The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met to discuss housing performance, community centres, and future work plans. The committee reviewed the latest quarterly housing performance report, heard about an innovative model for community centres from a guest speaker, and discussed plans for upcoming meetings.

Bromley by Bow Centre Presentation

As part of the main scrutiny review for 2024/25, the committee received a presentation from Ellie Dedecker, Chief Executive of the Bromley by Bow Centre, a community organisation in Tower Hamlets. Lorna Hughes, Interim Assistant Director for Equalities, Community Partnerships and Heritage, introduced Dedecker, noting the centre's national and international reputation for its work in the local community. Hughes also shared her personal connection to the centre, having learned to make stained glass there many years ago.

Dedecker explained that the Bromley by Bow Centre has been operating for 40 years, offering a range of integrated support services to the local community. She described the centre as a place-based organisation with a deep connection to its local area, noting that over half of the 5,000 individuals they work with each year live within one mile of the centre.

Dedecker highlighted the innovative way that the Bromley by Bow Centre integrates health and wellbeing services, explaining that many people visit their GPs with issues stemming from social determinants such as poverty, stress, and financial distress. The centre aims to address these underlying issues, rather than simply providing medical solutions.

The Bromley by Bow Centre operates on a three-acre site that includes a park, which Dedecker described as a vital resource for the densely populated area. She emphasised the importance of having an open and welcoming space where people feel comfortable and do not need a specific reason to visit.

Dedecker outlined some of the challenges faced by the centre, including increasing demand for support, pressure on funding, and the siloed nature of different sectors. She called for more strategic core funding from the local authority to support the centre's work in the community.

Several councillors asked questions about the centre's approach to reaching communities, working with partners, and measuring impact. Councillor Hannah McHugh, Vice-Chair of the committee, asked about how the centre reaches communities experiencing hidden poverty, and how it ensures that the centre is driven by the parts of the community that need empowerment most. Dedecker explained that the centre uses a combination of referrals, word-of-mouth, and targeted activities to reach different parts of the community.

Councillor Toby North asked about the split of statutory income between local authority, health, and other sources. Dedecker explained that the largest income stream is a social care contract with Tower Hamlets, followed by various sources of health funding. She reiterated the need for more core funding from the local authority to support the centre's strategic work in the community.

Councillor Mick Gilgunn asked about the impact of the Olympic legacy on the centre, and whether there had been any funding from that source. Dedecker responded that there had been some piecemeal funding, but nothing strategic or long-term.

Councillor Michael O'Sullivan asked about core funding and outreach. Dedecker agreed that core funding is a vital issue for voluntary organisations, and that door-knocking and other forms of outreach are essential for engaging with the community.

Another councillor observed that the Bromley by Bow Centre seemed to be doing a lot of work that the council should be doing. Dedecker responded that the voluntary sector has increasingly had to step in to fill gaps in government services, particularly in areas such as ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes.

Councillor Jason Jackson, Chair of the committee, thanked Dedecker for her presentation and said that the committee would like to visit the Bromley by Bow Centre to see its work on the ground.

Housing Performance Report

Ian Swift, Director of Housing Operations, presented the quarterly review of housing performance for quarter three. He reported that performance continues to improve across most performance indicators, especially tenant satisfaction measures. Swift suggested producing an action improvement plan for the February 6th meeting, focusing on areas in the lower or medium quartile.

Key points from the report included:

• Overall tenant satisfaction has increased by 2% compared to last year.
• Homelessness is increasing, mirroring the national trend, but Islington's rate of households in temporary accommodation is below the London average.
• The council is not using bed and breakfast accommodation for families.
• Rent arrears have improved slightly, but are still a concern due to the cost of living crisis.

Councillor Toby North asked for more detail on asbestos safety checks and first-time fixes. Mike Hall, Assistant Director of Property Services, explained that asbestos work is being carried out by the community wealth team and is on track to be completed by the end of the financial year. He also provided a breakdown of first-time fix rates for different types of repairs.

Councillor McGill Gunn asked whether figures for temporary accommodation included those located outside the borough. Swift confirmed that 45% are in neighbouring boroughs. Gunn also asked about an audit of home insulation, and Swift said he would need to provide that information separately.

Councillor Michael O'Sullivan raised concerns about asbestos, first-time fixes, and complaints. He asked whether the council had been fined by the Housing Ombudsman for complaints not dealt with in a timely manner. Swift confirmed that the council had been fined £93,000 for maladministration, with 65% of complaints upheld by the Ombudsman relating to repairs.

Dean Donaghy praised the council's gas safety, fire checks and water checks.

Councillor Hannah McHugh asked about the types of complaints being received and timescales for non-emergency repairs not completed within 20 days. She also asked about case handling and management for antisocial behaviour (ASB). Swift acknowledged that complaints were increasing across the housing directorate and that the maladministration rate was too high. He said that a new structure for housing management would be introduced on 1 April to improve services.

Another councillor raised concerns about repeat repairs, particularly heating issues at Redbrick estate. Swift responded that the council is focusing on repeat visits and is working with contractors to improve performance.

Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner noted a 50% rise in homelessness due to no-fault evictions and asked about extending the register of private landlords. Swift explained that landlords are evicting tenants due to rising rents, while local housing allowance rates have not increased. Councillor Angelo Weeks, Executive Member for Community Safety, said he would provide a full update on the register of private landlords at the next meeting in February.

A member of the committee asked about the number of people sleeping rough and the closure of Covid support. Swift responded that the council hosts an annual Christmas day lunch for rough sleepers and offers accommodation and support during severe weather. He suggested removing references to the closure of Covid support from future reports.

It was agreed that a report on the number of visits for the same issue and contractor performance would be presented to the committee.

Work Programme 2024/25

The committee discussed the work programme for the upcoming months. Concern was raised that the February meeting was overloaded, particularly with the inclusion of housing association scrutiny. It was suggested that some items may need to be rescheduled.

It was agreed that Councillor Jason Jackson, Chair of the committee, would discuss with Councillor Hannah McHugh, Vice-Chair of the committee, and officers to determine whether the housing association representatives had confirmed attendance. If not, the item would be moved to a later meeting.

A suggestion was made to have a pre-meeting in February to discuss concerns and questions for the housing associations. There was a discussion about the need for housing associations to provide substantive answers to questions, rather than simply giving prepared speeches or promising to follow up later.

It was agreed that a similar approach should be taken with contractors, with questions submitted in advance.

Councillor Jason Jackson encouraged members to engage with upcoming visits related to the committee's work.