Agenda and minutes

To issue a welcome to those present, and to confirm if there are any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Zaman.

Members will be asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

None were received.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11^th November 2025 have been circulated, and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

AGREED:

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Housing Scrutiny Commission held on 11^th November 2025 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Chair is invited to make any announcements as they see fit.

The Chair announced that she visited Hospital Close in November. It was positive to go back and see the further developments.

Any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures will be reported.

None were received.

Any petitions received in accordance with Council procedures will be reported.

None were received.  

The Director of Finance submits a report setting out the City Mayor’s proposed Draft General Fund Revenue Budget for 2026/27.

The Director of Finance submitted two reports to the Commission to present the City Mayor’s strategy for balancing the budget for the next 3 years and to seek approval to the actual budget for 2026/27. The two reports were The Draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2026/27 and The Draft Three Year Capital Programme 2026/27.

The Head of Finance presented the reports concurrently. The following was noted.

• The Draft General Fund Revenue Report set out the budget for 2026/27 and the medium term financial strategy for the following two years.
• The Budget reflects the Governments Fair Funding Consultation from the summertime and despite the improved financial position that arises as a consequence, the Council was still forecasting a budget gap and the strategy agreed by Council last year would continue.
• The strategy included the following five strands:

-       Budget savings of £23M

-       Constraining growth in areas such as Social Care and Homelessness

-       A reduction in the Capital Programme

-       Releasing one off monies to buy time

-       A programme of property sales, which was now planned to reduce the cost of borrowing

• The Report sets out the progress against each of those strands and proposes continuing with this strategy and extending it to March 2029.
• The budget builds in growth to meet ongoing cost increases in Social Care, Homelessness and Housing Benefits.
• Given the underlying financial pressures, the scope for additional investment was limited, but a small amount was included particularly around areas previously funded from grants, that would no longer be received.
• Investments were continuing in the provision of temporary accommodation, which would save money in cost in supporting people staying in B&Bs and the revenue impact of this was reflected in the report.
• Money was included in the budget for an increase in the number of properties leased from private landlords and this was expected to save £3.9M.
• In addition, funding was being made available for additional staff to undertake the increasing volume of work and ensure the focus remained on prevention.
• The final budget would be updated and presented to Full Council on 25^th February 2026 and would include the updated figures following the draft finance settlement which the Finance Team were currently working through.

• The General Fund Draft Capital Report seeks approval of just under £130M over the next three years.
• For the Final Report for Full Council this will increase to reflect multi-year grant settlements which will have since been released.
• In 2025/26 the Capital Programme changed to be mainly funded from government grants and borrowing and this approach would remain in place for 2026/27.
• The Revenue Budget would reflect the consequences of the decisions take in the Capital Report. The report does note that the Council will look to alleviate the revenue pressure placed by borrowing, by using £60M of capital receipts to fund the Capital Programme.
• Of particular interest to the Housing Commission there will be £50M  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

The Director of Housing submits a report detailing the housing support offered and provided by Leicester City Council housing services to its tenants.

The Director of Housing submits a report to the Commission to provide detail on the housing support offered by Leicester City Council Housing Services to its tenants.

The Head of Service for Housing presented the item and the following was noted:

• The report highlighted the support offered to LCC tenants
• At present, there were 19.500 tenants in Council accommodation. For some, there was no need for further support however, it was noted by the Head of Service that more tenants were presenting with complex needs.
• The authority attempted to target some support towards tenants who were considered the most at need, this was due to them not having friends, family or other support networks available. It was commented that the STAR team had a specific criteria in place to assess need amongst tenants referred.
• The tenant journey was highlighted. It was explained that the journey would begin with the property lettings team, who would conduct an escorted visit with the tenants and provide information, such as how to do a meter reading, provide decorating vouchers if needed or helping tenants to apply for benefits and community support grants, if they were eligible. The team provided information about fire and water safety as well as the conditions of tenancy. Around 800 escorted visits took place each year.    
• The next step was led by the Tenancy Management Service through its Housing Officers. The sensitive lets process attempted to put new tenants in suitable areas and aimed to prevent vulnerable tenants from being put in an area where they did not feel safe.
• Housing Officers conducted property visits to newly moved in tenants within the first 6 weeks of the move in date. This was to check that the tenant had moved in successfully and that they were aware of their responsibilities as a Council tenant. The first visit process was currently under review after feedback from the Tenant Scrutiny Panel who requested that the process was more tenant focused.
• During the first visit to newly moved in tenants, Housing Officers would conduct a welfare assessment and make a referral to the appropriate support agency, if it was needed. If the Council became aware at any point that a tenant was vulnerable, then an assessment would take place. In the previous year, 1,259 Welfare visits were conducted. Pop up Housing Offices were also useful in allowing tenants to self-report issues to Council Officers. The Council also adopted a new vulnerability policy and began storing the identified vulnerabilities of Council tenants, so they were considered when planning services.
• The STAR Service had existed for 25 years and provided wrap around support for tenants. Last year, the service helped 641 vulnerable tenants with issues such as self-harm, hoarding and self-neglect. Several cases were listed in the report to show first hand, the results of the service. Help Beyond Housing worked alongside the STAR Service to assisted 121 tenants with multiple needs such as drug and alcohol abuse and poor mental health.  Another project of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

The Director of Housing submits a report to consider the City Mayor’s proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2026/27.

Members of the Commission will be asked to consider the work programme and make suggestions for additional items as it considers necessary.

The work programme was noted.

With there being no further business the meeting closed 6:28pm.