Agenda item

This report asks Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the conclusions and recommendations set out in the final draft report from the Watford Community Housing Trust Task Group.

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer including the Task Group’s final report.

Councillor Khan, who had chaired the Task Group, informed the Scrutiny Committee that the Task Group had used some innovative methods.  Councillors had directly contacted tenants in their homes to ask about their experiences with the Housing Trust.  An evening event had been arranged to meet tenants to chat about their experiences.  The Task Group received a lot of information from tenants.  When the Task Group met the Housing Trust’s Chief Executive and other officers, Members had used a Select Committee approach.  Each Task Group Member had asked questions about a specific area.  There had been a frank exchange of questions and answers at the meeting.  The final report provided a clear set of recommendations.

Councillor Johnson, who had also been a member of the Task Group, commented that all though there were 20 recommendations; it was felt they were necessary.  He acknowledged the Housing Trust had carried out some good work, however, the recommendations covered those areas in which it was felt improvements could be made.

Councillor Khan said that it was important to scrutinise outside bodies as they had an impact on the town’s residents.  This Task Group had worked very well.

It was agreed that the Housing Trust would be asked for their comments about the Task Group’s recommendations.  Members also felt that it was important that tenants knew when the Housing Trust’s comments were expected.  The Chair suggested that the Housing Trust’s Chief Executive and the Board’s Chair should be invited to attend Overview and Scrutiny Committee in three months time. 

Councillor Martins thanked the Task Group for carrying out this scrutiny.  Repairs were a major issue for tenants.  He suggested that the report should be sent to the Chair’s of those Residents’ and Tenants’ Associations who covered Housing Trust properties.  The Trust’s initial comments should also be forwarded to the Residents’ and Tenants’ Associations.

Councillor Hastrick asked that those tenants who had participated in the scrutiny be asked for their views on the recommendations.

Following a question from Councillor Dhindsa, the Committee and Scrutiny Officer explained that the Council could not force external bodies to implement a Task Group’s recommendations.  Hopefully by working with the organisation, it could be encouraged to carry out the Task Group’s recommendations.

The Chair said that in his opinion the recommendations were reasonable.

The Scrutiny Committee agreed that the following people or groups should be forwarded a copy of the report either by post or electronically –

·               Watford Community Housing Trust

·               Tenants who participated in the review

·               Residents’ and Tenants’ Associations

·               Watford Borough Council’s Cabinet

·               The Head of Community and Customer Services

·               Email the link to all Watford Borough Councillors

·               Three Rivers District Councillors who have Housing Trust property within their wards

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer informed the Scrutiny Committee that the final report would be added to the Library on the committee and councillor section of the Council’s website.  She advised that she had already uploaded the previous scrutiny reports which had been completed since 2011.

RESOLVED –

1.      that the Watford Community Housing Trust Task Group’s final report and its recommendations be approved.

2.      that the report be circulated to those parties referred to by Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

3.      that the Chief Executive of Watford Community Housing Trust be invited to attend Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s meeting in January 2014.