Issue - meetings

The Assistant Director of Housing Management & Enforcement presented the report to the Board.

The Council was one of the first to be inspected under the new inspection regime and had received a C2 Grading (C1 the highest achievable, C4 the lowest).

A comprehensive Improvement Plan (attached at Appendix 1) had been devised to show how the Council would drive improvement and demonstrate to the Regulator weaknesses that had been addressed.

The Council had met with the Regulator on 6 occasions since inspection, most recently 7^th October 2025.

The Council had reviewed Savills’ Stock Condition Survey data and successfully uploaded this to the Open Housing Management System (OHMS) ‘Train’ system.

The Council was reviewing the required work as specified by Savills for years 1-5 (to enable a clear capital programme for the next 5 years).

The Council had to ensure it knew its housing stock and the preferred approach was an inhouse rolling programme of stock condition (with approx. 1,000 properties inspected per annum).  The Council was in the process of internal approvals to enable commencement of this rolling programme from April 2026.

Existing Asset Management Officers on Housing Health and Safety Rating Systems (HHSRS) were being training with a view to undertake the outstanding 296 surveys between November 2025 and the end of March 2026.

A survey, which could be completed on electronic device tablets at an inspection, would also directly link into the OHMS.

It was imperative the Council knew its tenant base to deliver tailored services, but the uptake and completion of the Tenant Census had been slow – the Council was looking at how to capture information at all tenant touch points.

It was noted the Regulator had approved of efforts by the Council to undertake additional work such as the “You Say, We Did / We Didn’t” publications (completed with the assistance of Customer Services).

To a question on the HHSRS training and completion of the Stock Condition Survey, the Assistant Director of Housing Management & Enforcement confirmed it would be cost effective to complete training and surveys in future inhouse and provide additional flexibility throughout the entire process (it would allow the Council to focus on the properties most difficult to access first).

To a question on the installation of external insulation (following negative media reports nationally), the Senior Repairs Coordinator informed the Council would investigate if internal cavity wall insulation was possible first, and only if this was not an option would external insulation be explored.

To a question on the publication of damp and mould prevention (e.g. to dissuade tenants from drying clothes inside, not opening windows when using the shower, etc.), the Housing Performance Manager informed information was presented online (e.g. comparing a house in the 1970s to one in 2025, opening the window when cooking meals in the kitchen, etc.).

The Assistant Director of Housing Management & Enforcement added the November 2025 edition of the Bolsover Homes newsletter would also include this material.

Moved by Councillor Ashley Taylor and seconded by Mrs.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3

The Assistant Director of Housing Management & Enforcement presented the report to the Board.

The Council was one of the first to be inspected under the new inspection regime and had received a C2 Grading (C1 being the highest achievable, C4 the lowest).

The C2 Grading recognised that the Council had provided assurance, met the Consumer Standards in many areas, and had identified areas where improvement was needed.

A comprehensive Improvement Plan had been devised to show how the Council would drive improvement and demonstrate to the Regulator that weaknesses had been addressed – the Council had met with the Regulator on 5 occasions since inspection, most recently 17^th July 2025.

A summary of progress to date on the 4 key areas of improvement was attached at Appendix 1.

92.7% of the Council’s housing stock had been surveyed (350 properties had not been inspected).

It was intended for properties to be surveyed every 5 years or via a rolling stock programme – the Executive would be presented both options October 2025.

To identify trends and drive improvement, the Council had established the role of Housing Performance Manager.  The Housing Performance Manager was introduced and shared previous knowledge and experience as a Housing Options Officer.

The Assistant Director of Housing Management & Enforcement explained the Tenant Census had been undertaken to establish, amongst other matters, basic information on tenancy household (incl. ages, languages and any disabilities within tenant households).

To a question on future access to properties currently proving challenging (whether deliberate or not), the Assistant Director of Housing Management & Enforcement informed communication with the Council’s Legal Team had taken place to agree a process to gain access to every property (especially for the gas checks required annually).

It was noted several of the 350 properties not surveyed had been due to the inflexible arrangements of these households’ schedules.  For the households which were proving intentionally challenging, injunctions would be utilised.

RESOLVED that the Board note comments of the Improvement Plan.