Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from those Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies were received from Chris Friend and Cllr Alison Munro.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on the 11 August 2025.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 11 August 2025, be approved as a correct record.

Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have any disclosable pecuniary interests or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items.

No interests were declared.

Most agenda items take place in public. This only changes where there is a need to consider exempt information, as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. You will be informed at this point which items are to be recommended for exclusion and to be resolved by the Panel.

All agenda items were considered in public.

The Panel will receive any petitions and/or deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also submit a petition at the meeting relating to a matter on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Members of the Public must submit a deputation in writing, at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting and shall subsequently be notified if the deputation shall be heard. A maximum of four deputations shall be heard at any one meeting.

No deputations or petitions were received.

To receive any public questions.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, the period for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Any questions must be submitted in writing at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting.

In accordance with Council Procedure rule 11, Mr Andrew Wilson submitted written questions.  The Chair agreed to provide a written response.

This report outlines Kirklees Council’s preparedness for the implementation of Awaab’s Law, which introduces new statutory duties for social landlords to address damp, mould and condensation (DMC) hazards and other emergency hazards within strict timescales.  It sets out the steps taken by the Council to date to ensure legal compliance, enhance service capacity, invest in preventative measures, and support both staff and residents.

Contact:  David Brook: Head of Property Services - 01484 221000

Cllr Moses Crook, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Housing, introduced the agenda item, advising the Panel that the report outlines the council’s preparedness for the implementation of Awaab’s Law, which will come into force on the 27^th October 2025. 

The Panel was informed that the law is named after Awaab Ishak who sadly died in 2020, as a result of a failure to address issues with damp and mould in his home.  It is right to both commemorate and hold landlords to account to make prompt and effective repairs in response to potentially serious hazards, and to make the response times statutory.

Kirklees Homes and Neighbourhoods have already established good practice and demand response in the area of damp, mould and condensation following the notice to improve by the Regulator of Social Housing, and well ahead of implementation of this law. 

The backlog and persistent high numbers of damp, mould and condensation cases inherited when the landlord function came back inhouse in 2022, have been addressed.  There is now a stable number of cases, well below the projected business as usual numbers and that has been the case since June 2025.  Currently there are approximately 240 cases, and this has been achieved through a comprehensive programme of service redesign, investment in the service, workforce development and partnership with external contractors.

There is confidence that demand can be managed, including projected seasonal increases while continuing to remain compliant with the specifications in Awaab’s Law, from now and as it becomes statutory.  The approach to damp, mould and condensation is extremely robust, as issues are surveyed, repaired and re-surveyed at three- and six-months post repair or post treatment to ensure the issue is fully resolved and not recurring.

There is sufficient capacity to meet the anticipated increase in demand during the annual cold season, with additional contingency measures in place to address any unexpected rise in cases. Furthermore, a comprehensive stock condition survey of all housing is currently underway, which may identify previously unreported issues. Additional capacity has been allocated to address any such findings as they arise.

Awaab’s Law also has implications for electrical safety, and there is already compliance with this stipulation and will continue to plan ahead to be ready for other areas of compliance as they are added to the framework.  The commitment to tenants go beyond compliance and will continue the journey of improvement to exceed the statutory timeframes and standards, putting the safety and welfare of tenants as the highest priority.

In response to the information presented, the Panel asked a number of questions and made comments including some of the following:

-         In respect of properties where it is difficult to find the reason for the damp and mould, whether the cause is from the tenant or some other reason.  How many properties are there and what is the process to address that?

-         Managing to reduce the backlog and get to a business-as-usual position, particularly before the August deadline is very impressive and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

The report presents an update on the ongoing redesign of the Kirklees Homes & Neighbourhoods (KHNs) Housing Management and Partnerships (HMP) service.

Contact:  Lisa Ramsden, Head of Housing Management and Partnership Tel: 01484 221000.

Cllr Moses Crook, introduced the agenda item, advising the Panel that the report provides an update on the ongoing redesign of the Kirklees Homes and Neighbourhoods Housing Management and Partnership Service, including progress, key changes and improvements in tenant experience.  

The Panel was informed that this is the service responsible for the delivery of landlord functions to tenants.  Over recent years there has been a narrowing of the range of service provision from housing service, as well as a move towards recovery of costs to comply with regulations from the Regulator of Social Housing, with respect to what can be provided as a landlord.

This has clearly been a process which has required clear communication with tenants, as well as a sensitive and supportive transition. Through this, it has been important to define a trusting relationship with tenants, one where there is a need to be clear at every level of the service, on what can and what cannot be provided as a landlord.  "It is important to clearly state what support or services can be provided, including details of how and when these will be delivered, and to ensure that all commitments made are fulfilled.

The Regulator of Social Housing has provided the four consumer standards, and it is necessary to ensure compliance against these standards.  There are 22 Tenant Satisfaction Measures used to assess performance, including twelve tenant perception measures (TSM) that help to identify when the service is not being provided to tenants as expected.

These measures have shown a decrease in satisfaction in the year 24/25 compared to the previous reporting period in 23/24.  The service redesign is a response to this unacceptable trend.  Referring to an appendix in the report the panel was informed that the midyear analysis shows an increase in every one of the 12 TSMs, the tenant perception part. 

Performance is not yet at the desired level; however, the actions taken to date have reversed the previous downward trend. Early signs of recovery are now evident, with increasing confidence and satisfaction being reported by tenants.

Phil Jones, Service Director for Homes and Neighbourhood informed the Panel that the report highlights three key issues.

1)         To improve, and increase visibility within neighbourhoods, recognising that this is important to tenants.

2)         Work is underway to review and introduce measures addressing anti-social behaviour, which is recognised as a key issue affecting tenants. The establishment of a team directly addresses this concern and provides an immediate response to incidents as they arise.

3)         A positive development to highlight is the approach to neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood planning. This provides communities with a clear understanding of intended actions and creates opportunities for accountability, enabling communities to agree on actions and to challenge when commitments are not being met.

In response to the information presented, the Panel asked a number of questions and made comments including some of the following:

-         It is positive that the council is looking at anti-social behaviour.  If the anti-social behaviour is coming  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.