Issue - meetings

Report HPR2022/050

The report outlined the Council’s current Private Sector Leasing and Housing Management Contract provided by Orchard & Shipman (Pinnacle) and set out the options for future procurement.

The current contract was due to end on 31^st March 2023. A further one-year extension option was available (Report DRR 20/025) and approval for the extension was sought.  The report set out the commissioning intentions for this requirement beyond the extension period.  It recommended separating the contract into a distinct Private Sector Leasing contract and a separate Housing Management contract.  It recommended entering into a new contract for Private Sector Leasing via exemption to competitive tendering; and to commence a compliant procurement process for the Housing Management requirement.  Given the complexities of being a Social Housing Provider and importance of the tender exercise the report referred to the resource requirements required to carry out this procurement exercise and where this would be funded from. Further reports would be presented to the Executive in 2023 as set out in the report including a report on the skills and resources required for effective long-term management and operations of the Housing Revenue Account.

A Member highlighted that specialist management was required for traveller sites and that should be key to any consideration of contract options.  In response the Assistant Director for Housing highlighted that the aim of the report was to ensure that all options received due consideration and at this point nothing was being ruled out.  It was noted that it was difficult to secure specialist provision for the management of traveller sites and it may be that a broader management contract would be the best option going forward but at this point all options were on the table.

In response to a question concerning the issue of Housing Management going forward, the Assistant Director for Housing explained that one consideration was to bring in a Project Officer, but it was clear that there was currently not the expertise in-house.  Consideration needed to be given to the requirements of the service, but it was unlikely that the Housing Team would be able to manage a large quantum of properties without significant additional resourcing.  As such Officers would present the available option and the associated costs.

The Committee noted that whilst there were currently no HMOs as part of the Private Sector Leasing Scheme, all options were being considered and where HMOs may be considered appropriate in the future there would be a need to ensure that they met all requirements such as space standards.

A Member noted that whilst Bromley’s Homelessness and Corporate Strategies were seeking to deliver 10,000 new homes, 1000 of which would be affordable housing; waiting lists were increasing along with levels of homelessness and the Member questioned what action could be taken to address the gap.  In response the Assistant Director for Housing highlighted that there were ongoing challenges, and the Department would continue to see increases in demand.  This would require Officers to continue to be innovative  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21