Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy informing Members of the findings and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group on damp and mould in Gloucester’s rented accommodation.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report are addressed and implemented at the earliest opportunity, and those recommendations requiring more detailed consideration be the subject of a further report to Cabinet as necessary.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy that informed Members of the findings and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group on damp and mould in Gloucester’s rented accommodation.

The Cabinet Member for Environment outlined the background to and scope of the report.  He noted that all participants took the issues seriously and drew Members’ attention to each recommendation (Appendix 1 Section 6).

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources stated that it was a great piece of work by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  She commented that it demonstrated how collaboration between the Committee and Cabinet can achieve real results and looked forward to what will come in future from a forthcoming joint planning session.  The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources particularly thanked the Democratic and Electoral Services Officer for her able support of the Task and Finish Group.

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure gave his own thanks to Committee Members and officers.  He informed Members that he believed a national landlord accreditation scheme would solve many problems.  The Cabinet Member for Environment advised that although he considered the benefits of accreditation to be limited, he however regarded this and all the recommendations (Appendix 2) to be good for renters.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report are addressed and implemented at the earliest opportunity, and those recommendations requiring more detailed consideration be the subject of a further report to Cabinet as necessary.

To consider the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group on damp and mould in Gloucester’s rented accommodation.

12.1    As Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group on damp and mould in Gloucester’s rented accommodation, Councillor Conder introduced the report and provided Members with an overview of the project. She reminded Members that the Task and Finish Group was commissioned by the Committee back in January 2023, following the publication of a coroner’s report in November 2022 linking the death of a two-year old child in Rochdale to exposure to mould in his home environment.

12.2    Councillor Conder confirmed that the Task and Finish Group had met regularly between February and May 2023 and had held evidence sessions with Directors and Senior Managers of several local Registered Social Housing Providers, local voluntary advice agencies and the City Council’s Private Sector Housing Team. She advised Members that the full findings of the Task and Finish Group were outlined in Appendix 1 of the report, which included summaries of the sessions, conclusions, and recommendations.

12.3    The Chair commented that the Task and Finish Group deserved credit for their report and evidence gathering. He felt that the recommendations were sensible, however in relation to Recommendation 6, he suggested adding reference to circulating the information document via the council’s social media channels.

12.4    Councillor Wilson referred to the transfer of housing stock and asked whether the stock was of decent home standard. The Housing Innovation Manager reminded the Committee that the Task and Finish Group investigation and report was Member-led. He noted that he was aware of a small number of properties with problems however these tended to be linked to the age of the properties, with particular issues amongst homes built during the 1960s and 1970s. In relation to the broader housing stock, he noted that properties tended to be in reasonably good condition.

12.5    In respect of Recommendation 1, Councillor Wilson queried whether the City Council had sufficient resources to implement a landlord accreditation scheme. The Housing Innovation Manager noted that this had not been a priority in the past, however the idea would be to provide responsible landlords with accreditation confirming that they were good landlords. Councillor Conder confirmed that despite the evidence gathering of the Task and Finish Group, there was still limited information on the private rented sector as there was currently no national regulation in this area.

12.6    Councillor Pullen commented that the enquiry had been fascinating and thanked the Officers, Social Housing Providers and the local voluntary advice agencies who had taken part and supported the project. He stated that Task and Finish Group Members had learnt that in the past, damp and mould growth was more likely to have put down to a lifestyle issue. He noted that the project had confirmed that the issue was far more complex, with the condition of properties being a major factor. He also outlined that it had been made evident to Task and Finish Group Members that there was a correlation between damp and mould growth and the rising cost of living, as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12