Agenda item

The Panel will receive a presentation on this item from the Chief Executive of Somer, Mr Victor da Cunha.

Victor da Cunha, Chief Executive, Somer Housing Group and Louise Swain, Executive Director, Customer Services gave a presentation to the Panel regarding this item. A full copy of the presentation can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

Our mission – the reason we exist: “To make a positive and profound contribution to the neighbourhoods we work in – inspiring and empowering people to succeed in life.”

Our vision is that by 2017: “We will be a modern, customer-driven, ethical business, which makes a positive contribution to people and places.”

Our six strategic priorities:

1. A renowned customer service culture
2. Great properties and places
3. Ethical care and support services
4. Happy, safe, popular neighbourhoods
5. Help for people needing work
6. Lobbying for positive social change

Preferred legal form: One Registered Provider;

–  To improve customer services

–  To reduce complexity and duplication

–  To reduce the level of indebtedness

–  To simplify the regulatory burden

A separate Care and Support business:

–  To create a centre of excellence which is well known in the market place

–  To allow us to do work for non-residents

–  To remove double regulation

–  To allow us to better compete

–  To improve our overall financial transparency and performance

Clear and separate non-charitable business:

–  To allow us to do more things which generate income

–  To allow us to do more “housing for sale” as a cross subsidy for affordable housing

–  So we don’t have to sell properties

Approach to Georgian Stock:

•  Minimise disposals

•  Bring back to use long term voids

•  Ensure accommodation is suitable to need

•  Requires a broader range of solutions

–  Continuation of Market rent – perhaps with some homelessness activity too;

–  Modest amount of furnished apartments and holiday lets (with training an employment potential).

New housing supply:

•  Continuation of our commitment to develop social housing

•  Capacity to provide 1,260 new homes over the next 5 years

•  Capacity to support key sites as a strategic partner

•  Commitment to regeneration

Our accountability to you:

•  On-going day to day relationships with Cllrs important

•  Strategic Partnership Meetings in place

•  Presentations to overview & scrutiny and other formal meetings / committees

•   “Democratic Filter” process to be agreed

•  Bi-annual Cllr briefing to be taken forward

Councillor Paul Fox commented that he had a slight concern over the Group’s plans to diversify as he would not wish to see any adverse impact to the current users of the service.

Mr da Cunha acknowledged that the Group’s powers were not limitless and that the focus would still remain on being a great landlord.

Councillor Les Kew asked how many of the Group’s properties were of Georgian stock and what were their current condition.

Mr da Cunha replied that the figure was between 540 – 800 properties.

Louise Swain added that the Georgian stock was of variable standards.

Councillor Gerry Curran commented that he saw Somer as an efficient vehicle. He suggested that they use the word ‘housing’ somewhere within their vision statement and stated that a partnership with the Council is vital.

Councillor Steve Hedges commented that residents need to be shown respect when responding to their problems / concerns.

Mr da Cunha agreed and said that he wanted the public to talk about them in a positive manner. He announced that recently five new objectives had been agreed within the organisation, these were, to be Caring, Respectful, Open, Fair and Trusting.

Councillor Rob Appleyard thanked both Victor and Louise for their attendance on behalf of the Panel.