Agenda item

The Council considered a joint report of the Corporate Director, Regeneration and Local Services and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services regarding the governance review of the County Durham Housing Group Board (for copy see file of Minutes).

The report advised of the conclusions of the governance review, and sought nominations to the Operations Committee of the Board.

In Moving the report Councillor Tomlinson, Portfolio Holder for Assets, Strategic Housing and Rural Issues stated that the environment within which the social housing sector operated had changed dramatically in the last 2 years. The impact of Welfare Reform had not yet been fully felt but the impact on the Business Plans of all social housing providers had been dramatic. The Group’s first regulatory judgement by the Homes and Communities Agency had been satisfactory but had identified that improvements were required to the governance arrangements. The review had been aided by a consultant, and the proposals were supported by the three subsidiaries within the Group.

In Seconding the report Councillor Foster, Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration emphasised that the proposals were in response to external advice, the financial pressures placed on the organisation and the need to make improvements, whilst balancing efficiencies with doing the best it possibly could for the people the Group served.

Councillor Hopgood noted that the criteria for making nominations to the Operations Committee had been revised and political balance would not apply.  The Member was of the view that this was undemocratic and would abstain from voting on the recommendation to agree the revised criteria.

Upon a vote being taken it was Resolved:

That recommendations (i) and (iii) in the report be agreed.

The Chairman invited nominations to the Operations Committee of the County Durham Housing Board.

Further Resolved:

That the following Members from the relevant housing areas be nominated to the Operations Committee of the County Durham Housing Group Board:-

Dale and Valley Homes – Councillor C Wilson

Durham City Homes – Councillor B Kellett

East Durham Homes – Councillor K Shaw.