146 APPROVAL OF A REVISED SECURE TENANCY AGREEMENT PDF 192 KB
The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities to submit a report seeking approval to adopt a new Tenancy Agreement for the Council’s residential landlord function with effect from April 2021.
Additional documents:
Decision:
Cabinet
1) NOTED the content of the report and the responses
received to the consultation on the revised Tenancy Agreement;
2) APPROVED the proposed Tenancy Agreement (to be effective
from 5 April 2021;
3) DELEGATED authority to the Director for Housing and Communities:
·
to serve the
Notice of Variation;
·
to make any minor
formatting and/or wording amendments to the proposed tenancy agreement if
required.
Minutes:
Andrew
Cotton, Director for Housing and Communities introduced the
report, the purpose of which was to seek approval to adopt a new Tenancy
Agreement for the Council’s residential landlord function with effect from
April 2021.
Mr.
Cotton advised that provision of high quality council homes and landlord
services was a high priority for the Council.
The tenancy agreement was key to the delivery of this commitment and due
to a number of changes in legislation, policy and practice, the existing
agreement was in need of revision and updating.
Mr.
Cotton confirmed that the Council had undertaken consultation and engagement
work with tenants and with the Tenants Forum and Executive Committee (TFEC), the
results of which were reflected within the draft agreement before Members (and
summarised at paragraph 5.6 of the report).
A summary of amendments to the existing agreement was detailed within
the table at paragraph 5.5 of the report.
If adopted, the revised agreement would be implemented on 5 April 2021
and the Council would need to give formal notice of this at least four weeks
before this date.
Mr.
Cotton highlighted that permission to use the painting of Holwell
on the cover of the agreement had been given by the artist, a centenarian
resident of Gretton Court and the words on the cover (‘Working
Together’), had been suggested by TFEC.
Councillor
Alan Pearson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities thanked Mr. Cotton
and his team, noting that the revised agreement was the product of a great deal
of work. The most important aspect of
this work had been the consultation process. The agreement set out both Council
responsibilities (as landlord) and tenant responsibilities and active
engagement from both tenants and TFEC had been vital.
During
discussion the following points were noted:
·
Members thanked Mr. Cotton and his team for their work.
·
Members were pleased with the revised agreement, noting
it was comprehensive and detailed both Council and tenant responsibilities
clearly.
·
Members were pleased with the
consultation process. The views of
tenants were crucial to the revision of the agreement.
·
TFEC were supportive of the revised
agreement.
·
The existing agreement had not
been significantly amended for a number of years and it was important to review
and update the agreement periodically, in line with amendments to legislation.
·
Paragraph 11 (Equalities and Safeguarding
Implications) reassured Members that measures were in place to effectively ensure
that all tenants would be able to access and understand the revised agreement,
with additional support available if needed.
Cabinet
1) NOTED the content of the report and the responses
received to the consultation on the revised Tenancy Agreement;
2) APPROVED the proposed Tenancy Agreement (to be effective
from 5 April 2021;
3) DELEGATED authority to the Director for Housing and
Communities:
·
to serve the
Notice of Variation;
·
to make any minor
formatting and/or wording amendments to the proposed tenancy agreement if required.
Reason for
the decision
The Council’s Corporate Strategy 2020-24 commits to “providing high quality council homes and landlord services” as Priority Theme Two. ... view the full minutes text for item 146