Minutes: May 2004
Wednesday 5 May 2004
held at Civic Offices Committee Room 2
Present: James, Helen, Jane, Keith, Matthew, Sue, Christine
Guests: Peter Holohan, Strategy & Tenant Participation Officer, Arlene Griffin, Housing Needs Manager (allocations)
Apologies: Annette, and Jase, Nick, Doug, Sharon, Robin, Tony
| Item | Action | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Housing Issues - Peter Holohan and Arlene Griffin
Helen introduced and welcomed Peter and Arlene to the meeting. |
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| 1.2 | There are 5,500 households on the Council's waiting list. 2,000 of these are families with remainder being singles or childless couples. 800 homeless families are in temporary accommodation. 1,400 current tenants are seeking a re-location within the town. | |
| 1.3 | 1,000 empty properties return to Swindon Borough Council for re-let every year, 200 of these being Housing Association properties where the Council enjoys nomination rights to reduce the waiting list. | |
| 1.4 |
Given the level of demand and lack of supply, the Council allocates property to prospective tenants based on a points system to ensure those in greatest need receive first priority:
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| 1.5 | The points system is difficult to understand to prospective tenants and for officers when determining applications. From late 2005 a new scheme of choice based lettings will be introduced with vacant properties advertised similar to an Estate Agents window. Tenants will bid for property. | |
| 1.6 | In the year 2000 an Equality Group changed the descriptions for prospective couples so that same-sex couples are listed alongside the word 'couples' as part of a review of Equalities statements. | |
| 1.7 | Homophobic bullying is listed alongside victims of domestic violence and so would be awarded maximum points for an urgent transfer. | |
| 1.8 | A tenant who breaches their tenancy through transgender, homosexual or race harassment of their neighbours or any anti-social behaviour will be pursued through the Courts. A bad tenant will not be allowed to re-enter the housing list and will have to seek alternative accommodation through the private rented sector. There are no known cases of action taken against a tenant in Swindon over recent years. | |
| 1.9 | An evicted household is offered 28 days emergency accommodation, as laid down in Government legislation. During this time, the Council will work with other agencies in an attempt to secure alternative accommodation for the household. | |
| 1.10 | The Council looks favourably on the Housing departments Equalities policies and holds it up as an example of good practice. Other departments within Council are encouraged to emulate this formula. | |
| 1.11 | Homes for asylum seekers have not proved to be a large issue for Swindon, even though the Borough is designated a cluster area by the Government. People coming from new EU countries will only be offered accommodation if they are working. | |
| 1.12 | The Council aim to build or enable partners in the construction of 150 new living units this year. At present it does not make economic sense for the Council to build its own homes, as Housing Associations have access to government grants and loans. | |
| 1.13 | Isambard Place is a prime example of key worker accommodation, built through a Housing Association / Council partnership project. This town-centre building provides accommodation to teachers, police officers, medical staff, etc. | |
| 1.14 | Housing was the first department in the Council to ensure all staff has equalities training. In-house newsletters constantly promote the awareness of equalities to all staff and tenants. | |
| 1.15 | As policy is reviewed, both Officers welcomed any input from the coalition. Customer satisfaction is always an area that the department seek to improve on. The Council is signed up to a tenant participation agreement that will review Equalities later in 2004. | |
| 2 | Minutes of the Last Meeting- agreed | |
| 3 | Matters Arising | |
| 3.1 | Our last meeting noted that the Equalities Forum - a body representing all coalitions at Swindon, is often dominated by a couple of obstructive members. This was reported to Sally Thorpe who has suggested that if such an occurrence happens again, the issue should be raised at the meeting. | |
| 3.2 | It was noted that Sally Thorpe would be leaving the Council in June. | |
| 3.3 |
LGBT Website
The chair of the Gender Trust complains our website is not inclusive to the trans community. Both Helen and Christine have written to the Trust, but have received viciously worded replies. It was agreed we should be positive in future correspondence and that an article of two be requested from the Trust to appear on our website. |
Matthew |
| Further, it was agreed that a number of web links to Trans organisations be included. | Lee | |
| 4 |
Any Other Business
None |
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| Date of next meeting is: Wednesday 2nd June at 7 pm in Committee Room 2 |
