Decision details

Increase provision of Housing Response Officers at the tower blocks

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Cabinet considered a report recommending the introduction of a new service charge to cover the cost of two full time, dedicated Housing Response Officer’s to enhance the service to the 6 tower blocks. For 2022/23 this charge is proposed to be £2.56 per week.

Decision:

Cabinet agreed the following:

 

1.  To approve the introduction of an additional service charge to the tenants and leaseholders of the 6 tower blocks in the district, to enable the provision of 2 x HRO’s dedicated solely to the tower block estates;

 

2.  To recommend to full council that the necessary budget is approved for this service, funded from the new service charge.

Reasons for the decision:

More resources are required to improve the cleanliness and appearance of our tower blocks. This can be achieved by creating two new HRO roles within the TLS structure. To finance the two new roles, it was recommended that the council introduce an additional service charge to the tenants and leaseholders of these blocks.

Alternative options considered:

Not providing the proposed dedicated service was considered. This was rejected as cleanliness and appearance of the council’s tower blocks is an issue regularly raised by residents. These cannot be approved without the proposed additional resources.

 

Not introducing a new charge was considered. This was rejected as without an additional service charge there would be insufficient resources within the council’s Housing Revenue Account to fund the new service, without making corresponding cuts in the level of resources elsewhere.

Report author: Sally O'Sullivan

Publication date: 20/12/2021

Date of decision: 16/12/2021

Decided at meeting: 16/12/2021 - Cabinet

Effective from: 05/01/2022

Accompanying Documents: