Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Group Manager for Building Services, the Homes Policy Development Group has recommended that the revised Neighbourhood Management Policy be approved.

Arising from a report of the Group Manager for Building Services, the Homes Policy Development Group had recommended that the revised Neighbourhood Management Policy be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined the contents of the report stating that the revised policy contained changes with regard to the distribution of communal keys, the use of communal gardens and responsibility for the maintenance of gardens associated with tenancies.  The revised policy would assist officers in their work with tenants.

RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Note:  *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Group Manager for Housing. The Housing Services Neighbourhood Management Policy is due for review during 2018 and the revised draft contains a number of changes regarding the distribution of communal keys, the use of communal gardens and responsibility for the maintenance of gardens. The suggested amendments should reinforce the Housing Services’ commitment to keeping its neighbourhoods and communal areas clean and safe.

The Group had before it a report * of the Group Manager for Housing. The Housing Services Neighbourhood Management Policy is due for review during 2018 and the revised draft contains a number of changes regarding the distribution of communal keys, the use of communal gardens and responsibility for the maintenance of gardens associated with tenancies. There was a regulatory requirement to have a policy and the suggested amendments were intended to reinforce the Council’s commitment to keep its neighbourhoods and communal areas clean and safe.

The Group Manager for Housing outlined the contents of the report with reference to the following:

·         The Homes & Communities Agency required the Council to have a Neighbourhood Management Policy and as such this was a regulatory obligation.

·         The revised policy strengthened what was already set out in the Tenancy Agreement.

·         Changes in relation to the policy included:

o   Additional keys for communal doors would not now be provided as a matter of routine in order to maintain the security of flats.

o   BBQs in communal areas are permitted, subject to several conditions.

o   External Christmas decorations would not be permitted.

o   Toys must be removed overnight in communal areas and their use must be supervised.

o   The parking of mobility scooters in communal areas would be strictly forbidden.

·       In the Tenancy Agreement it was clearly stated that the tenant had responsibility for maintaining their own gardens. If the tenant failed to comply with the agreement then the landlord would undertake the work and charge the tenant for having done so.

It was requested that information regarding the number of Council owned flats sharing communal areas be sent to the Group.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the revised Neighbourhood Management Policy be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr Mrs H Bainbridge and seconded by Cllr D R Coren)

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