Agenda item

This report provides an update in respect of housing delivery and the projects currently managed by the Development & Major Projects Directorate.

The Divisional Director for Project Management introduced this item to the Panel. He highlighted some of the key points from within the report.

Somerdale

·  Kraft continue to analyse the bids for the Somerdale site - a decision as to their preferred developer has not yet been made. An announcement is imminent.

Radstock Infrastructure Project:

·  At the Cabinet meeting on 14th September members decided to postpone their decision on the Traffic Regulation Orders for the proposed highway improvements in Radstock. The Cabinet asked highway officers to review the objections to the TROs, look again at the traffic data and, in the light of this information and the many changes that have been suggested to the current proposal, see if the scheme can be further amended to maintain traffic flows and pedestrian movements through the town.

·  The funding from the Housing & Communities Association (HCA) is conditional in that it must be used within this financial year.

The Chairman asked if the highway officers were aware of the HCA funding.

The Divisional Director for Project Management assured the Panel that they were.

Councillor Barry Macrae commented that he wished the Cabinet Member to pursue this decision actively.

Victoria Bridge

Stage 1

·  Emergency monitoring instructed to be undertaken weekly.

·  Gateway review completed 3rd October 2011

·  Feasibility study incorporating a 3 stage action plan has been signed off by Strategic Director of Service Delivery.

Stage 2

·  Commence the Temporary works

·  Design commence November 2011

·  Tenders to be issued early December 2011

Permanent works

·  Design commence January 2012

·  Works due for completion Autumn 2013

A structural analysis was undertaken by Fenton Holloway and completed on 6th September 2011. It has been noted that the structure is in a worse condition than previously reported, however weekly inspections of the cracked members can provide a degree of mitigation to sudden collapse until the temporary works is installed. A programme to reopen the bridge for public access in the spring has been proposed.

Councillor Will Sandry commented that he was delighted that the Development & Major Projects directorate had taken a lead role on this matter.

Mr David Redgewell addressed the Panel. He requested that an Equalities Impact Assessment in relation to Southgate be published. He added that further bus shelter provision is required and that the issue of access to the bus station from the train station needs to be assessed.

The Divisional Director for Project Management replied that the directorate manages the implementation of the approved planning scheme. He added that Multi has the right to apply for changes to the scheme through the planning process.

The Associate Director for Housing and Health addressed the Panel in relation to the Housing Services section of the report.

Home Improvement Agency Re-commission (HIA)

Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire are undertaking the joint commissioning of a single Home Improvement Agency for the sub-region. HIAs help vulnerable people live independently by providing housing related support, such as minor repairs, handyperson services, adaptations and advice. The core customer groups for HIAs are disabled, elderly and otherwise vulnerable households across all tenures, although the focus is on owner occupiers. The service is means tested: provided free to those on benefits, with a modest charge levied for those who can pay. HIAs also provide services through self-funding options to non-vulnerable households.

A twelve week consultation period will be undertaken from the beginning of October in accordance with local authority compacts. This will include public availability of the commissioning strategy and equality impact assessment, the opportunity to feedback through an online survey, local stakeholder drop in events and a single market providers’ day. The consultation feedback will be

used to draw up the tender specification. The tender will then be advertised at the beginning of February with a contract award anticipated in by mid-June 2012.

Home Energy Efficiency

Joint working between Housing Services and the Public Health Team at NHS BANES resulted in the Council’s Warm Streets home energy efficiency scheme being promoted with this year’s Flu Jab mail out to over 36,000 residents over 60 years of age.

At the time of writing this had resulted in 822 referrals for loft or cavity wall insulation. This may increase further in the weeks ahead. Past experience would suggest that this is likely to result in at least half as many actual installed after a follow up survey by the contractor. Improving the energy efficiency of these homes has the potential to provide vulnerable residents the triple benefit of:

·  Better health through warmer homes

·  Lower fuel bills

·  Lower carbon emissions to help reduce climate change

Access to Housing Advice & Options

Housing Services are now able to provide clients with daily appointments to provide a full housing advice and options interview over the phone. Users receive a return call from the adviser at an agreed time, and advice given will be backed up with written information. The new appointments ensure that people in isolated and rural locations are not excluded from the service, and reduce the need to travel. This is in addition to the housing advice and options services operated from the Guildhall, The Hollies and Keynsham Town Council Offices.

The Chairman on behalf of the Panel thanked the officers for their report.