APPENDIX S - REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE CONSULTANCY : Executive on 04/02/2003

Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document

Meeting of the Executive held on 04/02/2003
APPENDIX S - REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE CONSULTANCY

This report seeks authority to appoint a consultancy to assist the Council in preparing its HRA Business Plan for submission to the Government this summer. Details of the feel proposal are outlined in the exempt annexe to this report. The costs of this consultancy will be met from within HRA.

APPENDIX S

WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE - 4TH FEBRUARY 2003

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Title:

REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE CONSULTANCY

[Wards Affected: All]
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Note pursuant to Section 100B(5) of the Local Government Act 1972

The annexe to this report contains exempt information by virtue of which the public is likely to be excluded during the item to which the report relates, as specified in paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, viz:-

Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

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Summary and Purpose

This report seeks authority to appoint a consultancy to assist the Council in preparing its HRA Business Plan for submission to the Government this summer. Details of the feel proposal are outlined in the exempt annexe to this report. The costs of this consultancy will be met from within HRA.

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Introduction

1. The Government published its draft proposals to introduce a Decent Homes Standard in late 2000 which were subsequently approved in March 2001 although they have been further modified in April 2002.

2. Members will recall that the Government required all local authorities and registered social landlords to meet the decent homes standard and requires plans to achieve the standard by 2010.

3. The Council is now required to submit a separate HRA Business Plan detailing its investment proposals to meet the standard, as well as wider strategic matters.

Decent Homes Standard

4. The Council undertook a 15% stock condition survey during 1999/2000 in preparation for the proposed transfer of the stock and resource accounting. Accordingly, the stock information is being manipulated by intermediate software to respond to the Decent Homes criteria.

5. Over the last two years significant progress has been made to

• restructure the housing service

• undertake a best value review of the repairs and maintenance service

• introduce a wide range of improvements agreed in the Best Value improvement plan.

6. However, there have been difficulties in the staffing of the service which has prevented as much progress as was desired being achieved.

7. It appears that significant additional resources may need to be employed and your officers consider that the consultancy which originally commissioned the survey would be appropriate to advise on these additional requirements. See (Exempt) Annexe.

Financial Implications

8. The Council is spending of the order of Ł5.5m per annum on the repairs and maintenance to the Housing Stock. These resources need to be targeted at the areas that will assist the Council in achieving the Decent Homes Standard and the other requirements outlined in the report on the programme of work.

9. The cost of this consultancy can be met from the current HRA revenue provision for repairs and maintenance in 2002/03 and 2003/04.

Conclusions

10. The Council’s Repairs and Maintenance Strategy includes the meeting of the Government’s Decent Homes Standard. It is now a requirement for local authorities to address these issues in the HRA Business Plan Submission to the Government.

11. It is proposed that the Consultancy, detailed in the (Exempt) Annexe, to assist officers to prepare this submission, be accepted. The Consultancy will:

1. Provide overview and recommendations on actions needed to manage stock data and meet Decent Homes Standard.

2. Review and assess maintenance sector and identify new skills required to meet these requirements.

3. Assist in the development of standards for procurement, value for money and reinvestment requirement.

4. Contribute to the HRA Business Plan and Asset Management Strategy.

Recommendation

It is recommended that:

1. Standing Orders (Contracts) be waived in order that the consultants referred to in the (Exempt) Annexe be appointed to assist in meeting the Decent Homes Standard as part of the 2003 HRA Business Plan submission;

2. the fee proposal detailed in the (Exempt) Annexe be accepted.

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Background Papers (DoH)

There are no background papers (as defined by Section 100D(5) of the Local Government Act 1972) relating to this report.
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CONTACT OFFICER:

Name: D January Telephone: 01483 .523362
E-mail: djanuary@waveley.gov.uk

comms/executive/2002-03/511