Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
An options appraisal was completed in October
2019, reviewing the delivery of housing management services
provided by East Kent Housing (EKH) on behalf of Canterbury City
Council, Dover District Council, Folkestone and Hythe District
Council and Thanet District Council.
The four councils each agreed that the
preferred option for future service provision to the four
councils’ tenants and leaseholders is that it should become
an in-house service, subject to consultation.
This report sets out the outcomes from the
formal consultation exercise undertaken with EKH tenants and
leaseholders. It proposes that officers from across the four
councils be instructed to negotiate ending the agreement with EKH
and to make preparations for the housing management service to be
brought in-house.
Decision:
Cabinet agreed the following:
- That having noted the results of the
tenant and leaseholder consultation, the cost/benefit analysis and
the risk analysis, it is agreed that the management of the
council’s housing stock be brought back in-house;
- That the Deputy Chief Executive and
Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for
Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods be authorised to terminate the
management agreement with EKH as soon as practicable;
- That the Deputy Chief Executive and
Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for
Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods be authorised to take such
decisions as may be necessary to facilitate the process of bringing
the housing service in-house, including the use of Housing Revenue
Account balances as required for any one off transition costs
incurred;
- To delegate authorisation to the
Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer for the use of up to
£250k of HRA Reserves for transitional costs.
Reasons for the decision:
The decision was taken for the following
reasons:
-
EKH has experienced serious performance problems and
health and safety non-compliance issues.
-
Tenants and leaseholders have expressed their views
clearly, that they would prefer their homes to be managed by the
individual councils rather than retain the existing Arms-Length
Management Organisation structure.
-
It is in the best interests of tenants and
leaseholders for the four councils to terminate the management
agreement and transfer housing services back in-house.
-
The integration of the housing management service
with each council’s remaining housing services would provide
a more transparent and accountable structure for the housing
service.
Alternative options considered:
Cabinet considered whether to:
1.
Withdraw from East Kent Housing and
return housing management services back in-house under direct
management of the council, or
2.
Reject the recommendations of this report
and decide to retain the current EKH arrangements.
The decision taken was for the reasons set out
above.
Publication date: 21/02/2020
Date of decision: 17/02/2020
Decided at meeting: 17/02/2020 - Cabinet
Effective from: 29/02/2020
Accompanying Documents: