Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Councillor Hinch declared in relation to Agenda Item 6 (Northampton Partnership Homes) that he was a director of Northampton Partnership Homes.

Councillor Aziz declared in relation to Agenda Item 6 (Northampton Partnership Homes) that he owned a company that had a property that was a house in multiple occupation.

Councillor Hawes declared in relation to Agenda Item 6 (Northampton Partnership Homes) that she was a housing tenant on the Northampton Partnership Homes waiting list.  This declaration was made retrospectively but Councillor Hawes did not contribute to discussion on the agenda item.

To receive notification of requests from members of the public to address the meeting on an item on the public part of the agenda.

There were no requests from members of the public to address the meeting.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 1 March 2022.

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the minutes of the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 1 March 2022.

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the minutes of the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 1 March 2022.

To receive any communications from the Chair.

The Chair welcomed all those present to the meeting and made the following points:

·         The Anti-Poverty Strategy Oversight Group was due to meet on 16 June 2022.  The Chair could give feedback on the Strategy from the previous Committee meeting.

·         Overview and Scrutiny training for councillors was due to take place on 5 May 2022 at 5.30pm.

·         Consultation was currently taking place on the draft Housing Strategy for West Northamptonshire Council and individual councillors were encouraged to respond.

A Committee member questioned whether there was scope for the Committee as a whole to respond to the consultation on the draft Housing Strategy.  The Chair noted that it was intended to carry out further scrutiny of the draft Strategy following public consultation.

To consider a presentation giving an overview of Northampton Partnership Homes’ functions, plans and priorities.

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a)  Requested that Northampton Partnership Homes provide additional information about Oak Tree Rise, Northampton;

b)  Requested that a visit for Committee members to Northampton Partnership Homes properties be arranged to provide further insight into its work;

c)  Agreed to write to Northampton Partnership Homes to thank staff for their work for tenants;

d)  Agreed that the Chair would raise the following issues with the relevant portfolio holders:

·      The effect on the Northampton Partnership Homes development programme of a current backlog in the planning process

·      The condition of the Ecton Lane traveller site

·      Opportunities for West Northamptonshire Council to bring empty homes back into use and to develop commercial properties for residential use

e)  Agreed that the Chair would highlight the issue of co-ordinating local environmental services carried out by different agencies to the Chair of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee as a potential topic for scrutiny.

The Chair noted that this item had not originally been scheduled for the current meeting.  She had advised Committee members ahead of the meeting of the need to change the planned agenda.  She had not wanted to lose the meeting completely, given the breadth of the Committee’s remit.  It would also be helpful for the Committee to consider the work of Northampton Partnership Homes. 

The Chair then welcomed the Director of Housing and Director of Corporate Services and IT at Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH).  They presented an overview of NPH’s priorities and activity, highlighting the following points:

·         Northampton Borough Council had set up NPH as an arms-length management organisation (ALMO) in 2015 after considering the best model to improve the performance of housing services.  The involvement of tenants was a key element of this governance model.

·         NPH was wholly owned by the local authority.  It had been set-up with a 15-year management agreement with the option of a further 15 years.  This had novated to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) in 2021.  The management agreement included key performance indicators for NPH and service level agreements for the services provided by the local authority.  These were currently under discussion following local government reorganisation.

·         NPH currently managed 11,369 properties.  It built new properties but had lost existing ones as a result of the right to buy scheme.

·         The provision of affordable rents was a challenge given increasing pressure on the cost of living.  It was anticipated that there would be significant issues in the coming winter with some tenants unable to afford both heating and food.

·         NPH managed the housing register for the former Northampton borough area of West Northamptonshire.  There were 3,162 applicants on the housing register, which amounted to 6,665 people: 12% of these applicants were in an emergency band where WNC had a statutory duty to house them.  An average of 20 properties became available each week, which was not sufficient to meet demand.

·         NPH had a better understanding of the make-up of its tenant population now than had been the case in the past.  61% of tenants were female; 84% were in single tenancies; and the average age of tenants was 52 years.  The largest age group was 50-59 year olds and NPH had to consider how best to use its overall housing stock to meet the needs of older people.

·         43% of NPH properties were houses, 43% were flats and 14% were bungalows.  The greatest demand was for 1 and 2 bed properties.

·         NPH was responsible for a range of functions, including allocations, lettings and managing the housing register; repairs and maintenance for its properties and associated community areas; a nationally-accredited tenancy support scheme; welfare support for older residents, which assisted them to continue to live independently; managing income from rents; managing the Ecton Lane traveller site; and making planned investment in the existing housing stock.

·         NPH was now in the final year of its current five-year corporate plan.  It would need to ensure that the next  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

To consider an update from the Chair of the task and finish panel on progress with the scrutiny review.

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed to amend the scope of the task and finish scrutiny review on child and adolescent mental health and the risk of self-harm to include agreement of the final report in August / September 2022 rather than May / June 2022.

The Chair updated the Committee on progress with the scrutiny review, advising that the scrutiny panel had held four meetings so far and was pursuing lines of enquiry concerning gaps between services and the waiting time to access Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.  The scrutiny panel had agreed to request the Committee to extend the time allowed for the scrutiny review slightly in order to complete it effectively.

The Chair invited members to raise any points on this matter that they wished the Committee to consider.

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed to amend the scope of the task and finish scrutiny review on child and adolescent mental health and the risk of self-harm to include agreement of the final report in August / September 2022 rather than May / June 2022.

To review and note the Committee Work Programme.

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a)     Agreed to reschedule the Committee meeting on 30 August 2022 to 15 September 2022.

b)     Agreed to invite the Regional Schools Commissioner to attend the next meeting of the Committee on 21 June 2022.

The Chair introduced the report setting out the latest version of the Work Programme, highlighting the following points:

·         The chairs of the three Overview and Scrutiny (OS) committees had recently met with the Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader to discuss how OS and the Cabinet worked together.  The Centre for Governance and Scrutiny was now due to carry out a review of the Council’s OS Function after it had been operating for a year.

·         The Chair aimed to meet regularly with the portfolio holders relevant to the Committee’s remit to help to inform its work programme.

The Committee was invited to consider whether to change the date of its next scheduled meeting from 30 August 2022 so as to avoid the end of the summer period, which could affect attendance.  Potential alternative dates that would avoid clashes with other Council meetings were 15, 19 or 20 September.

Committee members expressed disappointment that it had not been possible for the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) to attend the current meeting to discuss school performance in relation to academy schools in West Northamptonshire, highlighting the importance of scrutinising this issue.

The Committee was advised that the RSC had not been available for the current meeting.  The RSC’s office had also suggested that this topic might best be scheduled in autumn 2022 to take account of a structural reorganisation in the Department for Education in the summer that would result in Northamptonshire moving to the East Midlands region.  Committee members subsequently emphasised that this topic should be dealt with as soon as possible and that it would be helpful for the Committee to meet with the RSC who had been responsible for West Northamptonshire up to now, rather than just with their successor.  

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a)     Agreed to reschedule the Committee meeting on 30 August 2022 to 15 September 2022.

b)     Agreed to invite the Regional Schools Commissioner to attend the next meeting of the Committee on 21 June 2022.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.