Agenda item

5.1

Public Question in respect of the Housing Revenue Account

Mick Watts referred to the second sentence of paragraph 40 on page 102 of the Budget Outturn Report 2012/13 on the agenda for the meeting which stated ‘Another improvement in this area included additional income of £253k generated from lending to the Housing Revenue Account from General Fund.’ He asked what the benefit of this would be for tenants? 

In response, Councillor Harry Harpham, Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, commented that he would seek clarification on this and provide a written response to Mr Watts.

5.2

Public Question in respect of Decent Homes Work and Council Housing

Martin Brighton referred to a recent article in The Star newspaper which mentioned the debt and money required to meet Council Housing commitments, including a £93 million debt for Decent Homes work. He commented that when people were asked to vote for the creation of Sheffield Homes, they were told that the Decent Homes money was ring-fenced. There were several repeats of this claim throughout the tenure of Sheffield Homes. He therefore asked if the Government, for whatever reason, asked for the money back, does the Council have the £93 million to hand over?

Mr Brighton further stated that The Council may recall that he had requested the financial argument for the return of the management of Council Housing back in-house. He therefore asked if the Council could show him where the figures that were quoted in The Star could be found in this financial report?

Councillor Harry Harpham commented that the administration had consistently stated that they had been underfunded by the Government for Decent Homes work. Mr Brighton had access to every financial document in relation to the Decent Homes Programme and if he had a query in relation to the figures in the Star he should contact them for clarification.

5.3

Public Question in respect of New Locality Structure and TARA’s

Martin Brighton stated that the Council was still consulting on the structure and remit of the new Area Panels, from the now defunct Area Assemblies. He asked would the Council provide an assurance that TARA’s will be recognised in their own right as a community representative organisation, with direct rights of access and petition, and not structurally subsumed below any other organisation?

Councillor Harry Harpham stated that they would have rights of access. Councillor Julie Dore, Leader of the Council added that they had had that level of access under the Community Assemblies and this would continue.

5.4

Public Question in respect of the Sheffield Housing Company

Martin Brighton commented that the Council’s financial argument for contributing land to the Sheffield Housing Company was that the Council will return a profit from its contribution to the partnership upon the sale of the new-built properties. He therefore asked if the Council could produce the evidence to show the financial projections at least guarantee that the Council will not suffer a loss and will the Council provide the financial projections indicating the value of the Council’s contribution and the amount of profit generated to the Council?

Councillor Harry Harpham responded that it was very difficult to project profits as there were so many dependents. Councillor Julie Dore added that the scheme was not solely focused on financial benefit it would also enable the Council to determine what was built on the land.

5.5

Public Question in respect of Secure Tenancies

Martin Brighton asked if the Council could guarantee that all those displaced from their Secure Tenancies would be offered new homes with Secure Tenancies?

Councillor Harry Harpham confirmed that the Council would continue to offer Secure Tenancies for Council Housing. Councillor Julie Dore further commented that some tenants may choose to move into other areas with other social landlords but if they moved into a Council property they would have the opportunity of a secure tenancy.

5.6

Public Question in respect of Amey and the Streets Ahead Project

Nigel Slack referred to recent articles in the Sheffield Star and Construction News about the potential losses for Amey on the Streets Ahead Project of some £540,000. This potential loss apparently threatened some 22 jobs, unless a successful redeployment was concluded in negotiations with unions. He therefore asked if the Council would clarify the position regarding potential profits or losses over the life of the contract, comment on the ‘major financial risk’ Amey allege this represented and the facts about the potential ‘redeployment’ of staff allegedly ‘lacking the necessary skills’?

Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene, commented that it was a fair assumption to make that contractors such as Amey would expect to make profits later on into the contract. There had been no official release of the figures so the figures referred to in the question had not come from Amey or the Council. In respect of jobs, the project had created an extra 230 jobs and an extra 400 jobs in relation to the supply chain. The Council acknowledged that they hadn’t previously invested as much as they could have in training for Street Force staff and this would now be a priority under the new contract. Even if the project was not taking place Street Force staff would still be subject to job pressures. The Streets Ahead project was guaranteeing and projecting jobs and this was the right thing for Sheffield. In conclusion he stated that this was an Outcome Based Contract, there would be no compulsory redundancies and it would be at no cost to the Council.

5.7

Public Question in respect of Capita

Nigel Slack referred to profits made by Capita outlined in the Capita 2012 annual report. He asked if the Council thought the levels of profit indicated were acceptable at a time when the Council was under such financial hardship? And was it time for a conversation about whether this company was ethically suitable to hold any future contracts with this City?

Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources responded that the City Council operated competitive tendering and Capita had been successful in gaining a number of contracts. The City Council continued to monitor these and if it was felt that Capita were not delivering to agreed service standards this could be addressed and penalty clauses could be implemented if necessary. However, Capita were producing better results than when the contracts were delivered in house and at a lower cost to the Council.