Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 January 2025 (Minute 534 - 542) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 January 2025 (Minute Nos. 534 – 542) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

No interests were declared.

The Chair welcomed the following officers from Southern Housing (SH): Tony Hughes (Head of Region – General Housing), Karin Stockerl (Executive Director of Assets and Sustainability), Carl Dewey (Director of Repair and Estate Transformation), and Rick Bhatia (Head of Land & Partnerships).

The officers from SH gave a presentation based on the following themes: SH profile; SH Swale profile; operational activity; housing review; tenant satisfaction; Swale investment priorities/challenges; Decent Homes Standard and Planned Investment; retrofit programme; Damp and Mould – Awaab’s Law; SH approach to damp and mould timeline, framework, performance and within Swale; and New Development Commitments.

Following a request from the Chair the Head of Housing agreed to circulate the SH presentation to all Members.

The Chair invited questions from Members, and points raised included:

·         What were SH doing to reduce the re-letting period?;

·         what were the figures for all categories of the damp and mould framework;

·         what feedback had there been on how the measures to prevent damp and mould were working?;

·         tenants also had responsibilities, what sanctions were in place if tenants interfered with ventilation in their property?;

·         of the 7,000 SH homes in Swale, how many were occupied?;

·         the £3billion investment could soon reduce due to the impact of replacing cladding etc.;

·         were SH obligated to install heat pumps at properties and how much would that cost?;

·         if tenants had to vacate a property due to damp and mould, where were they vacated to and who covered that cost?;

·         did officers evaluate the appropriateness of the size of the property for the tenants needs?;

·         what provision was there to monitor asbestos in properties?;

·         was devolution a concern for SH, or would it bring positives?;

·         what was the average cost of retrofitting a property?;

·         were properties being fitted with solar panels?;

·         mould was not always due to ventilation, and were SH focusing on mould in bedrooms, caused due to the lack of heating or overcrowding;

·         would garage blocks at Love Lane, Faversham, Reedland Crescent, Faversham; and The Charltons, Off Bull Lane, Boughton under Blean be redeveloped?;

·         how many damp and mould claims had been made?;

·         aware of a SH property in Milton Regis that had been empty for a long period;

·         saddened to hear about the difficulties of using Section 106 funding;

·         were SH reviewing the tenancy types to ensure that properties were adapted to meet the specific needs of tenants ‘home for life’?;

·         Extra Care Housing, such as Regis Gate, Sittingbourne was a fantastic scheme and suggested improved promotion of the scheme as not all Members would be aware of it;

·         had there been costs associated with damp and mould claims?; and

·         how did SH measure tenant ‘satisfaction’?

The Head of Region (SH) responded to points made and outlined what was being done to reduce the re-letting time period and that SH had trialled a ‘wrap-around’ approach with their Swale contractor, Axis, by granting them authority to deliver works including asbestos checks, gas servicing, and pest control.  The trial had improved the service and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 713.

The Community Services Manager introduced the report which summarised the amendments proposed to be made to the Draft Swale Borough Council Safeguarding Policy 2025 set out at Appendix I of the report.

A Member referred to the table under paragraph 5.1.2  on page 16 of the Policy, and that ‘neglect’ should be included under the column for types of abuse of children.  A Member referred to page 41 paragraph ‘Factors that increase risk’ and asked that ‘somebody that had given birth within 12 months the increase of baby blues and post-partum depression’ be included.  The Community Services Manager agreed to update the policy as requested.

Members highlighted some typographical errors and missed words within the draft Policy.  A Member also asked that the colouring of some of the charts be reviewed to make them easier to read.  The Community Services Manager agreed to amend the reports as requested.

The Chair proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Ben J Martin.

Resolved:

(1)   That the refreshed Safeguarding Policy for 2025 be approved subject to the amendments as minuted.

(2)   That the Safeguarding Policy be reviewed bi-annually rather than annually. 

The Head of Housing and Communities introduced the report which provided an update on the current performance in relation to Temporary Accommodation (TA) and the current budget position.  The report also set out current controls in place to manage the TA budget.

The Head of Housing and Communities reported that since the report had been published she had been made aware that the Council would receive £32,000 from the Winter Preparedness Fund for the current financial year.  She said the funding more than covered the Council’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol Placements and some additional Rough Sleeper placements.  The Head of Housing and Communities further reported that the Council had also received a grant of £87,699 to spend on Prevention Responsibilities.  The grant was subject to a spend deadline of 31 March 2025, and officers were looking at the terms of the grant to ensure it was utilised.

The Head of Housing and Communities referred to an ‘open’ consultation on the future formula for the Homeless Prevention Grant (HPG) 2026-27 closing date 11 March 2025.  She stated that if the ‘funding pot’ remained as it was, currently the Council would do better financially.  However, officers had some concerns regarding the proposed formula in respect of TA which she outlined for Members.  The Head of Housing and Communities advised that officers were preparing a consultation response and comments from Members were welcome.

Councillor Lloyd Bowen moved the following motion:  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Housing and Communities in consultation with the Chair of the Housing and Health Committee to prepare a response to the consultation on the future formula of the HPG.  This was seconded by Councillor Ashley Wise.  On being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

The Chair invited questions from Members, and points raised included:

·         The new affordable homes figures were disappointing;

·         noted that the Council would be looking at the impact from the caravan park closures and pre-empt the last minute problems caused;

·         how did officers differentiate whether it was or was not domestic abuse in respect of requests for TA?; and

·         how long had it taken for Bridge House, Sittingbourne to become available for TA, and how many people could it accommodate?

In response, the Head of Housing and Communities reported that officers within the housing department were highly trained to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and that customers had to complete a nationally approved questionnaire.  If customers were deemed to be high risk of domestic abuse they would receive a higher level of protection.  She further reported that the Council had a dedicated domestic abuse worker and part of their role was to increase knowledge within the housing team and work closely with partner agencies.  The Council were also currently applying for the Domestic Abuse Housing Accreditation.

With regard to Bridge House, the Head of Housing and Communities advised it was owned by SH, and the Council had entered into an agreement with them and she understood that the delay  ...  view the full minutes text for item 715.

Members suggested the following future items for the FDP:

·         A report on the potential impact of devolution; and

·         invite SH for another update in 2026.

The Chair asked that the Head of Housing and Communities circulate to members an easy read guide for Members once the Renters Rights Act once it had been agreed.

Resolved:

(1)   That the forward decisions plan be noted.