My report to council

Posted By: Doreen Brophy-Lee
Date Posted: 17/10/2008

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Housing Portfolio.

Water Charges
In 2004 RBH undertook a feasibility study on the costs and benefits of collecting water charges. This included extensive tenant consultation. RBH’s Board approved the approach in December 2004 and it recommended that the Council enter into the agreement with United Utilities.

In January 2005 the all party Cabinet approved a five year contract with United Utilities. The report made it clear that RBH would be responsible for the collection of water charges as part of the rent. Over £1.8m has been generated in the first 3 years, all of which is being spent on environmental improvements on housing estates.

Over the past 12/18 months a member of the public has suggested that the approach taken by RBH and the Council is illegal. There have been a number of representations to the District Auditor, Performance Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet. As a result of these representations a full report was prepared for Cabinet confirming the position. In particular it was felt necessary to clarify the position relating to the collection of water charges only debt. The Cabinet considered the report and confirmed the existing debt collection policy. This approach has been in operation for many years. RBH will continue to offer every assistance to tenants who fall into arrears. Cabinet made it clear that the current approach would continue i.e. it would only consider eviction proceedings as a last resort for those tenants who have refused to take part in the assistance offered or who have simply refused to pay their rent.

New house building in Heywood

Despite the current gloomy news surrounding the housing market we have been able to support a pilot scheme in Heywood to build 4 low cost home ownership bungalows for sale to local residents. This is a brilliant scheme being run by 3 former employees of the council who have now set them up as a Building Trades Agency community enterprise to build new low cost housing which will support construction training in a sustainable way. The scheme started on site about 3 weeks ago and due to the innovative construction methods that they are using we should be seeing the walls and the roofs completed in a very short time.

This scheme has only been possible through the support of New Deal for Communities and the Affordable Housing receipts that we have received from planning approvals. I would also like to recognise the commitment made by the Building Trades Agency and its 3 founding members.




Affordable Warmth

I am really pleased to have launched an affordable Warmth Strategy for the borough which will continue to build on the excellent work that Strategic Housing does in supporting low income households access advice and energy efficient improvements. Over a 3 year period we have seen excess winter deaths in this borough falling from a peak in 2004/05 of 113 to just 49 in 2006/07. Even this figure is too high and our strategy sets out the ways in which we will continue to support low income householders in this borough improve the energy efficiency of their homes which in turn will improve affordability.

It is estimated that across the borough there are still over 23,000 households who are living in fuel poverty. The recent rapid increase in fuel prices has probably made this position even worse and it is absolutely vital that as a council we do as much as possible to help those households by minimising their heating costs.

Petrus

I recently visited the Falinge Road Petrus scheme to help celebrate their 10th anniversary and was able to see at first hand the excellent work this organisation does with vulnerable members of our community. I spoke to many of the residents and have heard at first hand some of their stories and how Petrus was helping them. I rounded off my visit with a presentation of a 10th birthday cake and thanked the staff for inviting me.

Improving relationships

During August a number of cross party members and I attended a very successful event with the RBH Board and senior officers. This event was held as part of the process to rebuild our good relations with RBH and I am sure those colleagues that attended will agree that we moved a long way forward. One of the immediate outcomes of our improved relationship was a highly successful RBH AGM held in the Town Hall and a recently initiated recruitment process for a new Chief Executive for RBH.

Lower Falinge estate

Like a number of other members I have been attending the Spotlight events which have focussed on Lower Falinge in response to the deprivation indicators. Following the events I am taking a personal interest in the estate by visiting tenants to get a feel at first hand of some of the issues they are facing. I will also be ensuring that officers from both the Strategic Housing Service and RBH are fully engaged in developing and delivering the answers that this areas needs.

Regional and sub-regional work

One of the responsibilities of my portfolio is to represent Manchester at the North West Housing Forum. I attended my first meeting in September and met fellow councillors from the other sub-regions and was able to discuss some of our shared issues and to see at first hand some of the major housing led regeneration schemes in Manchester. My membership of the Forum is both helpful to me in learning about the wider Strategic Housing issues but also in enabling Rochdale to help influence some of the thinking and ideas going into regional and sub-regional plans. These are gaining in importance for the council and it is vital that Rochdale maintains this influence.

Doreen Brophy-Lee