Issue - meetings

Report of Strategic Director – Planning, Housing and Eceonomy

Summary

To consider the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review report and the recommendations arising from the report

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To note that the service has delivered £160,000 savings above the £500,000 savings target set in the previous VFM review, and that these have been delivered ahead of schedule

(2)               To note the achievement of all other recommendations from the previous VFM review, save for those around process benchmarking, and ensure these are pursued during the remainder of 2010/11 to identify areas of greater efficiency

(3)               To endorse the overall conclusion of the review is that the service is now below average cost for housing strategy and private sector housing, and remains above average cost for homelessness due to local circumstances and activity rather than unnecessary spend. It has high performance in terms of lower use of temporary accommodation, delivery of affordable housing and responding to the recession. It is high quality in terms of high levels of user satisfaction

(4)               To agree that further improvements in value for money be sought and approve the following recommendations;

a.      Reduce and reconfigured staffing arrangements in line with the revised needs of the service to achieve savings of £60,000

b.      Review temporary accommodation contract management arrangements with Sanctuary Housing to achieve savings of £40,000 and improve contract performance

Recommendations Approved

The Strategic Director (Planning, Housing and Economy) submitted a report which presented the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review of housing and the recommendations arising from the report. Members requested that in implementing the conclusions of the review officers consider the possible resource implications of potential future changes to the housing benefit regime and report back on this as necessary.

Resolved

(1)               That it be noted that the service has delivered £160,000 savings above the £500,000 savings target set in the previous VFM review, and that these have been delivered ahead of schedule

(2)               That the achievement of all other recommendations from the previous VFM review, save for those around process benchmarking, and ensure these are pursued during the remainder of 2010/11 to identify areas of greater efficiency be noted

(3)               That the overall conclusion of the review, that the service is now below average cost for housing strategy and private sector housing, and remains above average cost for homelessness due to local circumstances and activity rather than unnecessary spend be endorsed. In addition it be noted that the service has high performance in terms of lower use of temporary accommodation, delivery of affordable housing and responding to the recession. Also it be noted that the service is high quality in terms of high levels of user satisfaction

(4)               That further improvements in value for money be sought and the following recommendations be approved;

a.      Reduce and reconfigured staffing arrangements in line with the revised needs of the service to achieve savings of £60,000

b.      Review temporary accommodation contract management arrangements with Sanctuary Housing to achieve savings of £40,000 and improve contract performance

Reasons

Housing was subject to a previous value for money review which reported to Executive on 12 May 2008. It was selected for a ‘revisit’ review during 2010/11 because high-level comparative budget information available through 2010/11 RA form analysis indicated it may still be comparatively expensive. A key element of the review was to better understand these comparative costs to verify the position of the service, and to identify any possible further savings.