Agenda item

The Director of Housing submits a report providing the Housing Scrutiny Commission with an update on the Environmental Budget and the Public Realm Project.

Members of the Commission are recommended to note the report and pass any comments to the Director of Housing.

The Executive Lead for Housing introduced the item.

The Head of Service delivered an overview of the Environmental Budget. A summary of what works were proposed was provided and Members were informed that, all local ward Councillors would receive a letter advising on the changes to the budget and request what priorities they would like addressed on individual wards.

The Director for Housing noted that the HRA budget went to full council for approval and these amendments to the Capital Programme were a legal requirement in order to balance the budget.

In response to the Chairs query, the Director for Housing noted that there were no additional budgets available beyond what had already been committed or these would have been allocated. It was hoped that the reduction in spends would only be for one year subject to inflationary pressures and other unprecedented obstacles and realign the capital programme the following year to the original levels.

The Executive Lead took the opportunity to note that the District Heating element had spiralled the budgets in different direction and due to this it had previously been identified that this impact would be seen in the public realm work. The HRA budget was there to protect the stock to ensure that the properties are maintained, and repair works are carried out to future proof the stock. The proposed projects were not cancelled although, it may take a while longer to deliver and this was made clear during the conversations around the District Heating, this would be a consequence of the decision that was made at Full Council.

As part of the discussions, it was noted that:

·         Members were concerned that if the projects were held up for an extended period of time, tenants would notice that works were not being carried out and this would add to existing pressures they may already be going through

·         Members commended the Neighbourhoods Improvements Scheme and it was noted that, this scheme would continue with one cohort of 10 Officers for 12 moths

·         There were different mechanisms of support that could be communicated to struggling tenants

·         The Housing Team were proactively working on delivering what could be achieved with a smaller budget.

In further discussions It was noted that although the HRA budget focussed on housing land other environmental works such as fly tipping can still continue to be reported through the LoveLeicester app, which had been widely celebrated across the city and improvements to the app were also in process.

In response to the Chair’s concerns on how the reduced budgets would put great pressure on the work they carried out as elected Members the Executive Lead noted that the programme of cuts was unavoidable and that a report could be produced to the Commission in the future on how the delayed works would be programmed in for the future.

AGREED:

1)    That the Director of Housing be requested to consider how the programme of cuts could be reversed as much as possible

2)    That the Director of Housing be requested to provide a report to the Commission on how the delayed works would be progresses

3)    That the Officers be thanked for the report, and

4)    That the report be noted.