Agenda item

An update from the Cabinet Members on key areas within their portfolios are attached.

The Cabinet Member for Housing will be in attendance to answer questions from the Committee.

5.1       The Committee received written updates from the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Corporate Services and the Cabinet Member for Housing on the key issues within their portfolios. 

5.2       Councillor Rachael Robathan, Cabinet Member for Housing, addressed the committee.  With reference to her recent appointment to the portfolio, she advised that her previous experience as Cabinet Member for Adults and Community Protection would enable her to bring a different perspective to the portfolio’s challenges.  She was aware that the city required more housing of every tenure.  She recognised that there were huge pressures to deliver housing and she undertook to do all that she could to speed up delivery.  She had recently visited each of the regeneration sites and had spoken to all of the officers involved.  She advised that one of her key priorities is to have a viable proposal for Ebury Bridge by April which can then be discussed with Ward councillors followed by residents.

5.3       Councillor Robathan further advised that she had transported two areas of responsibility from her previous role.  These were the Specialist Housing Strategy for Older People and the Council’s Hubs Programme.

5.4       The Cabinet Member then responded to questions on the following issues:

            Housing Provision

5.4.1    The Cabinet Member was asked whether she intended to review any executive decisions taken prior to her appointment such as purchasing accommodation out of borough.  She was also asked how she intended to speed up the delivery of urgently needed housing.  Councillor Robathan stated that she did not intend to revisit decisions taken by her predecessor.  She reflected that some decisions such as purchasing housing out of borough had been difficult to make but were necessary in order to provide affordable, stable homes for residents.  Ideally the Council would house all residents within the borough but given the size of the housing waiting list this was unachievable.  Every effort would be made to house residents as close as possible to Westminster.  She advised she was focusing her attention on increasing the speed of housing delivery.  None of the objectives are easy to deliver.  There are difficult issues to overcome in each Ward where there can be embedded views.  She would be holding a series of monthly meetings with officers on delivering the Council’s housing regeneration programme.

            In response to further questions Councillor Robathan stated that she fully supported and would endeavour to push for apprenticeship opportunities for young Westminster residents as part of the Housing Regeneration Programme.

            Increasing Intermediate Housing Provision

5.4.2    Councillor Robathan was asked whether the Council intended to increase the provision of intermediate housing in the city.  She advised that there was a strong commitment to deliver more of this tenure in Westminster.  To facilitate this the Council was looking to amend its planning policy on the ratio of social to intermediate housing required to be provided on the new on relevant housing schemes.  At present the policy requires 60% of new affordable housing to be social housing and 40% intermediate.  The intention is to switch the ratio requirement. 

            In-borough Social Housing Delivery

5.4.3    Given the significant costs of land in Westminster the Cabinet Member was asked about the benefits of delivering social housing in borough.  Councillor Robathan explained that the Council has a duty to deliver as much housing within the borough as possible.  She considered that it was important for future generations to ensure that Westminster has mixed and diverse communities.  However, she stated that it was not possible to house all eligible residents in the borough.  Where consideration is given to purchasing accommodation outside of Westminster importance will be placed on ensuring that this is a reasonable distance and travel time from Westminster.

            Future of CityWest Homes (CWH) Estate Offices

5.4.4    The Cabinet Member was asked for clarity about plans for the future of CWH estate offices as different explanations appeared to be provided to different audiences.  The Cabinet Member explained that as part of the CWH Strategy for 2015-2020 the organisation was reviewing the current use of estate offices to ensure that services provided meet residents’ changing needs.  95% of all resident contact with CWH is conducted by phone and email.  CWH was developing a new Multichannel Service Centre which would make it easier for residents to engage with the organisation.  It was expected that there would be fewer dedicated estate offices.  CWH would be looking at how it can deliver housing advice using other community facilities such as Children’s Centres cost and libraries.  This includes offering home visits for vulnerable residents.  Members wished to ensure that any community facilities identified would be an easy walking distance from Estates and that the provision would be on a permanent basis.  It was also suggested that plans should be communicated to residents as quickly as possible to provide reassurance.

            Newman Street Pilot Project

5.4.5    Barbara Brownlee, Director of Housing and Regeneration, provided an update on the pilot which is providing temporary accommodation for single homeless adults.  She explained that the pilot was progressing well and was providing stability for vulnerable adults with particularly challenging circumstances.  Floating support workers were working from the site providing a range of assistance including employment advice.  Prior to the commencement of the pilot none of those participating in the pilot were registered with a GP or dentist which resulted in numerous admissions to A & E or callouts for ambulances.  100% of the residents were now registered with health practitioners which would result in a significant saving to the NHS.

            Rough Sleeping

5.4.6    The Cabinet Member was asked whether service levels would be affected by the recent decision to cut £808k from the rough sleeping budget.  Councillor Robathan stated that she had held talks with service providers and advised that despite the reduction in the budget there would not be any cuts to service provision.

5.5       The Committee also submitted a request for information in relation to a couple of matters within the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Corporate Services.

5.6       ACTIONS:

1.    The committee would like details about the Council's IT security strategy to mitigate the threats to the organisation.  Members want to know whether cloud computing provides the same security as the existing server infrastructure.  (Action for: Ben Goward, Interim Director of ICT)

2.     Members would like a note on any changes to business rates and any impact on the Council following additional relief announced by the Chancellor in the spring budget.  (Action for: Steve Mair, City Treasurer)