Issue - decisions

Received a report responding to the Scrutiny Management Board (SMB) following its consideration of the Call-In received with respect to the Executive's decision of 7 October 2003 to set up a panel of preferred Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to partner the Council to deliver new affordable homes, excellent housing services and regeneration initiatives (Minute 141 refers).

Agreed, in order to strengthen the Council’s ability to deliver high quality new affordable homes and bring about regeneration programmes for the community, as well as drive up performance standards ensuring greater accountability, to:

1. Admit London and Quadrant Housing Trust (subject to the condition set out in paragraph 5.1) and Presentation Housing Association to the preferred RSL partner panel;

2. Continue to monitor the performance of Southern Housing Group, with a further report to be presented to the Executive in March 2004;

3. Adopt the selection criteria for RSL partners as set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report for future assessments;

4. Request the RSL forum which is being established within the Barking and Dagenham Partnership, to monitor on a quarterly basis the performance of the Council’s RSL partners; and

5. Receive annual reports reviewing the RSL partner panel and consider any proposals to add or exclude any RSLs.

Received a report outlining the background and reasons for a panel of preferred Registered Social Landlord (RSL) partners.  The report set out the criteria for the selection and brought forward proposals on which RSL’s should comprise the panel.  The report also indicated how the strengths of the RSL partners would be matched to the many varying development and regeneration opportunities.

Agreed, in order to enhance the delivery of affordable homes through the assembly of a panel of RSL’s to provide high quality and efficient development and management services, that:

1. Anglia Housing Group (Stort Valley Housing Association), East Thames Housing Group, Metropolitan and Ujima be appointed to the Council’s panel of RSL preferred partners;

2. Further enquiries be made of London & Quadrant Housing Trust and Presentation Housing Association with a view to adding these to the RSL panel; and

3. A review of the performance of RSL partners and consideration of new applications to join the panel be held on an annual basis.