Agenda and minutes

An apology was submitted by Councillor Chris Haynes.

Councillor Tersaim Singh declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 Update on Housing Company.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record]

That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

[To consider any matter arising from the minutes]

The Panel thanked the Chair for the fair, balanced and conscientious way he had chaired the meetings during the civic year.

[Tim Pritchard, Head of Corporate Landlord, to present briefing paper]

Tim Pritchard, Head of Corporate Landlord, provided an update on the re-profiling of the medium term financial Savings proposed for Corporate Landlord in the Place Directorate for 2017/18. 

The Head of Corporate Landlord explained how the savings totalling £150,000 following a service restructure; £997,000 through asset and estate management and £487,000 through facilities management would be achieved.

The Panel queried how the proposed income from the Council’s commercial estate would be achieved and the Head of Corporate Landlord stated that this would be achieved through securing bad debts and arrears, filling voids and ensuring that all rents were closer to market levels.

In response to a question, the Head of Corporate Landlord advised that the analysis of asset utilisation should be ready in approximately three months.

The Head of Corporate Landlord commented that in respect of facilities management, the customer led review of services would entail getting intelligence from customers but for the catering and cleaning of schools this would need to be set against the market price for these services.

Resolved – that the report be received.

[Lesley Roberts, Chief Executive, Wolverhampton Homes, to present update report on Housing Company (WV Living)]

Christopher Hale, Head of City Housing, Place, gave a presentation to the Panel on WV Living the City of Wolverhampton Housing Company.

The Head of City Housing, Place advised that the Council’s Cabinet had approved the setting up of the Housing Company in June 2016, with the initial business plan approved in September 2016. Phase 1 includes new homes at the former sites of:

·       Danesmore Park Primary School

·       Ettingshall Primary School

·       Bilston Leisure Centre

·       Wednesfield School Site

The first homes are anticipated to be completed by summer 2018.

Phase 1 proposes to provide circa 370 homes across the four sites with a mixture of new homes available through market sales, market rent and affordable housing.

The Head of City Housing, Place added that over the next five years it was planned to provide up to 800 new homes across the city at a number of sites which may include supporting regeneration in such area as Heath Town and potentially in the city centre, subject to viability. The Business Plan demonstrates that WV Living would be able to create a surplus by 2023 which could then be invested back into the company.

The Panel noted that www.wvliving.co.uk was now active and gave a range of information on the properties that would be available and the new proposed developments.

In response to a question, the Head of City Housing, Place confirmed that WV Living would be providing homes itself and is not in any joint venture schemes with other developers. He added that the market rent properties would be rented on assured shorthold tenancies as with most private rented properties and would not be being offered through the housing register.

The Panel queried a recent press report that suggested that Wolverhampton

had a high proportion of homes that remained unsold after a year on the market.

Resolved – that the Head of City Housing, Place be thanked for the presentation.