Tameside Housing Partnership

Minutes of Meeting

Date:  Friday 11 March 2011

Venue:  Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, OL6 6DL

Present

• Andrew Leah - Tameside Housing Services
• Diane Barkley - Tameside Supporting People Team
• Kate James - Tameside Supporting People Team
• John Hughes - Tameside Housing Services
• Clare Bibby - Tameside Children's Services
• Councillor Ann Holland - Assistant Executive Member, Personal and Community Services
• David Berry - Tameside Performance and Change
• Councillor Lynn Travis - Executive Member - Personal and Community Services
• Huw Davies - Assistant Executive Director - Tameside Housing Services
• Jim Davies - Tameside Housing Services
• Ilys Cookson - Assistant Executive Director - Exchequer and Support Services.
• Anila Khalid - Harvest Housing
• Peter Marland - Ashton Pioneer Homes
• David Proudlove - Homes and Communities Agency
• Steve Modric - Homes and Communities Agency
• Neil Baumber - Irwell Valley
• Simon Hopes - Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
• Bill Lovat - Regenda Housing Association
• Alex Morrish - Regenda Housing Association
• Gill Cook - Adullam Homes
• Lisa Gartside - Greater Manchester Probation Service

Apologies

• Councillor Dave Sweeton - Executive Member - Economic Services (Chair)
• Lisa Lees - Tameside Community Safety Unit
• Angela Rafferty - Irwell Valley Housing Association
• Chris Langan -  Contour Housing
• Ian Munro - New Charter Housing Trust
• Steve Goslyn - Threshold

Notes

• Jane Hilton - Tameside Supporting People Team

1.  Introduction and Apologies

In the absence of Cllr Sweeton, who was called away at short notice, A Leah welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made. Cllr Travis who had been delayed in traffic, later chaired the meeting.

Apologies for absence were noted.

2. Declaration of conflict of interest

None

Part One: Current and Emerging Strategic Issues

3.  Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as an accurate record.

4.  Matters Arising

a) Reducing Re-offending Strategy – housing action plan – D Barkley

• The Reducing Re-offending Strategy is a cross cutting strategy agreed by the Tameside Strategic Partnership. A number of action plans, including the housing plan support the delivery of the strategy.
• D Barkley and L Gartside have developed an action plan – the focus of which is to ensure the best use of existing resources to secure and maintain appropriate housing and support for offenders.

b) TSP Conference – D Berry

• The TSP conference took place on 3 March 2011 and had been a success.
• Overall the attendees felt that the TSP was well placed to respond to the challenges of the future.
• The notes from the event will be circulated and will also be available on the website next week.

c) Housing Seminar - A Leah

• The idea of a housing seminar was discussed at the last meeting
• As a result of the peer review findings and the new Affordable Homes Framework – the seminar will have a wide focus.
• A Housing Supplementary Document is being developed.
• There have been offers of financial support for a seminar from a few of the providers but support will be sought from other providers.
• The seminar event will be held possibly early in the next financial year – date to be confirmed.

5. Affordable Homes Framework - S Modric – Homes and Communities Agency

• S Modric – HCA gave a presentation on the Affordable Homes Framework. The presentation had been circulated with the agenda
• S Modric gave an overview of the programme and explained in detail the key points of the framework and its implications.

Key Points

• The framework was published on 14/02/11 and the timetable of 4 months for submission of bids is very tight.
• Massive reduction of 70% in capital funding for 2011-2015
• HCA will allocate the capital at the start of the project for a 4 year period
• 4 year contracts – firm proposals for the first 2 years and indicative for years 3 and 4.
• Half the cost will be paid at the start of the projects and the remainder on completion of the project.

Affordable Rents

• A Tenancy Policy must be issued by each Local Authority
• Minimum 2 year fixed term - flexibility to offer longer tenancies.

A number of questions were asked in relation to the framework:

• Cllr Holland asked how the affordable rents would affect existing tenants rent and tenure? S Modric stated that existing tenancies would not be affected.
• T Powell asked if the land that the HCA owns has would be brought forward? S Modric stated that they are currently looking at ways that this could be done.
• A Leah stated that AGMA have published the second iteration of the LI Plan and priorities are in place working with the Development Consortium to put a bid together and that there is still a lot of work to do i.e regarding tenures and how it will operate.

J Yates – Welfare Rights gave a brief overview of the Mortgage Rescue Scheme:

• Tameside has been allocated £264,000 which will help 5 applications. It was stated that 39 people had been put through the scheme since January 2009.
• There will be a need to prioritise the 5 cases and thought will need to be given as to how other cases will be dealt with and this will present a serious challenge.
• It was emphasised that the scheme is used only as a last resort
• Cllr Travis thanked S Modric for his presentation.

6. Housing Peer Review Findings - A Leah

• A Leah gave a presentation on the findings of the peer review. The presentation had been circulated with the agenda.
• A Leah gave an overview of the presentation and explained in detail the key findings of the report:
  
  • Overall the process of the review and the feedback had been positive.
  • The final written report is due within the next two weeks. The report will be reviewed and will be brought to the next Housing Partnership meeting.
• Cllr Holland stated that 14% of private landlords in Droylsden were ‘buy to let’ and was interested in the up to date percentage?
• A Leah stated that there had been an increase overall in the number of older properties available in the private rented sector.
• In Droylsden West it had risen from 14% to 17% and he stated that a more proactive approach was needed to stem the growth of poor quality rental properties and to encourage growth in better quality properties.
• C Bibby stated that it may be beneficial to strengthen economic links with the Children’s Trust.

7. Changes to Housing Benefit - Ilys Cookson

• A briefing paper had been circulated with the agenda. I Cookson explained the paper in more detail and emphasised key changes.
• I Cookson stated that the changes to the system will be implemented as follows:
  
  • Every claimant will be written to individually and will receive both ‘flyer’ and a statement informing them of the significant changes to the scheme.
  • Notification letters will be sent out week commencing 14/03/11 and the website will also be updated.
  • Training is taking place for Tameside staff.
  • A briefing for landlords will take place at the Landlords Forum.
  • As further information becomes available this will be communicated
  • Information on the impact of the changes on claimants will be communicated when the situation becomes clearer.
• I Cookson also stated that there will be a single fraud investigation unit – however, regional teams will operate from this central unit.
• Cllr Travis asked if a ‘hot line’ had been set up for claimants? I Cookson stated that all telephone lines are manned constantly. The number of calls will be monitored to analysis peak calling times – this will ensure that at these peak times staff enough staff will be available.
• Cllr Travis also asked if RSL’s will be fielding calls separately? I Cookson stated that it was felt that most calls will come directly to TMBC and will be specific to claimants.
• Cllr Holland asked if the non dependents deduction applies to students and people in full time education? I Cookson stated that the deduction will apply.
• G Cook asked if there would be any training available for frontline staff on the changes?
• J Yates stated that training is being planned and will be discussed with providers and is an agenda item for the Supported Housing Provider Forum – 17/03/11. Dates will be communicated after confirmation with A Franco.
• Cllr Travis stated that these changes will affect people with adult children and will increase homelessness as a knock on effect.
• Tony Powell referred to the benefits cap to be introduced in 2013 and asked if TMBC could estimate the average weekly wage for working families
• Cllr Travis thanked I Cookson for her report.

8. TSP Restructure Proposals D Berry / A Leah

• A briefing note had been circulated with the agenda which included a copy of the proposed structure and the current structure.
• D Berry explained the note in more detail and highlighted key points:
• Consultation started on 10/12/10 and the review document was circulated to all TSP members on 17/01/11. The closing date for replies was 28/02/11.
• The proposal is scheduled to be taken to the TSP Board on 18/03/11
• Cllr Travis stated that work on putting together the Health & Wellbeing board is on-going. It was also stated that decision making needs to be made with key partnerships. Cllr Travis also emphasised that it will be important to keep links with other boards and that the structure of the TSP will also reflect the changes in the structure of TMBC however it will still be about inclusion and not exclusion. It will also help to focus our priorities.
• H Davies stated that partnership working needs to develop and change and it is important to get the work right.

Part Two: Implementing Housing Strategy

9. NAHP 2011-15 HCA Framework document – A Leah

This item was covered in item 5.

10. Single Allocations Scheme update – J Hughes

• J Hughes updated the meeting on the above.
• Pinpoint has been picked up by AGMA officers Group for future use.
• A steering group meeting is held every two weeks
• Need to look at a more local model
• Need to look at how more information can be provided to elected members.
• Need to look at whether a web based allocations system is the way forward.
• It is apparent that larger providers do not want to get closely linked to individual LA systems.
• J Hughes to prepare a paper to be presented at the next Housing Partnership meeting.
• Cllr Travis thanked J Hughes for his input.

11. Performance Report Quarter 3 – Housing Services Team

• A copy of the Housing Partnership score card had been circulated with the agenda.
• At the last RSL forum - A Morrish volunteered to act as spokesman for RSL’s.
• A Morrish stated that he had only spoken to a few of his colleagues and had not had time to speak to Contour or Peak Valley. He stated that:
  
  • Achieved the decent homes target – this needs to be maintained
  • Voids there did not appear to be any massive issues with difficult to let properties – however incentives were being used where necessary.
  • Satisfaction levels are increasing/improving with TMBC RSL’s customers.
• Cllr Travis thanked A Morrish for his input.

12. EIA on SP Funding reductions in 2011-12

• The EIA Assessment form was tabled, following its consideration at TMBC Board on Wednesday .
• D Barkley gave an overview and explained further the key points.
  
  • It is a legal requirement to carry out an EIA to look at the impact of reductions in SP funding
  • It gives the rationale for reductions and describes the impact on disadvantaged groups and also at groups not covered by the legislation.
  • There appeared to be no negative impact on older people.
  • Potential negative impacts include reduced staffing hours, reduced opening hours, reduction in 24 hour cover, reduced support to people in the community
  • EIA also address how negative impacts have been mitigated, but not eliminated altogether .
  • The consultation process started with providers in July 2010. This enabled providers to look at how they could best make reductions i.e some providers carried out service and staff redesigns.
  • Access to information re equality monitoring and outcomes data has been ended with St Andrews University. This data will be a massive loss.
  • St Andrews are proposing to provide this data on a subscription basis.
  • AGMA are also looking at alternative systems for obtaining this data.
• G Cook stated that only TMBC have taken a planned approach to the cuts and that this had been welcomed by providers. The impact of reduced in support staffing hours will need to be monitored.
• Cllr Travis thanked D Barkley for her input and stated that the report have been very useful. She also stated that partners had been happy with how we had dealt with the cuts. Cllr Travis also stated that pursuing ways of continuing to obtain the necessary data was cost effective.
• D Barkley will send out an electronic version of the EIA Assessment Form with the minutes of this meeting.

13.  Any Other Business

• Cllr Travis stated that this was H Davies’ last Housing Partnership meeting as he was leaving the authority after 25 years service. She thanked him on behalf of the executive and the partnership for his work and stated that it had been an enjoyable 25 years working with him.

14. Date and time of next meeting:

The next Housing Partnership will take place on Friday 29 July 2011 from 10.00am to 12.00pm in the Council Offices.  Venue to be confirmed.