Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

The Advisory Board agreed that under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the restricted set of minutes within Item 3 ’Minutes of the last meeting held on 5 November 2019’, the Appendices 3(b) and 3(c) to Item 4 ‘Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited’ and the whole of Item 5 ‘Blackpool Housing Company Limited’ on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 5 November 2019 as a true and correct record.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

The Advisory Board considered the minutes of the last meeting held on 5 November 2019, noting that there was a public and restricted version.

The Advisory Board agreed that the minutes of the meeting be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

To provide an update on the recent work of Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited, including a summary of performance as at 31 December 2019.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of Appendices 3(b) and 3(c) to this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

Mr John Donnellon, Chief Executive, Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited (BCH) and Councillor Lynn Williams, Chair, BCH Board provided an update on the recent work undertaken by the company including a summary of performance for Quarters 1 and 2 2019/2020.

The Advisory Board was informed that a benchmarking exercise had been undertaken to compare the performance of BCH against other similar organisations and had generated a positive picture of the level of cost effectiveness of the company.

The key performance indicators were also discussed and Members noted that performance had dipped in relation to the ‘percentage of emergency repairs completed on time’. Mr Donnellon advised that the target was challenging to meet each quarter but that he expected the overall year-end target would be achieved. The ‘percentage of empty properties not available for letting, excluding planned development activity’ was also not achieving target and Mr Donnellon explained that the figure had been inflated due to properties deliberately held empty to carry out major work.

Mr Donnellon further highlighted that the Housing Revenue Account debt cap had been lifted, building work had begun at ‘Troutbeck’ and that BCH had commenced work on a plan to meet the Council’s objective of achieving ‘carbon zero’ by 2030. The plan would be submitted to the Shareholder’s Advisory Board for consideration in due course.

Members also discussed the positive work being undertaken with care leavers and the More Positive Together project. The commencement of the review of BCH, the Arm’s Length Management Organisation was also noted with the report expected in March 2020.

To provide an update on the recent work of Blackpool Housing Company Limited, including a summary of performance as at 31 December 2019.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

Mr David Galvin, Managing Director, Blackpool Housing Company Limited (BHC) provided an update on the recent work undertaken by the company including a summary of performance for Quarters 1 and 2, 2019/2020.

The Advisory Board discussed the information provided in detail and agreed to note the update.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 10 March 2020, commencing at 2.00pm.

The Advisory Board noted the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday, 10 March 2020, commencing at 2.00pm.