Decision details

(Minute 83)

The report of the Assistant Director Housing and Contracts was submitted, seeking approval to increase the housing capital programme for the next three years to accelerate the programme of kitchen and bathroom replacement in the Council’s housing stock.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 4 September 2012 and the support and comments of members were noted.

Members were informed that previous failures in the delivery of the kitchen and bathroom replacement contracts had led to an underspend on the capital budget since 2010/11 and a backlog in the programme.   The proposal was to carry over the underspent surplus from the failed contracts in the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as well as invest additional funding in the replacement programme in future years. In response to a question, the Portfolio Holder stated that the Council sought to invest in the improvement of existing housing stock as well as allocating funding towards new build. 

Executive recommended to Council that, subject to satisfactory half-yearly progress reports on the contractors’ performance:

(1)        an additional £1.775m be allocated to the capital programme in 2012/13 for replacement kitchens, bathrooms, associated works and staff costs; and

(2)        an increase in the Housing Capital Programme to £3.7m in 2013/14 and £3.8m in 2014/15 be approved for replacement kitchens, bathrooms, associated works and staff costs.