Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Housing and Property Services advising Members of the Void Management Policy.

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Property Services advising Members of the Void Management Policy.  It was explained that the policy had been drafted on the basis of a recent tenant consultation. The results of the consultation had indicated that the provision of a decoration pack and the decoration reward grant could be stopped without any detrimental effect upon the letting process. It was therefore suggested that a 50% reduction be made which would save somewhere in the region of £85k over 4 years.

Discussion took place regarding tenants decorating their properties. When improvements were made to kitchens and bathrooms the Council would as a matter of course ensure that the surrounding decoration was up to an acceptable standard, however, they would not redecorate bedrooms or living rooms, this would be up to the tenants themselves. All properties were expected to be returned to a decent standard of decoration upon vacation of the property.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet recommend to full Council that the new Void Management Policy be approved subject to Appendix B showing a 50% reduction in the costs relating to the paint packs and decoration grant.

(Proposed by Councillor W J Daw and seconded by Councillor J D Squire)

Note:   (i) * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.

(ii) Councillor Mrs J Doe requested that her abstention from voting be recorded.