Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B.W. Jones and H.B Shepardson.

There were no declarations of prohibited party whips.

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

The Committee, in accordance with the decision made at its meeting on the 26^th January 2023, received a monitoring report on the effectiveness of the new Emergency Social Housing Allocation Policy developed by its Task and Finish Group. It was noted the content of the report included data for the previous period relating to:

1.     Proportion of properties directly matched and those advertised,

2.     Banding of clients directly matched,

3.     Number of properties directly matched and advertised by each community area, type of property and landlord,

4.     Proportion of direct matches that were successful,

5.     Number of direct matches where the client requested a review of the allocation and the outcome of those reviews,

6.     Number of direct matches where the client refused the allocation but didn’t request a review.

The following questions/ issues were raised on the report:-

·       In response to a question on the reason for the increase in unsuitable matches of properties between the 3^rd and 4^th quarter of 2023-24, the Committee was advised that it related in the main to properties offered to people situated within Band B, who were entitled to refuse up to two reasonable offers of a property. It was noted that aspect of the policy was being reviewed as part of the development of the New Social Housing Allocation Policy and would be included within the policy to be submitted to the Committee at its July meeting.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the monitoring report be received.

(NOTE: Councillor R Sparks having earlier declared an interest in this item, re-declared the interest and remained in the meeting for its consideration)

The Committee considered the 2023/24 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring reports for the Housing, Regeneration and Property, Place and Sustainability and Leisure and Recreation Services for the period up to the 29^th February, 2024. It noted the revenue budget was forecasting a £181k underspend, the capital budget a £38,256k underspend, whilst the Housing Revenue Account was forecasting a £46k overspend.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report be received.

The Committee considered the report of its Task and Finish Group established to examine the operation of the Council’s Adaptations Service within the Community Department’s Housing Property and Strategic Projects Division in relation to both the current backlog of work and the processes with a view to improving service delivery for both the public and contract holders (tenants).

The report detailed the Group’s work including the formulation of a revised Home Adaptations Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, together with recommendations for the committee’s consideration which, if adopted, would be forwarded to the Council’s Cabinet for consideration.

The following questions/issues were raised on the report:

·         Reference was made to the recommendation to re-introduce means testing for medium scale Disabled Facilities Grants and clarification sought on the consequential loss of £122k of Welsh Grant Funding should the Cabinet endorse the recommendation.

The Head of Housing Property and Strategic Projects advised that the recommendation had arisen as a consequence of the increase in grant applications received following the removal of means testing in 2022. It was believed the re-introduction would enable funding to be diverted to those in greater need, with those able to afford to undertake adaptations to pay for them themselves which, in turn, would assist in managing the demand for grants.

With regard to the loss of Welsh Government grant, an analysis of data based on the number of repeat grant applications submitted during the two year period following the removal of means testing had revealed a net funding increase of £164k per annum. 

·         The Head of Housing Property and Strategic Projects referred to a question on conclusion 2 and recommendation 5 within the report relating to the pressure on staffing resources and to whether the Health Board could be approached to contribute thereto on the basis the work of the adaptations team assisted with the prevention of admissions to hospitals. He advised the authority did liaise with the Health Board on a range of matters relating to adaptations, including the discharge of patients, and discussions could be held with the Board on any potential contribution towards those resources.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that it be recommended to Cabinet:

The Committee received its Annual Report on the work undertaken during the 2023/24 municipal year. It was noted that the report had been prepared in accordance with Article 6.2 of the Council’s Constitution and provided an overview of the work programme and key issues addressed, whilst also incorporating any issues referred to, or from, the Cabinet, Task and Finish reviews and development sessions.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the 2023/24 Annual Report be received.

The Committee, in accordance with Article 6.2 of the Council’s constitution, considered its draft 2024/25 Forward Work Plan detailing issues and reports to be considered during the course of the municipal year. It was noted that as the Plan was a ‘living document’ it would continually evolve throughout the Municipal year both as the Cabinet Forward Plan evolved and from requests by the Committee.

The following questions / issues were raised on the report:

·         In response to questions raised relating to the backlog of void repairs, the Committee was apprised of the various measures being taken by the department to reduce those which included, the creation of an in-house team of operatives and reletting the Property Works Framework to enable smaller local contractors to apply to be included in the framework and undertake repair work. Currently, void levels had reduced to 180 compared to the previous high of over 400 in May 2022, thereby resulting in an additional 250 properties being available for let and increased rental income of close to £1m. He advised he would arrange for a void update report to be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the draft 2024/25 Forward Work Plan be approved subject to the addition of a void update report.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 16^th April, 2024 be signed as a correct record.

THE REPORTS RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS THEY CONTAIN EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 14 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) (WALES) ORDER 2007. IF, FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST, THE COMMITTEE  RESOLVES PURSUANT TO THE ACT TO CONSIDER THESE ITEMS IN PRIVATE, THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE MEETING DURING SUCH CONSIDERATION.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items as the reports contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

(NOTE:

1.     Councillor R Sparks having earlier declared an interest in this item, re-declared the interest and remained in the meeting for its consideration)

2.     During Consideration of this Item Councillor Palfreman declared an interest in that he runs a Social Care Consultancy services and has dispensation from the Standards Committee to speak and make written representations, but not vote on issues that directly involve his business or associate professional activities. He remained in the meeting during its consideration)

Following the application of the public interest test it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Act referred to in Minute 10 above, to consider this matter in private, with the public excluded from the meeting as disclosure of the content of the report would potentially undermine the Council’s position in future negotiations with landowners.

The Committee received an update report on town centre regeneration proposals currently being delivered ad opportunities for potential alternative town centre uses within the primary town centres of Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli

UANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.

(NOTE: Councillor R Sparks having earlier declared an interest in this item, re-declared the interest and remained in the meeting for its consideration)

Following the application of the public interest test it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Act referred to in Minute 10 above, to consider this matter in private, with the public excluded from the meeting as disclosure of the content of the report would be likely to cause financial harm to the Council by undermining its position in future negotiations regarding these proposals.

The Committee received an update report on Regeneration Major Development Projects being undertaken within Carmarthenshire.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.