Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document
Meeting of the Executive held on 05/04/2005
HOUSING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG)
22ND MARCH 2005
APPENDIX L
WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
HOUSING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG)
22ND MARCH 2005
REPORT TO THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE – 5TH APRIL 2005
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN
The Special Interest Group (SIG) elected Mr K T Reed (Executive Portfolio Holder for Housing) as its Chairman.
A.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The proposed Terms of Reference of the SIG were received as attached as
Annexe 1
.
Recommendation
1. The Executive is recommended to adopt the Terms of Reference for the current stage of the SIG’s work.
B.
STOCK TRANSFER CONSULTANTS
B.1 The SIG noted that, following invitations to tender and assessments by an interview panel, the following consultants had been appointed to assist the Council throughout the stock transfer process:
§
Lead Consultants – Housing Quality Network (HQN)
§
Legal Consultants – Trowers and Hamlins
§
Independent Tenant Advisers –
TACT@DOME
§
Public Relations and Communications Consultants – to be appointed following interviews on 1st April 2005.
B.2 The Consultant Team Leaders were introduced to the SIG and each gave a presentation on their proposed work programme leading up to the pre-ballot stage of
the stock transfer.
C.
STOCK TRANSFER PROGRESS REPORT
C.1 The SIG received a report summarising the steps taken by officers in preparation for Stock Transfer. It provided information on the consultants’ recruitment process, stock transfer application, formation of a Shadow Registered Social Landlord and Corporate Support Group.
C.2 The Corporate Support Group (CSG) has been established to service and support the Housing SIG, Executive and Council to oversee the stock transfer project and
consists of officers across departments. The Group has started work on creating a project plan, recruiting consultants, identifying HRA assets and Personnel issues.
C.3 Members of the CSG have met with Surrey County Council to discuss the new Registered Social Landlord becoming an admitted body to the pension scheme to ensure staff have continuity in pensions rights.
Recommendation
2. The Executive is recommended to support in principle the new Registered Social Landlord becoming an admitted body to Surrey County Council’s Pension Scheme.
Present at the meeting:
Members
Mr K T Reed (Chairman)
Mrs P Ellis
Mr P B Isherwood
An apology for absence was received from Mrs P M Frost.
Consultants
Ms S Groom – HQN
Mr I Dolittle – Trowers and Hamlins
Ms K Williams – TACT@DOME
The following officers were present:
Mrs L Austin
Mrs A Howson
Mr D January
Miss C Pointer
Mrs G Pope
Mr I Lynch
Mr R Wood
comms/exec/2004-05/478
Annexe 1
Proposed Terms of Reference
Housing Special Interest Group
The Housing Special Interest Group will work to provide clear guidance through the Executive
to the Council to achieve Stock Transfer, which will deliver Decent Homes for tenants and new affordable homes for Waverley residents.
The Housing Special Interest Group will progress the Stock Transfer process to ballot and in the event of a yes vote progress the transfer of the housing stock to the new Waverley Registered Social Landlord (RSL).
The Housing Special Interest Group will consider the Council’s retained housing role recommending viable options to cover:
§
its statutory obligations, e.g. homelessness, housing needs assessment, stock condition assessment and housing advice
§
fulfilling its strategic housing functions, and
§
enabling additional affordable homes
The Housing Special Interest Group will endeavour to ensure that the transfer results in mutually beneficial outcomes for the tenants, Council and RSL, promoting a sustainable partnership between the Council and RSL.
The Housing Special Interest Group will adopt best practice, drawing on guidance from officers, consultants (lead, legal, communications and Independent Tenant Adviser), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Government Office of the South East, Community Housing Taskforce, the Housing Corporation and the Audit Commission.
comms/exec/2004-05/478