Agenda and draft minutes

1.   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Councillor A Hodgson.

Councillor D Pinwell declared an interest in respect of Agenda Item 5 ‘Solihull Community Housing: Delivery Plan 2023/23, informing the Scrutiny Board that he was a member of the SCH Board and therefore would not participate in the discussion.

No questions or deputations were received.

To consider for approval the draft Minutes arising from the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board meeting held on 17^th January 2023.

Councillor Thomas raised a correction for the draft Minutes under Item 7 ‘Housing Allocations Scheme’, page 17, which should read ‘The Safeguarding and Community Project Manager SCH clarified that SCH had a dedicated tram team to investigate instances of allegations of ASB’.

The Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board:

  RESOLVED:

(i)  Subject to the above amendment, to agree the draft Minutes arising from the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board meeting held on 17^th January 2023 as a true record.

To present the draft delivery plan for 2023/24 to the Scrutiny Board for consideration and review.

The report before the Scrutiny Board presented the draft SCH Delivery Plan 2023/24 for consideration and review.

The Chief Executive, SCH provided a PowerPoint presentation highlighting key areas of the SCH: Delivery Plan 2023/24. Following the presentation, Members of the Scrutiny Board raised a number of questions pertaining to the report, which in summary included the following matters:

Councillor McLoughlin referenced figures for the recorded instances of damp and mould in SCH properties and queried whether the number of cases related to the recent rise in energy prices and domestic heating bills.  Secondly, Councillor McLoughlin highlighted the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for Satisfaction Home is Safe, which detailed the sector benchmark at 82.9%, with the proposed SCH target for 2023/23 at 80%, querying why this was the case. 

The Scrutiny Board was advised by the Chief Executive (SCH) that the 80% target figure represented an increase on the current years target. Furthermore, due to the national focus on damp and mould in properties, SCH had publicised to tenants the need to report any such cases to SCH for them to be addressed.  Increased inspections have taken place, with accompanying repairs turned around within 14 days.  Extra resource was also being allocated to address this issue.

The Executive Director, Customer Services, Transformation & Business Support (SCH) advised Members that SCH reviewed the sector benchmark with some care. A number of Housing Associations had yet to implement performance measurements. The sector benchmark was used as a guide only at this point.  The SCH Board had reviewed SCH’s historic data and found that previous outcomes against the Overall Satisfaction KPI had been just under 80%. 

Councillor McLoughlin referenced in the themes for 2023/24 section of the Delivery Plan, specifically the reference to SCH’s aspiration to grow the housing stock through acquisition and new build to help meet an ever-increasing need for housing. Considering the significantly challenging financial environment in terms of interest and borrowing rates, to what extent had the reduction in new build properties been attributable to the national economic conditions and, secondly, could the expectation of increasing the housing stock still be met whilst operating under such economic constraints.

The Chief Executive (SCH) advised Members that SCH continued to seek to increase housing stock through new build but were proceeding with caution.  There was a need to fully understand the current market conditions before investing in new stock.  Delivery was dependent on achieving Value for Money (VfM) in terms of new development. 

Councillor Holl-Allen sought clarification as to whether cases of damp and mould could be attributable to specific types of property.  Members where informed cases were largely due to leaks and condensation in low- and high-rise blocks.  It was important that tenants reported such cases to SCH. SCH worked with partners in the health sector to address such cases and continued to work in partnership with the private rented sector.

Councillor Qais noted that some of the KPI’s for national tenant satisfaction measures did not have any sector targets and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The report before the Scrutiny Board provided an outline of progress on the delivery of the inclusive growth programme and wider activity to deliver inclusive growth.

Following a report presentation by the Head of Inclusive Growth, Members of the Scrutiny Board raised a number of pertinent questions to the report, which in summary included the following matters:

Councillor Parker commended the report and the actions detailed within it.  Inclusive Growth was recognised as a broad designation. Councillor Parker highlighted the essential role public transport and wider transport infrastructure had to play in inclusive growth delivery.  Finally, Councillor Parker stated he was surprised that no risk implications had been detailed, such as inflationary cost pressures and questioned whether these factors had been considered.

The Head of Inclusive Growth advised the Scrutiny Board that funding challenges had already been highlighted and would be captured via various regeneration projects in the borough.  Officers were reviewing the issue of transport via the Councils Solihull Connected Transport Strategy. As such although transport was not reflected as a theme in the current Inclusive Growth programme it was reflected elsewhere through other Council strategies.

Councillor McLoughlin questioned how the current U.K Shared Prosperity Fund compared with the former E.U funding programmes; noted the work undertaken around Investment Zones, noting that they had since ceased impacting on some Solihull projects, and queried in relation to poverty and inequalities how much was this being reduced arising from individual actions or the result of the Inclusive Growth Programme. Councillor McLoughlin stressed the requirement to qualify impacts arising directly from the Inclusive Growth Programme.

Members were advised that the current shape and volume of funding approximated to a third less than that previously available, but that some additional elements of funding were available at a national level.  The revised funding criteria was currently being worked through by Officers. 

Concerning judging and appraising impacts arising from the Inclusive Growth Programme, the Head of Inclusive Growth advised Members that Officers continued to address this area and were working to produce an outcomes framework for the Inclusive Growth Programme.  It was recognised that there could be a requirement to undertake a further deep dive during 2023/24 to address this area once the Economic Strategy was agreed.

Councillor Qais questioned what measures/actions would be considered to ensure the Inclusive Growth Programme was at the centre of the Council Plan.  The Head of Inclusive Growth stated that there was a clear focus on objectives to move funding available through the U.K Shared Prosperity Fund to support delivery of the Inclusive Growth objectives, rather than chasing other funding streams opportunistically.  Work continued to put Inclusive Growth in a clear priority order and in a sustainable way through the Council. 

Councillor Thomas noted that a low level of funding had been received via the U.K Shared Prosperity Fund and directed towards the Kingshurst Village Centre development and questioned where other funding sources were expected to be sourced. 

Councillor Thomas welcomed the potential employment opportunities to be created in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive a briefing paper on UKC/Levelling Up agenda as it relates to Solihull in order to complete the Scrutiny Boards Work Programme for the 2022/23 municipal year.  REPORT TO FOLLOW

Having considered the report, the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board:

RESOLVED:

i.  To note the UKC/Levelling Up Briefing Paper.

The Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board Work Programme 2022/23 is provided for the Scrutiny Board Members reference.

The Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board:

RESOLVED:

i.  To note the final status of the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board Work Programme 2022/23; and, 

ii.  To include in the Draft Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board Work Programme 2023/24 the following subject for potential discussion:

a)  Routes into employment / workforce development (potentially via a Task & Finish Group and subject to clarification with other Scrutiny Boards regarding terms of reference and remit).

The Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board closed at 7:47 p.m.