Issue - meetings

RESOLVED that 1) subject to Council approval for allocation of a budget, the procurement of a specialist supplier to undertake a 100% stock condition survey of the Council's Housing Revenue Account Dwelling Stock, be approved,

2) following consideration and approval of a budget allocation by Council, a further report be provided to Executive outlining the results of the procurement exercise, together with full details of actual costs in to approve the award of contract.

Executive considered a detailed report, presented by the Portfolio Holder for Housing, which provided information and options for consideration relating to the requirement to carry out a full 100% stock condition survey of the Council’s dwelling stock. The report also requested approval to commence a procurement exercise to undertake the survey.

Moved by Councillor Sandra Peake and seconded by Councillor Mary Dooley

RESOLVED that :1) subject to Council approval for allocation of a budget, the procurement of a specialist supplier to undertake a 100% stock condition survey of the Council's Housing Revenue Account Dwelling Stock, be approved,

2)    following consideration and approval of a budget allocation by Council, a further report be provided to Executive outlining the results of the procurement exercise, together with full details of actual costs in to approve the award of contract.

Reasons for Recommendation

A comprehensive stock condition survey was needed to ensure that the Council could meet the Safety and Quality Consumer Standard, and provide accurate information about the Council’s housing stock. This would also allow the Council to assess the overall condition of its Housing Revenue Account (HRA) dwelling stock in an objective and evidence-led way, providing information that could be used to plan future investment and maintenance programmes to ensure that properties were maintained in good condition with optimal use of resources.

Alternative Options and Reasons for Rejection

The Council’s Housing Stock Management Group, had expressed a preference for option 1, given the availability of qualified surveyors to undertake the surveys in-house was low and presented increased risk of their retention on a 12 month contract when market demand for their skill set would be high given other stock holding local authorities would also be undertaking stock condition surveys.

To do nothing would mean the Council was relying on out of date and inaccurate data, we would be in breach of the Regulator for Social Housing Consumer Standards and as well as not having informed data to delivery planned improvements to homes, the Council would risk having homes which did not meet decent homes standards, which fell below required EPC levels and unlimited fines from the Regulator.