The Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee met on Monday, 19 January 2026, to discuss the proposed purchase of land for new council housing, the Migrant Worker Charter, Disabled Facilities Adaptations, and the current situation with the Responsive Repairs Unit. Key decisions included the recommendation to approve the acquisition of land at Central Quay for housing development, and the endorsement of the Migrant Worker Charter, with suggestions for its enhancement.

Approval to Purchase Land for New Council Housing

The committee scrutinised a report recommending the approval for the acquisition of building plots at Central Quay to support the Council's House Building Programme. Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, highlighted that the Council had already delivered over 1,700 new council homes and projected a further 2,000 affordable homes in the next five years. The proposed acquisition of plots 3, 4, 5, 10, and 11 at Central Quay from White Acres presented an opportunity to deliver between 460 and 730 apartments.

Concerns were raised by Councillor Oliver Owen regarding the predominantly flat-based development and the need for accessible accommodation for older people and families. David Jacks, Assistant Director for Development and Regeneration, clarified that while the current proposal focused on apartments, family apartments and older person accommodation were being delivered through other schemes. Councillor Peter Littlechild inquired about parking provisions, particularly for disabled individuals and carers. Sarah McGill, Corporate Director for All People and Communities, assured members that the design was in its early stages and that parking, along with multi-generational living and larger units, would be considered.

Councillor Owen also raised the importance of community facilities and green spaces for well-being in the urban setting. Neil Taylor, Operational Manager for Delivery, confirmed that sustainable urban drainage and spaces for people to congregate would be key considerations. David Jacks added that the wider master plan included green spaces and communal roof gardens, and that the scheme had achieved the Designing for Nature accreditation. Councillor Sue Lent reiterated concerns about parking for elderly people and carers, and the need for larger family units. Councillor Margaret Lewis questioned the capacity of local amenities, such as school places and medical centres, to support the new housing development. Jane Thomas, Director for Adults, Housing and Communities, confirmed that discussions were ongoing with health colleagues to address potential demand. Councillor Ali Ahmed raised concerns about the impact of the development on the local job market, given the site's former industrial use. Councillor Thorne stated that the site was already designated for housing in the master plan.

Migrant Worker Charter

The committee reviewed the proposed Migrant Worker Charter, which aims to safeguard vulnerable migrant workers and ensure ethical care commissioning within the adult social care sector. Angela Boge, Operational Manager for Strategy Performance and Resources, presented the charter, noting that 56% of Cardiff's domiciliary care workforce are sponsored migrant workers. Favour Imono, a Unison Cymru union women's officer and home care worker, shared personal experiences of exploitation, including illegal fees and threats of deportation, highlighting the unique challenges faced by migrant care staff due to visa restrictions tying them to a single employer.

Councillor Littlechild shared a personal experience of a Nigerian family being exploited through the visa system and questioned the inclusion of sick pay within the charter. Angela Boge explained that sick pay fell under fair work practice and employment law, and that the council was committed to ensuring fair pay. She also noted that while the charter's operational tool would be subject to further provider engagement, the charter itself was due for cabinet approval. The committee discussed the timeline for implementation, with a focus on the upcoming 2028 changes to sponsorship rules.

Councillor Littlechild also raised concerns about monitoring and the fear of workers losing their jobs, suggesting a confidential helpline. Jane Thomas, Director for Adults, Housing and Communities, confirmed that whistleblowing policies were in place and that anonymity could be protected, though it could limit the depth of investigation. She also highlighted the development of an app containing information on employment rights for migrant workers. Councillor Lewis questioned the reasons for the difficulty in recruiting local care workers, and Jane Thomas explained that while the Cardiff Cares Academy worked to recruit local staff, the demanding nature of care work and competition from other sectors made it challenging. Councillor Molik, Chair of the committee, noted that the council paid the real living wage, even when Welsh Government funding was insufficient.

During the Way Forward discussion, the committee recommended that the Migrant Worker Charter be brought to the committee at an earlier stage in future. They also suggested that sick pay should be considered as part of fair treatment, and that the charter should be strengthened to focus more on raising awareness of employment rights for migrant workers, with both the council and service providers being responsible for this. A request was made for more information on the uptake of training provided by Unison.

Disabled Facilities Adaptations

The committee received a briefing on Disabled Facilities Adaptations, presented by Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, and Caroline Palmer, Operations Manager for Independent Living and Community Social Care. The service, underpinned by the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, provides adaptations to homes to meet the needs of disabled individuals, such as stairlifts, ramps, and accessible bathrooms.

Caroline Palmer explained that Cardiff Council utilised the Regulatory Reform Order 2002 to offer discretionary assistance without a means test, with a charge applied to properties only if the adaptation cost exceeded £5,000, and this charge was only recovered upon the property changing ownership. This approach, she stated, provided a faster and less bureaucratic service for residents. The total available budget for 2025/26 was over £10.6 million, funded through the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, and Welsh Government grants.

The benefits of adaptations were highlighted, including promoting independence, allowing people to remain in their own homes, and providing value for money by reducing the need for formal care. The presentation detailed a significant increase in demand for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) post-pandemic, with a 56% rise in referrals between 2019/20 and 2023/24. However, demand was now returning to more sustainable levels. A notable increase in Safer at Home referrals, which included smaller, low-cost adaptations, was also observed.

Concerns were raised about the time taken to deliver adaptations, particularly for more complex cases. While Safer at Home assistance was delivered within an average of 36 days, cases exceeding £10,000 could take significantly longer, with an average of 367 days in 2024/25. Councillor McGarry suggested splitting targets for adaptations over and under £10,000 to provide a more accurate reflection of performance. Councillor Littlechild inquired about the reuse of modular ramps and the full utilisation of the budget. Caroline Palmer confirmed that modular ramps were reused and that the budget was fully committed.

The committee discussed the future of the service, considering the aging population and potential funding challenges. Councillor Thorne suggested a dual approach of reviewing the £5,000 charge threshold and seeking increased funding from the Welsh Government. The committee also discussed the importance of preventative measures, such as community schemes like chair yoga and tai chi, to reduce the long-term need for adaptations.

Current Situation with the Responsive Repairs Unit

The committee received an update on the Responsive Repairs Unit, following a Public Interest Report by the Ombudsman and a letter from the Governance and Audit Committee. Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, acknowledged the challenging period the service had experienced and apologised for the distress caused to tenants. Jane Thomas, Director for Adults, Housing and Communities, presented the findings of a service review, highlighting that while progress had been made, significant improvements were still needed.

The Ombudsman's report detailed serious failures in responding to and resolving issues of leaks, damp, and mould, leading to a property being deemed unfit for human habitation. The report identified repeated failures over four years to identify and resolve a leak, incorrect categorisation of damp, and a poor response to requests for temporary accommodation. The council accepted the Ombudsman's recommendations, including an apology and financial redress to the affected tenant, and a review of processes and procedures.

Jane Thomas outlined the actions being taken to address these issues, including reducing outstanding repairs, improving response times for routine and urgent repairs, and expanding the dry homes team to deal with damp and mould cases more effectively. A new case management team and workflow system are being introduced to improve communication and oversight. Managers have also undergone accredited training on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

Concerns were raised by Councillor McGarry about the timeline for a new IT system, which is intended to provide a more integrated view of tenant information and job histories. Councillor Littlechild inquired about the expansion of the in-house team and whether system errors contributed to repeat repairs not being recognised. Jane Thomas explained that the new IT system would address these issues by holding a comprehensive history of repairs for each property. The committee also discussed the importance of customer service training for all staff, ensuring an empathetic approach to tenants experiencing difficulties.

The committee noted that while the number of damp and mould cases had significantly reduced, even a single severe case was unacceptable. Naomi Thomas, Operations Manager for Homes and Neighbourhoods, highlighted the establishment of a decant panel to ensure timely and appropriate decisions regarding temporary accommodation when properties were unfit for habitation. The committee also discussed the need for better intelligence-led decision-making regarding the use of in-house teams versus contractors, and the importance of ensuring contractors were held accountable for repeat repairs.