Poole Housing Partnership Annual Delivery Plan for 2010/11

COUNCIL – 18 FEBRUARY 2010 AGENDA ITEM 9

BOROUGH OF POOLE

CABINET

9TH FEBRUARY 2010

POOLE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL DELIVERY PLAN FOR 2010/11

PART OF PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN: YES

1. PURPOSE AND POLICY CONTEXT

1.1.To consider the recommendations of the Communities Overview Scrutiny Committee on the proposed Poole Housing Partnership’s (PHP) Annual Delivery Plan for 2010/11 and the key priorities for the forthcoming year.

2. RECOMMENDATIONS

2.1.That Cabinet agree and recommend to Council approval of the targets set out in the 2010/11 Delivery plan, detailed at appendix A to the Report.

3.BACKGROUND

3.1The Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the PHP Annual Delivery Plan for 2010/11 and recommended it to Cabinet for approval by Council on 18th February.

3.2Last year the Council entered into a further five year management

agreement with Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) for them to manage the Council’s housing stock, administer capital investment for the Council in respect of its housing stock and manage the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

3.3The management agreement requires PHP to provide an annual delivery plan for the Council to consider. The delivery plan should set out: performance against the standards set in the previous twelve months, action plans where performance has not achieved the target, performance targets for the next twelve months, the proposed capital investment programme funded from Council resources but administered by PHP and a resourcing plan for the proposed capital works. The delivery plan can also propose service improvements and enhancements for the Council to consider.

3.4On the basis of the proposed delivery plan the Council agrees a management fee to be paid to PHP to deliver the said plan. The detail relating to this is set out in the accompanying Budget and Rent Setting Report.

3.5The Delivery Plan sets out what PHP aims to deliver and achieve in 2010/11 and results from a wide consultation of a range of stakeholders who work with PHP to improve further the services that it delivers.

4.DELIVERY PLAN 2010/11

4.1The Delivery Plan covers the following areas:-

Priorities for 2010/11

One of the main priorities is the Options Appraisal work, an area of work that PHP is working closely with the Council on. Some other priorities include: improving our neighbourhoods together with our partners to make our neighbourhoods places to be proud of; reducing back office costs; working to engage with under represented groups; increasing financial inclusion and energy efficiency.

Targets for Delivery Plan for 2010/11

Targets for 2010/11 have been set for the following areas: Rent Arrears; Voids & Lets; Capital programme; responsive repairs; equalities; customer care; resident involvement; staffing; and value for money. For one of the most important targets of achieving the Decent Homes Standard, PHP are still aiming to achieve 100% by 2010.

Delivering Better Homes and Strong Communities in 2010/11

PHP are developing sustainable energy schemes, such as bio mass boilers and solar panels.

Decent Homes Investment and Other Capital Costs for 2010/11 to 2012/13 including scheme details

For 2010/11, £2,914,000 has been budgeted for the Decent Homes work and £3,120,500 for the Basic Planned Maintenance programme, with contingency, ICT and capital salaries of a further £575,100. This amounts to £6,609,600 for the HRA Capital programme.

This section of the Delivery Plan also contains details of the addresses that will receive capital investment. However, the exact number of properties is unknown until the properties have been validated.

4.2PHP are still collating performance information up to the end of the third quarter for 2009/10, therefore it has not been possible to provide exact up to date performance information. However, forecast outturn figures have been provided for the various performance indicators. Based on the forecast outturn for 2009/10 performance does show that PHP are performing particularly well in the following areas: percentage of rent lost through dwellings becoming vacant; energy efficiency; bringing properties up to the Decent Homes Standard; Aids & Adaptations, correspondence and complaints handling.

4.3Equalities

The Audit Commission assessed this area of PHP’s work as an area of strength in 2008, and in December 2009 PHP’s auditors evaluated equality and diversity work as good. PHP has an imbedded Action Plan in place to equality impact assess all functions and is on target to complete this in 2009/10.

5.CONCLUSION

5.1Poole Housing Partnership has achieved the highest possible Audit Commission assessment in the country of “3 star excellent with excellent prospects”.

5.2It has demonstrated a very strong track record of year on year service improvements, developed a very strong relationship with residents and rising customer satisfaction levels.

5.3Value for Money in PHP is seen by the Audit Commission as an area of “considerable strength”.

5.4In the past PHP has met and exceeded it’s targets and delivery plans, and remains confident that it will continue to do so.

5.5Cabinet are therefore asked to refer the above recommendations to February’s Council on 18th February 2010.

Joe Logan

Chief Executive

Poole Housing Partnership