Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for People and Communities.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the adoption of the new Housing Compensation Policy for the period 2025-2030.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report on the new Housing Compensation Policy 2025-2030, which aims to  provide a fair and consistent approach to offering redress and awarding compensation to tenants when service failures occurred. The Policy would  align with the Housing Complaints Policy and the Housing Recharges Policy and has been based on the guidelines of the Housing Ombudsman.

Particular reference was made to:

·        the new policy formalised compensation practices to ensure a transparent approach; and

·        compensation should be fair and proportionate, but it was acknowledged that it may not fully address misconduct; and there were other actions that may need to be considered alongside monetary remediation.

During the debate, the following points were made:

·        had there been any major disagreements or dispute with tenants, relating to the policy? and

·        was there a budget line for general use or included in major projects?

In response to questions raised, the Strategic Director for People and Communities  and the Strategic Director for Operations advised that:

·        there had been no major disagreements or issues with tenants;

·        there was no designated budget for general compensation but with forensic accounting practices, if required the quantum of compensation payments could be identified;

·        setting a budget could be warranted; and

·        in the context of a planned project: e.g. a home loss payment when a tenant must move out this would be included in the project budget.

The Leader moved, and Councillor Wright seconded, the recommendations which were voted upon and CARRIED unanimously.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the adoption of the new Housing Compensation Policy for the period 2025-2030.