Council and Democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Chesterfield

Contact: Charlotte Kearsey  01246 345236

Items
No. Item

6.

Declaration of Members' and Officers' Interests relating to items on the Agenda

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were received.

7.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Davenport, Brittain and P Gilby.

8.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 284 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED –

 

That the minutes of the meeting of Joint Cabinet and Employment & General Committeeheld on 20 July, 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

9.

Exclusion of Public

To move “That under Regulation 21(1)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)(Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following Paragraphs 1 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.”

 

Part 2 (Non Public Information)

Minutes:

RESOLVED –

 

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

10.

Housing restructure phase 1

Decision:

*RESOLVED

 

1.    That the establishment of a new staffing structure and ways of working for the Housing Directorate, which provides leadership and operational capacity to deliver cohesive proactive customer focussed services, be approved.

 

2.    That the Phase 1 Housing Restructure and the associated funding arrangements be approved.

 

3.    That the proposed timescales for the Phase 2 Restructure of the Housing Property Service be approved.

 

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

 

1.    The Housing Directorate delivers two fundamental functions, the management and maintenance of the Council’s housing stock and the provision of key statutory functions including homelessness and private sector housing. Reshaping the approach to delivering these services is designed to ensure that there are clear and effective customer pathways so that we improve the quality of life for local people, a key priority within the Council Plan.

 

2.    Following the publication of the Social Housing White Paper the management and maintenance of Council Housing will be subject to a regulatory framework governed by the Regulator of Social Housing. The proposed service reshape prepares and future proofs the Housing Service to enable the Council to meet these new responsibilities.

 

3.    Development of the Phase 2 Housing Property Service reshape is expected to begin in the Spring of 2022 once Phase 1 has been approved. The aim is to deliver a comprehensive repairs, maintenance and investment service driven by quality, customer service and cost management to respond effectively the challenges of regulatory compliance, the climate change agenda, fuel poverty and the upcoming review of the decent homes’ standard.


Minutes:

The Service Director - Housing submitted a report seeking approval for the proposed restructure of the Housing Directorate.

 

The proposed restructure had been designed to maintain and improve the Councils ability to deliver priority outcomes for Chesterfield’s communities.

 

The restructure would be delivered in two phases. The first phase covered the housing management, careline and statutory housing functions. The second phase would cover the asset management, capital programme and operational property functions.

 

The current and proposed structures were attached at Appendix A of the officer’s report.

 

The report provided details on the financial implications and an equalities impact assessment had been completed. It was explained that the proposals had been the subject of consultation with all affected staff and their trade union representatives.

 

*RESOLVED

 

1.    That the establishment of a new staffing structure and ways of working for the Housing Directorate, which provides leadership and operational capacity to deliver cohesive proactive customer focussed services, be approved.

 

2.    That the Phase 1 Housing Restructure and the associated funding arrangements be approved.

 

3.    That the proposed timescales for the Phase 2 Restructure of the Housing Property Service be approved.

 

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

 

1.    The Housing Directorate delivers two fundamental functions, the management and maintenance of the Council’s housing stock and the provision of key statutory functions including homelessness and private sector housing. Reshaping the approach to delivering these services is designed to ensure that there are clear and effective customer pathways so that we improve the quality of life for local people, a key priority within the Council Plan.

 

2.    Following the publication of the Social Housing White Paper the management and maintenance of Council Housing will be subject to a regulatory framework governed by the Regulator of Social Housing. The proposed service reshape prepares and future proofs the Housing Service to enable the Council to meet these new responsibilities.

 

3.    Development of the Phase 2 Housing Property Service reshape is expected to begin in the Spring of 2022 once Phase 1 has been approved. The aim is to deliver a comprehensive repairs, maintenance and investment service driven by quality, customer service and cost management to respond effectively the challenges of regulatory compliance, the climate change agenda, fuel poverty and the upcoming review of the decent homes’ standard.