Agenda item

Resolved: the committee noted the report; requested to receive a more detailed breakdown in future reports of the reasons for evictions; agreed to receive a written briefing on the latest government guidance on fire doors; and agreed to receive further information on the recent changes to governance arrangements.

Margaret Dodwell (Chief Executive, Lewisham Homes) introduced the report. The following key points were noted:

5.1       Lewisham Homes’ three-year corporate plan was launched on 1st April. The plan sets out where Lewisham Homes, as the council’s housing company, wants to get to over the next three years. The new vision is to create thriving communities and places people are proud to call home.

5.2       Lewisham Homes’ annual business plan sets out the tasks that need to be completed for the year in order to achieve the ambitions of the corporate plan.

5.3       Lewisham Homes’ core function is to meet housing need – through supporting the supply of new homes and managing council stock, both general needs and temporary accommodation.

The committee asked a number of questions. The following key points were noted:

5.4       The committee expressed concern about repairs and anti-social behaviour and said that there needs to be a focus on these in order for people to be able to take pride in where they live.

5.5       Lewisham Homes noted that repairs and anti-social behaviour were strong themes in resident consultation on the corporate plan. Residents were having problems with the process of getting repairs done and didn’t feel that anti-social behaviour was taken seriously enough.

5.6       Lewisham Homes in planning to review its anti-social behaviour service by July 2019. It is also planning to carry out a benchmarking exercise to see how it compares in a number of areas with other social landlords in London.

5.7       The committee noted that there had not been a staff survey since 2017.

5.8       Lewisham Homes is making a lot of changes to its business and is planning to survey its staff quarterly in order to ensure that staff are engaged and to identify any necessary training.

5.9       Lewisham Homes recognises that it needs to modernise its services for leaseholders who want to be able to engage more online, and is working with a group of leaseholders to improve this service.

5.10    Lewisham Homes noted that it was delivering the remainder of the previous administration’s new homes programme and was now working towards the new administration’s programme for 2022.The target for new homes will be revised upwards once this programme has been set out.

5.11    Lewisham Homes noted that its staff turnover rate was healthy. Lewisham Homes wants to have as many permanent staff as possible, but noted that there are areas where specialist temporary staff are needed. The number of agency staff has previously been as high as 10%.

5.12    The committee queried the specific reasons behind the eviction statistics and asked for detailed breakdown of the reasons, for example, rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, succession, and if this could be set out in future reports.

5.13    It was noted that the majority of evictions are in relation to rent arrears or succession cases. There are not many in relation to anti-social behaviour. It was noted that the number of evictions for rent arears has reduced in recent years as more has been invested in tenancy sustainment.

5.14    The committee asked about the latest government guidance on fire doors. Lewisham Homes agreed to provide a written response setting out the latest position.

5.15    The committee stressed that information on fire doors needs to be effectively communicated to residents.

5.16    One councillor noted that they had not yet received a response to a query relating to door security products used by Lewisham Homes and insurance. Officers agreed to provide a response.

5.17    One councillor, speaking under standing orders, asked Lewisham Homes about the recent change to their governance arrangements which allowed the council representative on the Lewisham Homes board to be a Lewisham Homes tenant.

5.18    Lewisham Homes noted that there was a request from the council to look at making the membership arrangement for councillors more flexible. Following discussion between the council and Lewisham Homes it was decided that introducing that changes to the board membership would provide the necessary flexibility. Lewisham Homes’ governance arrangements will be reviewed again in the future. Officers agreed to provide the committee with more information on the governance change.

5.19    One councillor asked why the Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director of Lewisham Homes had left. The Chair of Lewisham Homes agreed to provide further details outside of the meeting.

Resolved: the committee noted the report; requested to receive a more detailed breakdown in future reports of the reasons for evictions; agreed to receive a written briefing on the latest government guidance on fire doors; and agreed to receive further information on the recent changes to governance arrangements.