Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing summarising the findings of a review of the prevalence, causes and effects of damp and mould affecting Mid Devon Housing (MDH) council housing stock and is a follow up to the MDH Damp and Mould Review 2022 and the introduction of a new Damp and Mould Policy 2023.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing summarising the findings of a review of the prevalence, causes and effects of damp and mould affecting Mid Devon Housing (MDH) council housing stock and is a follow up to the MDH Damp and Mould Review 2022 and the introduction of a new Damp and Mould Policy 2023.

Discussion took place with regard to:

·         Whether there was any support in place for people with a disability or who fell into the vulnerable category? It was confirmed that there was a handyman service although this could be cost prohibitive. Information as regards to vulnerability was collected at the beginning of each tenancy but a picture was built up through every contact with the tenant and the system flagged. It was something that the service was working on and a Working Group tasked with looking at this had been established.

·         As the climate was getting wetter the prevalence of Damp and Mould was increasing, it was no longer just a winter problem.

·         There was no longer a financial incentive for the Council to install solar panels.

·         The officer responsible for the Damp and Mould area had networked with colleagues in other authorities and organisations to gain and share a bank of knowledge and understanding which the service was now benefitting from. Positive input ventilation (PIV) systems have been installed now reporting no mould and a further 33% seeing a significant reduction as a result of the advice received from MDH.

·         Damp and Mould had been made a focus for the Neighbourhood Teams which was leading to more reporting and intervention. This was a positive step forwards and a better knowledge base was being built up.

Note: * Report previously circulated.