Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation from HouseMark updating the Group on the Council’s current position with regard to its benchmarking results for 2016/17.

The Group received a presentation from HouseMark updating it on the Council’s current position with regard to its benchmarking results for 2016/17:

Mr Lomax Relationship Account Manager for HouseMark provided the meeting with information on the Cost and Performance Benchmarking Report for 2017; he explained that the organisation collated information from different housing organisations and made comparisons with other similar rural local authorities. He identified the “bespoke group” used for comparison purposes with similar stock sizes.

He outlined the following issues that were part of the benchmarking process and where the authority stood within the group on each issue:

·         Overheads as percentage of adjusted turnover

·         Total cost per property – housing management

·         Total tenant arrears as % rent due (excluding voids)

·         Average re-let time in days (standards re-lets)

·         Rent loss due to voids

·         Tenancy turnover rate

·         Vacant dwellings split

·         Total cost per property : responsive repairs and void works

·         Average number of responsive repairs per property and  cost per property

·         Average number of calendar days to complete repairs

·         Percentage of repairs completed at the first visit

·         Appointments kept as a percentage of appointments made

·         Total cost per property: major works and cyclical maintenance

·         Percentage of dwellings with a valid gas safety certificate

·         Satisfaction with repairs.

Members acknowledged that performance was good and asked that congratulations be passed to officers.  The Chairman thanked Mr Lomax for his attendance.