To notify the Chairman of any items that appear in the agenda in which you may have an interest.

Members had no interests to declare.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2008.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of Director of Housing.

The Lead Member for Housing presented a report seeking approval to introduce housing income payment cards for the recovery of former tenants arrears.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members were reminded that the prevention and effective management of rent arrears had been identified as a key priority in Housing Department’s Service Improvement Plan.

It was explained that the use of housing income cards was recognised as good practice by the Audit Commission when carrying out inspections of social housing and they were used both regionally and sub regionally, by a large number of Registered Social Landlords, Arms Length Management Organisations and retained housing services.

The report evaluated the value of money issues associated with introducing income payment cards for the collection of former tenants arrears as well as the benefits to tenants and the service.

RESOLVED :            That the Council introduces Housing Income Payment Cards for the recovery of former tenant arrears.

Report of Director of Housing.

The Lead Member for Housing presented a report regarding the above.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

It was explained that the Housing Services Department, with input from Social Care and Health, had reviewed the existing Disabled Persons Adaptations Policy, which had been adopted in 1997. 

The Review had considered how the Council met its obligations in terms of ensuring that Disabled Persons Adaptations were carried out to properties in a timely, cost-effective and appropriate manner.  A self-assessment of the existing arrangements had been carried out using the Key Lines of Enquiry. 

The self-assessment had identified a number of areas for improvement, some of which had been addressed in the policy, set out in Appendix 1. Other areas would require further consideration and had been detailed in a Service Improvement Plan (Appendix 2).

Members’ attention was drawn to Section 5 of the report, which set out the key points of the revised policy.

RESOLVED :   That the Disabled Persons Policy be approved and implemented.

Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th January 2008.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th January 2008.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :           That the Minutes be received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2008.

 Consideration was given to the Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2008.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :           That the Minutes be received.

RESOLVED:             That in accordance with Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12a of the Act.

Report of Director of Leisure Services.

The Lead Member for Leisure and Culture presented a report regarding the Council’s contractual arrangements with Competition Line.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :           That the recommendation detailed in the report be

                                    adopted.  

Published on 1^st February 2008.

The key decision contained in these Minutes will be implemented on Monday 11^th February 2008 five working days after the date of publication unless they are called in by three Members of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the call in procedure rules.