Agenda item

M Pinnell presented the report, introduction the new Damp and Mould Policy to Members to seek approval for the new report.

M Pinnell was happy to take questions.

Cllr Banks referred to 2.2 where you have listed the landlords responsibilities she asked if within the policy will we be looking for resident contribution, as some of it is caused by the residents. He said she believed that some of this is due to poor behaviours which are leading to the damp and mould.

M Pinnell said it was a good observation, he said that the driver isn’t to blame anyone it's to work with them and help them out. He had purposely gone away with the ' you must' approach. What he actually wanted to do was teach them and point out the do's and don’ts and educate residents rather than point the finger. The policy is high-level policy. He gave some examples of what he had seen and it's about educating them.

Cllr Cox referred to 2.1 Cllrs responsibility what is a reasonable time scale.

M Pinnell explained that we need to make a plan and then go back to see if it works, we need to have a review process to see if it is working because what will work for one will not work for another due to everyone's needs being different etc.

Cllr Wyatt-Lowe said she liked the report and found it interesting, she asked if we are putting more resources/funding into this to help get a faster and more effective response.

M Pinnell said that a paper was brought to committee last December and that was to allocate additional resource. He has now got 2 additional surveyors so this is being done quicker. The revenue budget pressure is a result of the work that we are doing with damp and mould, he confirmed that they do hold a cost pressure. He has the resources but it is putting additional cost pressures on the HRA.

Cllr Wyatt-lowe said she was glad that its included in the budget.

She asked about time fames etc, she said it is very wishy washy. She said she cannot find a definitive time frame and asked has any thought been given about this to reassure tenants about the outcomes.

M Pinnell said that it does state about urgent and non-urgent time frames (section 2.1). It does state that if it is urgent they will send an inspector out within 48 hours and non urgent calls are inspected within 7 days. They have to get the surveyor out first to look at it then make a plan then committee to a time frame. They have also got smaller contractors to support Osborns.

She asked how many side wall properties do we have?

M Pinnell said Approximately 75 have been identified with solid walls. 7692 Cavity Wall, 533 Solid Wall, 1644 System Build

In the main, this data is based on visual surveys undertaken to date and we are confident that it is largely correct. However, we do continue to update our records as we complete new stock condition surveys, if any new information becomes available relating to construction type the figures may change slightly over time.

Cllr Wyatt-Lowe asked what financial measures would it attract to immediate those problems in that particular type of housing.

M Pinnell gave a real time example as they are currently working though some engineering with those. He said to do solid walls, EWI solid wall insulation, solar panels on the top are a circular of about sixty thousand pound per property.

The report was agreed by Members