Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

It was resolved to approve the Housing Asset Management Strategic Plan 2024-29.

The report of the Head of Housing Services incorporating the Housing Asset Management Strategic Plan 2024-29 was presented for the Executive’s consideration and approval.

Councillor Gary Pritchard, Portfolio Member for Children, Youth and Housing Services presented the report and Plan as enabling the Council to understand its housing stock and the standard of its properties in the context of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023 thereby ensuring that the Council makes informed decisions about investing in improving its properties for the benefit of its tenants.

The Head of Housing Services advised that the Plan has been developed to reflect key changes in national policies along with the key challenges of meeting WHQS 2023 and decarbonisation. A stock condition survey was completed in 2022/23 and based on this information investment in key components as well as energy efficiency improvements will be made. The costs of achieving WHQS 2023 which comprises eight elements will be factored into the HRA Business Plan as they are established. Additionally the Housing Service is also committed to improving the responsive repairs service for the Council’s tenants over the life of the plan. 

Councillor Dyfed Wyn Jones, Vice-Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee outlined the issues raised when the Committee was presented with the Housing Asset Management Strategic Plan at its meeting on 16 January 2024. Having considered the Plan and the Officers’ and Portfolio Member’s responses to the points raised at the meeting, the Committee had resolved to recommend the Plan for the Executive’s approval and in noting the availability of contractors as a challenge to the delivery of the Plan, the Committee had asked the Housing Service to examine the feasibility of establishing an in-house team or teams to deliver planned work programmes over the course of the next five years.

The Chief Executive highlighted the availability of capital funding as another key consideration especially as the level of capital funding for local government in Wales has not increased significantly over a number of years meaning that fulfilling the objectives of the Housing Asset Management Strategic Plan is likely to be a challenge based on the current capital funding position. Notwithstanding the Housing Revenue Account is a separate account whose funds are ring-fenced for housing activities, environmental and net zero obligations will entail significant investment. That programme will have to be scrutinised via the Council’s governance and democratic channels to ensure value for money and to achieve the best outcomes across the estate in its totality. 

The Executive acknowledged affordability as an important factor in being able to make the necessary investment to meet the challenging and far teaching targets set by Welsh Government in the WHQS 2023 and otherwise with regard to reaching net zero and highlighted the need for improved capital funding support for councils in Wales.

It was resolved to approve the Housing Asset Management Strategic Plan 2024-29.