Agenda item

·       Q2 2025/26 Management Information Measures

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer presented the report to the Board.

The Quarter 2 2025/26 data for the 10 Tenant Satisfaction Measures was attached at Appendix1.

Performance was generally on track and comparable to Quarter 2 2024/25: the number of Anti-Social Behaviour cases was at a slightly higher rate; Complaints numbers lower (with a 100% response rate achieved).

Compliance with the Decent Homes Standard had significantly improved due to stock surveys and improved data quality / analysis – the Council had achieved a 0.25% result (far below the 3% 2025/26 target).

Exact numbers of homes not meeting the standard were not known, but for context the 1% achieved in Quarter 1 2025/26 had been 47 properties (homes not meeting the standard Quarter 2 2025/26 would be around a quarter of this figure).

Repairs completed within the target timescale (for non-emergency repairs) resulted in 91.7% (above the target of 80% for 2025/26).

For the Gas Safety checks, the Council had achieved 99.3% of households inspected.  34 properties were overdue as a result of the Council being unable to access these properties (the Council’s Legal Team were being consulted to gain access through Magistrate Court rulings).

Fire Safety and Asbestos checks had achieved 100%.

Water Safety checks had achieved 76%, but this was due to 32 properties within the Old Woburn House estate being switched off and the new Woburn House development coming online – it was expected the Council would achieve 100% in Quarter 3 2025/26.

The Tenant Satisfaction Survey 2025/26 would likely commence October / November 2025 – it was hoped there would be national analysis of 2024/25 data by that stage (which might further shape the approach for 2025/26).

There would likely be little changed to the additional survey questions the Council included, but a more automated approach would be used for respondents requiring further contact regarding repairs, downsizing, and involvement in engagement due to software updates.

The Council was additionally trialling an automated approach to inviting tenants to complete the survey and using the software to track invites and responses where email addresses were held on file.

A Tenant questioned why other tenants would deny the Council access to carry out essential safety checks like Gas – the checks were paid for by the Council and vital for personal safety.

The Assistant Director of Housing Management & Enforcement informed some tenants would never let the Council enter the property to carry out such checks.  The Council had, in the previous newsletter, attempted to explain if tenants did not allow entry to carry out these checks, a stage by stage process would be followed resulting in Magistrate Court action.

For the 34 households the Council had not been able to enter and carry out essential safety checks in Quarter 2 2025/26, some had been known from Quarter 1 2025/26 – the Council had to initiate the process of checking such properties 2 weeks in advance but it could still struggle to enter these premises after this time.

A Tenant reiterated it was not understood why other tenants would not permit the Council access for safety checks – it was for their own safety.

Moved by Councillor Ashley Taylor and seconded by Mrs. Angela Sharpe

RESOLVED that: 1) the performance for the Management Information Measures Q2 2025/26 is reviewed and acknowledged (Appendix 1); and,

2)    the approach for the 2025/26 survey be acknowledged.