Agenda item

To receive performance information for the areas falling under the remit of this Policy Development Group for quarter 3 of 2024/2025.

The Group were presented with, and NOTED, a slide * showing performance information in the Mid Devon Housing area both under the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the General Fund (GF).

The dashboards aimed to give an ‘at a glance’ understanding of how services were performing in terms of performance measures, finance and risk. Any measures that were also part of the Corporate Plan were listed in yellow text.

The indicators were presented with current performance, the annual target and a RAG (red/amber/green) rating to indicate whether or not the Council was on track to meet its target. Overall performance was presented in a pie chart which combined the RAG ratings for both of the performance and the finance measures.

The following red and amber indicators were referred to:

·       The projected outturn for the General Fund was showing as red. In part this was due to the cost of upgrades to the community alarm kit following changes in technology.

·       The delivery of new social housing was showing as red and new net zero properties was also showing as red. There had been delays to live projects as well as difficulties awarding contracts for some projects which had contributed to these ratings.

·       Complaints responded to within the complaints handling timescale was showing as amber, however, there had been 100% compliance in quarter three and indeed in quarter two before that, therefore performance was improving.

·       Housing stock occupancy rate was shown as amber. There were a number of long term development voids awaiting redevelopment and this was continuing to lower the occupancy rate.

·       HRA projected tenant income was showing as amber and this was related to the inclusion of the forecast 24/25 refunds for the overcharges arising from a historic rent calculation error.

·       Projected capital outturn was showing as amber. Capital slippage of development projects was also amber. There were a number of different reasons behind some of the project delays. For example, delays around utility companies and their failure to adhere to project time scales and challenges with Devon County around road closures and their preference for these to be within school holidays. These factors had affected the Council’s ability to deliver new social housing in the district. However, the pipeline of projects remained strong.

A brief discussion took place regarding:

·       Whether there could be a target in relation to ‘Unoccupied and unfurnished empty homes’? It was explained that several years ago the Council had employed an Empty Homes Officer as part of a discretionary service. However, this post had been removed as part of budgetary savings in this area. The imminent Tenancy Strategy would include a number of initiatives which would address some of these issues.

·       ‘Empty Homes’ could have numerous classifications.

·       The delays being experienced as a result of utility companies failing to meet desired timescales. Some new development was ready to go but needed a power supply. The reliance on Government funding was also frustrating. These were key blocking factors preventing development from moving forward at a quicker pace.

·       The Group sought reassurance regarding staffing levels and were informed that Mid Devon Housing was going through a process of restructuring and more staffing resource would exist going forwards.

·       It was not in the Council’s interest to build unsafe developments or fail to meet the requirements of the building regulations.

Note: * Slide previously circulated.