Haringey Council's Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel met on Monday, June 23, 2025, to review housing service performance trends, discuss housing adaptations, and resident engagement. The panel also considered its terms of reference and work programme for the coming year.
The panel received a presentation providing a two-year trend analysis of housing service performance, comparing results for 2023/24 and 2024/25. The presentation covered a wide range of areas, including repairs and voids, compliance, asset management, tenancy management, estates and neighbourhoods, income collection, leaseholder services, and support and wellbeing. Housemark benchmarking figures were included where available.
The panel also received a report outlining how the Occupational Therapy (OT) Aids and Adaptations service works with Housing. The report included an overview of services for adults and children, with a focus on council housing and its impact on tenants. The report noted that adaptations to council properties account for approximately 50% of the OT Aids and Adaptations. Feedback from residents showed a 90% satisfaction rate for the service provided.
Challenges remain, including complex cases, timescale issues, and delays to works. To address these, a programme board has been initiated to monitor key areas, improve coordination between departments, and determine future resource needs.
Resident engagement was also on the agenda, with the panel receiving a report summarising the Resident Engagement Annual Review for the financial year 2023-24. The report referred to the Resident Engagement Strategy adopted in July 2022, and the Housing Improvement Plan approved in April 2023. It also referenced the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 and its requirements for tenant involvement.
In October 2023, a new governance engagement structure was introduced, recruiting 60 residents, 63% of whom were newly involved. The structure includes Continuous Improvement Groups (CIGs) and Task and Finish Groups, feeding into the Resident Voice Board, as well as the Resident Advisory Panel (RAP). Outcomes from resident engagement included a co-produced repairs handbook, a review of the Resident Expenses Policy, and co-designed policies on disrepair and damp and mould.
The panel also considered its work programme for 2025-26 and agreed any amendments. The draft work plan includes potential scrutiny review projects such as the TA Placements Policy & TA Discharge of Duty Policy. The agenda frontsheet and public reports pack are available online.