulator of Social Housing’s TSM report and the Complaints Annual Report. There will also be discussion of a Cabinet report on a review of repairs and maintenance.

Review of Repairs and Maintenance

The meeting will include discussion of a Cabinet report on a review of the Repairs and Maintenance Service that was conducted by consultancy Abovo Consult. The report, which was commissioned in July 2022, found that:

for straightforward repairs, the process works well and delivers a responsive and effective service to customers.

It also found a number of “issues and inconsistencies within the service that can cause delays and inefficiency”.

The report recommends that a steering group is established to lead on a review of the Repairs Policy.

Tenant Engagement

A report entitled 'Impact Assessment of Tenant Engagement Programme 2023-24' will be included in the meeting pack. The report reviews the impact of the council’s attempts to engage with tenants. It describes what tenant engagement is, and why the council does it. It lists the various different groups that have been set up to facilitate tenant involvement.

These include the Housing Liaison Group, The Bassetlaw Tenant Forum and Voices of Bassetlaw. The report lists some of the benefits of tenant engagement:

For the Council Better understand and respond to the needs of tenants and leaseholders Be more accountable to tenants Plan and deliver improved services;

Tenants Be encouraged to have a greater say and choice in the design and delivery of housing services; Develop new skills and expertise;

The report goes on to list a number of other ways in which the council engages with tenants, including: consultations, publications, digital services, the 'Healthy Neighbourhood Inspections' and training. It concludes that:

This report shows that the tenant engagement offer is yielding positive results with increased tenant engagement and involvement across all levels.

Housing Performance

Stephen Lau, Housing Performance and Insight Officer, will give a presentation on the performance of the Housing service in the second quarter of the 2024-25 financial year. The presentation will focus on what are known as the Tenant Satisfaction Measures or TSMs, which are set by the Regulator for Social Housing. The report breaks down tenant satisfaction across several categories including:

• Keeping properties in good repair
• Maintaining building safety
• Respectful and helpful engagement
• Effective handling of complaints
• Responsible neighbourhood management

The report notes some successes:

Bassetlaw DC is performing at or above the benchmark average across most measures.

And some areas where improvement is needed:

There is room for improvement to raise the level of trust to Bassetlaw DC as well as listening and acting.

Regulator of Social Housing - TSM Report

The meeting will include a presentation about the Regulator of Social Housing’s TSM report.

Cabinet Report - Draft Rent Setting Report

The meeting will include a verbal update on the Draft Rent Setting Report.

Complaints Annual Report

The meeting will include a presentation about the Complaints Annual Report.

Mock Inspection Update

There will be a verbal report providing an update on the 'mock inspection' that was carried out in June and July 2024.

Forward Plan

The meeting will include discussion of the Forward Plan, which sets out the key decisions that are scheduled to be taken by the Cabinet in future. One such decision, due to be made on the 26th of November 2024, is to:

advise Members of the outcome of the recent review of Repairs and Maintenance and to agree an action plan for improvement.

Another decision to be made on the same day relates to the 'Simpler Recycling' regulations, which came into force in England in 2020. Councils must meet a range of targets by 2025 or face fines. The regulations are intended to make waste collection and recycling easier. The decision relates to plans to:

commence kerbside glass collections and weekly food waste collections

Tenant Engagement Update

Joshua Booth will give a presentation providing an update on recent tenant engagement.