Decision – Housing Policies

1.    
that the Housing Policies set out in Appendices 1 to 8 of the
submitted report be adopted by Torbay Council, and the Director of
Regeneration be given delegated authority, in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance, to review the policies and
make changes as appropriate and in line with any changes to
legislation.

2.    that the Monitoring
Officer be requested to make a technical amendment to the general
limitations within the Officer Scheme of Delegation in relation to
property disposals not applying in relation to the Right to Buy
Policy and the Director of Finance be given delegated authority to
dispose of property in accordance with the Right to Buy Policy.

The various housing
policies would provide a robust governance framework around the
management of the Councils housing stock following the transfer of
housing from TorVista Homes to Torbay
Council.  To also respond to the
recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

There were no
alternative options considered.

This decision will
come into force and may be implemented on 23 May 2025 unless the
call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders
in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

Following the transfer
of housing stock from TorVista to
Torbay Council, the Council needed to have in place a robust
governance framework which incorporated all legislative and
compliance requirements around the management of the Councils
housing stock.  Therefore, the following
policies had been developed:

·        
Tenancy Policy

·        
Damp and Mould Policy

·        
Complaints Policy

·        
Lettings Policy

·        
Tenant Involvement Policy

·        
Rent arrears and debt recovery Policy

·        
Right to Buy Policy

·        
Minimum lettable Standard

The Cabinet also had
before them a report from the Overview and Scrutiny Board which
recommended ‘including consideration around the wording of
the definition of ‘vulnerable tenants’ to the
delegation in 2 above.

At the meeting
Councillor Tyerman proposed and Councillor David Thomas seconded a
motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as set out
above.