Decision details

To agree the list of improvements & enhancements for 2015/16.

(1)        That the latest out-turn forecasts for each of the projects funded by the Housing Improvements and Service Enhancements Fund in 2014/15, provided at Appendix 1 of the report, be noted;

(2)        That the associated expenditure for any slippage on individual projects in 2014/15 be carried forward to complete the projects in 2015/16;

(3)        That the following be noted:

            (a)        That the Housing Scrutiny Panel had already recommended to the Cabinet for the cost of increasing the financial incentives for Council tenants    downsizing their accommodation be met from the Housing Improvements and      Service Enhancements Fund; and

            (b)        That the Cabinet had already agreed the Fund should meet the costs         relating to the Housing Revenue Account of increasing the size of the new Corporate Fraud Team from April 2015, subject to the required General Fund Continuing Services Budget (CSB) bid being agreed;

(4)        That the following proposed list of Housing Improvements and Service Enhancements for 2015/16, and the associated recommendations for each project, be approved:

            (a)        That the Allpay paperless daily direct debit facility be introduced from April 2015 for Council tenants, to replace the present four dates per month cycle;

            (b)        That the Allpay swipe card payment facility and daily direct debits be           introduced from April 2015 for Council leaseholders;

            (c)        That a revenue grant of £37,800 be provided to the Epping Forest Citizens             Advice Bureau to fund the continuation of the two temporary full-time Debt      Advisors for a further 12 months from 1 April 2015;

            (d)        That the non-HRA contribution of grant - amounting to £4,200 - be funded from      the grant received as part of the Local Government Grant Settlement 2015/16 specifically for homelessness prevention measures;    

            (e)        That an additional temporary part-time (18 hours) Housing Officer post be created for a period of 18 months, to enable the planned expansion of services at       the Limes Centre in Chigwell for a pilot period of 12 months; and

            (f)         That a review of the success of the pilot be undertaken by the Housing       Scrutiny Panel (or successor body) following 12 months of operation to decide            whether the temporary post in (e) above should be made permanent;

(5)        That the amount allocated from the Fund to the Major Capital Projects Reserve be increased in 2015/16 from £200,000 to £384,000 to fund future Housing Capital projects (either in 2015/16 or future years); and

(6)        That, at its meeting in January 2016, the Scrutiny Panel / Select Committee responsible for scrutinising the Housing Service be requested to consider and recommend to the Cabinet the proposed use of the Housing Improvements and Service Enhancements Fund for 2016/17.