Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Housing and Property Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 29 January 2020 at 10.30 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance

1. Apologies for Absence 
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Housing and Property Committee: Role and Remit                   
Comataidh an Taigheadais agus an t-Seilbh: Dreuchd agus Raon-ùghdarrais

There is circulated Report No HP/01/20 dated 16 January 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer – Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to consider the attached report.

4. Housing Revenue Account Revenue Estimates 2020/21 
Tuairmsean Teachd-a-steach HRA 2020/21                                                           

There is circulated Report No HP/02/20 dated 16 January 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer – Customer and Communities.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  agree the draft HRA Revenue Budget for 2020/21 (attached as Appendix 1 to the report);
ii. agree a 3% increase for council house rents for 2020/21;
iii. agree that this percentage increase (3%) is applied to all residential HRA rents and service charges and to Gypsy/Traveller site pitches;
iv. agree that non-HRA rents for leased property should be increased as stipulated in existing contracts; and
v. note that a report on the HRA Capital Plan (2022/2027) will be presented to the Committee in April 2020.

5. Homelessness: Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan Update
Dìth Dachaigh: Plana Eadar-ghluasadan Taigheadais Luath                             

There is circulated Report No HP/03/20 dated 17 January 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer – Customer and Communities.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the Scottish Government funding awards and progress against key RRTP Action Plan outcomes;
ii. note the implications for the Council in respect of the extended Unsuitable Accommodation Order due to come into force in March 2021;
iii. note the revisions to legislation in relation to Homelessness Intentionality and Local Connection and the proposed duty on prevention;
iv. agree the introduction of a discretionary power to investigate in respect of the Homelessness Intentionality test and the revised Homeless Appeals Process set out in Appendix 2 to the report; and
v. agree an internal review of the homelessness service to ensure compliance with the extended Unsuitable Accommodation Order and homelessness legislative changes.

6. Rent Arrears Management - Tenant Communication and Support  
Rianachd Fiachan Màil – Aithisg Conaltradh agus Taic Luchd-mail  

There is circulated Report No HP/04/20 dated 19 December 2019 by the Executive Chief Officer – Customer and Communities.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the rent arrears escalation process summarised at Appendix 1 to the report including the updated processes in regard to pre-notice requirements and Universal Credit cases;
ii. approve a revised reminder letter for tenants in arrears attached in Appendix 4 to the report and the removal of the second reminder letter on a trial basis;
iii. approve the move to proactive referral to support for all high value arrears cases;
iv. note the commitment to provide a more efficient and customer focussed arrears management process through delivery of IT solutions; and
v. approve the new Charging and Rent Arrears Management Policy for temporary homeless accommodation summarised in Appendix 5 to the report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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