[Councillor Diane Hind declared a
non-pecuniary interest as a member of Havebury Housing
Partnership's Scrutiny Panel]
Councillors Joe Mason and Margaret Marks left
the meeting at 6.10pm during the consideration of this item].
Prior to this item being considered by the
Committee the Chair welcomed Andrew Smith, Jenny Spoor and Scott
Bailey from Havebury Housing Partnership and members of the
Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee who had been invited to
the meeting in relation to hearing about Havebury’s
performance.
The Committee received Report No:
OAS/WS/23/001, which reminded members that at its meeting on 12
March 2020 the Committee received a presentation from Andrew Smith,
Chief Executive of Havebury Housing Partnership and appropriate
officers. At that meeting it was
resolved to invite back Havebury Housing Partnership to a future
meeting to provide a progress update on the following strategies
which were in their early stages of being revised/developed:
-
New Older Persons Strategy
-
New Homelessness Strategy; and
-
New Community Investment Strategy.
Andrew Smith, Chief Executive,
Jenny Spoor, Director of Operations and Scott Bailey, Director of
Development and Deputy Chief Executive from the Havebury Housing
Partnership were in attendance and gave a presentation.
In June 2022 Havebury
celebrated its 20-year anniversary and held a number of activities
to reconnect with the community following Covid.
During 2022 Havebury developed
a Corporate Plan 2021 to 2026, which included six key
objectives:
·
Being a great landlord
·
Developing new affordable homes (Havebury was ranked
in the top quartile provider)
·
Investing in its existing homes and
communities
·
Playing its part in addressing Climate
Change
·
Building a great team (hybrid working with staff
working flexibly. Havebury was also in
the top 100 as a great place for women to work)
·
Remaining a thriving business.
The presentation included
information on corporate measures and performance on the above six
key objectives.
A Community Investment Strategy
2022 to 2024 was developed, which included three specific
strands:
·
Community projects
·
Environmental improvements
·
Individual support
Each year £50,000 was
spent on community projects; £60,000 on environmental
improvements; and £250,000 on its support fund.
A Support Strategy 2022 to 2025
(including older people) was developed, which:
·
Look at technology and how it can help tenants to
stay safe and live independently, for example aids and
adaptations
·
Financial and hardship support
·
Emotional and wellbeing support
·
Home – what tenants need to live safely and
independently, including the aids and adaptions service.
As a housing provider, Havebury
Housing Partnership played a role in helping with
homelessness. Tayfen House in Bury St
Edmunds offered emergency and long-term accommodation up to 18
months. In October 2021 Havebury
secured a further five-year contract to enable it to continue its
street homeless work and getting people settled into
accommodation. As well as the two rooms
and 19 ensuite bedrooms in Tayfen House, there was also 32 homes
within the community were residents lived independently but had
support to manage life skills to transition to successful permanent
accommodation.
The presentation also included
information on performance indicators; tenancy sustainment, forming
a ...
view the full minutes text for item 205.