MINUTES
Inner South HAP
Thursday 4th June, 2015: 5pm –7pm
Navigation House
Attendees:
Name
Dennis Moody
Lyn Morgan
Roy Birch
Jean Weeks
Cllr Adam Oglivie
Cllr Paul Trusswell
Sharon Rhodes
Wyn Davies
Peter Greenwood
Tracey McGarry
Jordan Reid
Apologies
Jeff Clarke
Yvonne Crowther
Amanda Street
Jude Ezika
Ian Pickup
Initials Position
DM
4:30p4mLM
– 6:30pm
RB
JW
AO
PT
SR
WD
PG
TM
Housing Assistant – Tenant and Involvement
JR
JC
YC
AS
JE
IP
Item No.
1.0
Welcome and Apologies
1.1
TW opens the meeting and introductions and apologies were given as above.
Owner
2.0
2.1
Minutes of Last Meeting
Minutes of last meeting were confirmed as accurate.
3.0
3.1
Matters Arising (not on the agenda)
PG clarifies that there are 2 co-optees allowed to be appointed to the panel.
However, co-optees have no entitlement to vote, the status of panel members is to
be reviewed regarding the decisions on past bids.
PG
3.1.1
The sharing of expertise being on the panel regardless of voting rights is discussed
as being beneficial once the forward planning of bids is suited where cooptees are
able to guide and use the best of their knowledge.
3.2
The Probation Services proposal being brought to all 11 HAPS to discuss and
decide on the funding agreements to allow the project to become Citywide.
3.2.1
Each of the 11 HAPs will pay an amount that is calculated on the number of stock
within the area.
3.2.2
However, all South panels, IS, OS and OSE had already contributed funding into a
1
past contract that was undelivered. As a result of already committing to payment,
the South panels will not need to input any extra funding into the new Probation
Proposal.
3.2.3
Work will be carried out on a referral basis. Although tenants are able to make
referrals and can ensure that work is prioritised.
4.0
PG informs that the Investment Project Officer is liaising with Highways and other
contractors regarding the next phase of the Throstle Road North project.
5.0
DM informs that the work on the Middleton Skate Park project has begun and
estimated date for completion is end of July.
6.0
RB raises concerns on the area behind St. Mary’s Church in the Hunslet area. PG
requested that he and the Housing Officer arrange a visit to meet RB at the site and
assess the criteria for making referral to probation services.
7.0
Ian Kenning will be visiting the next panel.
4.0
4.1
Housing Management- Performance Report
The performance report for the Inner South area has been circulated to the panel.
4.2
PG informs that this will reoccur on a quarterly basis and welcomes feedback on
the format and layout of the report.
4.3
The HAP panels will have the opportunity to digress the report, finding areas that
need attention and deliver an input into assisting the matters. This will allow the
HAP to decide on potential bids going forward.
4.4
SR and WD were present to provide further information and a breakdown on the
figures provided.
The areas of performance discussed from the report covered:
 Voids
 Evictions
 Repairs
 AHVs (Annual Home Visits)
4.5
Housing Managers explained that changes to the work structure along with the PFI
and new build development coinciding with this has had some effect on the amount
of homes to re let. WD informs that there is to be extra staff in place before the end
of June to assist with the PFI properties going forward.
4.6
With the criteria for letting of new builds on the Local Lettings Policy, there have
been many tenants rehoused on the basis of holding good tenancy records which
result in recycling of homes rather than the re let of new properties.
4.7
Questioning into the Middleton Park figures include homes managed by BITMO.
4.8
On the percentage of AHVs, WD explains that the results are only given on the
properties where access had been granted and in the case when appointments
have not been kept, and efforts from Housing Officers to rearrange are undelivered
on the statistics.
4.9
Overall the performance within Inner South is on average with achieving the KPI
PG
2
targets in comparison to the whole of the areas citywide.
5.0
5.1
Budget Update
PG to expand the document text to ensure a more easy to read format.
5.2
With the housing staff having more guidance on panel bid criteria, it is expected that
approximately 70-80 bids may come forward.
5.3
Due to a large amount of bids being proposed of coming for approval, it has been a
suggestion that senior management staff prioritise the projects to ensure that the
budget is being spent in a beneficial way. PG also informs that this approach would
assist in speedier completion.
5.4
This may impact in a negative way towards the smaller businesses not being able
to cope with the stock and production requests if bids are joined together. One of
the priorities of LCC is to build up and help employment in the area.
5.5
Parks and Countryside have a large amount of work coming forward, increases
within the warmer months. HAP reassure that contracts can be accessed from other
sources and funding streams to ensure that savings are made and completion
targets are kept.
5.6
At the beginning of the 2015/16 Inner South were awarded £138.098 given the total
stock in the area.
5.6.1
£6,616 of unspent funds were carried forward from the 2014/15 budget.
5.6.2
This equals that at the beginning of 2015/2016 the Inner South HAP have £144,714
to spend.
5.6.3
To date the Inner South HAP have spent £14,667 With the approval of the bids
being decided to go ahead on today’s agenda, the total spend will be £16,115.
6.0
6.1
Applications for Funding
Dulverton Court
PG informs that this has now been included as part of the HRA environmental
scheme. There is no extra funding requested in regards to this project.
6.2
Bismarck Street fencing
PG delivers this bid and explains that the St. Luke’s TARA in the Beeston area had
previously raised this 6 months ago.
6.2.1
They describe the use of a piece of land being used for vehicles to drive over to
Bismarck Street through accessing of a shortcut from car park. The land has also
been used for a route which involves police vehicles chasing criminals. With the
high travelling speeds and unpredictability, the concern for safety is of high risk.
6.2.3
PG explains that the site visit has been completed.
6.2.4
PG informs that Cllr Gabriel made a suggestion to possibly agree to funds to come
from the Wellbeing Fund with the suggestion to some joint funding being agreed by
the Area Committee.
6.2.5
PG explains the issues with access for quad bikes and the request for bollards and
a strip of metal fencing has been approved by LEDA.
3
6.2.6
The work will be delivered from Parks and Countryside. Although question has
been raised regarding the makeover of the grass area to improve appearance done
once the barriers are in place. PG to look into this and feedback.
PG
APPROVED £448.24
6.3
Space 2 – choir
A choir project has been set up to help a group of people suffering from some form
of mental health and addiction. This has helped many on their road to recovery.
6.3.1
PG research shows that of the 17 choir members, only 1 was from the Inner South
area.
6.3.2
Possibility of perhaps going Citywide with this to achieve a good geographical
representation across Leeds. DM to take this to the CCCG meeting 10/06/15.
6.3.3
Suggestion that the venue be considered to being local to save costs on the
travelling for tenants attending.
6.3.4
DM mentions that it would be beneficial to invite the co-ordinators along to a future
housing team meeting to discuss and explain the project in further detail.
6.3.5
PG to feedback to the panel regarding the amount of tenants that can be referred to
the group, and the number of available spaces including ratio of staff to members.
6.3.6
Sessions are due to end in October 2015, and taking into consideration the
recruitment process with level of support needed for each dependant. PG relates
that the going forward of a citywide proposal would help benefit to the ongoing of
the service.
6.3.7
More information required before the panel can make a decision.
7.0
7.1
DEFERRED
Evaluation Template
It has been agreed that once a project has been completed, it will be a role of the
Involvement officers to produce an evaluation report for each.
7.2
PG
The template has been circulated and includes sections to input with information
detailing:












7.3
DM
Name of project
Cost
Which HAP funded the project
Other funding support received
Partners that worked alongside
Short summary of the project
Quotes
Positive difference that was made
Learning that came from it
Estimated number of tenants who benefited
Start / Completion date
Image of the project
The promotion of the project will be done through the Housing Leeds Information
4
Team using :



Social Media – Facebook and Twitter
HAP Website
Tenant Newsletters
7.4
Positive comments that the views being input on the evaluation sheet are coming
direct from the people who submitted the bid.
7.4.1
LM suggests that the HAP could occasionally include visits from completed HAP
funded projects. Here they could present the benefits that it has made and show
before / after photos.
8.0
8.1
CCCG Feedback
Due to DM and LM having to give apologies at the last CCCG meeting, no update
could be given. DM to feedback on the next agenda.
9.0
9.1
Probation Services- City Wide Contract
Due to South panels having already submitted funds into the Probation Services but
with no production of work, there will be no extra funding being deducted from Inner
South, Outer South or Outer South East.
9.2
Money will be paid to the probation services on a quarterly basis and evaluation can
be requested. A fully paid supervisor will be present onsite with each of the 3 teams
to ensure that outlined work is complete to a satisfactory standard.
10.0
10.1
Any Other Business
An extra £25,000 has been given towards the development of Middleton Skate
Park. The project achieves to involve young people to design the area. The secured
funding will allow for further features to be made that were decided to make the
project more appealing.
Due to the extra work being produced as a result of more funding, the completion
date has been moved to approximately July 2015, weather depending.
Reassurance on ASB issues being a problem once up and running given as the
Neighbourhood Policing team will be involved to deter this.
10.2
Placement of MUGA (Multi Used Games Area) in Cottingley will result in the route
of planting of the Wild Flower Meadow, from the In Bloom group be changed due to
the target start dates being similar time frames.
10.3
DM has noticed that whilst travelling throughout areas of Inner South, he has
noticed many cameras that have been installed on main roads over past 4 weeks.
WD informs that Zahid Butt will be delivering information to the housing team
regarding the installation of CCTV cameras in the Inner South area.
Possibility that the CCTV cameras are being used to monitor traffic and congestion
along busy routes or as a number recognition tool to combat vehicle crime.
SR to speak with Highways department to confirm and will feedback.
11.0
SR
Date of Next Meeting
5
The next meeting will be on Thursday 9th July, 2015 at Navigation House, 5pm –
7pm.
Item No.
Summary of Actions and Agreements
3.1
PG to revisit decisions on previous bids, due to knowledge of co-optee voting rights
being confirmed.
4.7
Performance report figures to be clarified. Question of inclusion of BITMO statistics.
6.2.6
Grass makeover request on Bismarck Street fencing bid.
6.3.3
Venue re-location for Choir – Space 2 project.
6.3.6
Possibility of citywide proposal for Choir – Space 2 project.
10.3
Information from Highways Dept regarding the camera installation along Inner
South main roads.
Owner
PG
PG
PG
DM
PG
SR
6