THE new Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Luke Spillman, has laid out his priorities for the year ahead and beyond for the Housing Portfolio.
Highlights- Increasing in-borough temporary accommodation provision- Protecting our residents from any increase in homelessness caused by the consequences of the pandemic- Dealing with damp and mould in council properties quickly and decisively.- The replacement of ageing housing stock.- An ambitious but considered house building programme offering more Thurrock residents secure tenancies and the opportunity to own their own homes.- Providing more supported housing provision for vulnerable and at-risk groups.- Developing tenant engagement processes and analytics to inform and drive customer service and performance improvement across the service.
Cllr Luke Spillman, Portfolio Holder for Housing said: “The last few years have been very challenging for all housing departments. However, I have inherited a department, that has been led admirably through these difficult times.
“The department is more responsive, reflective and better staffed, despite being considerably leaner than it has been in many years. The outgoing Portfolio Holder, Director and Assistant Director together with all our staff deserve considerable praise. This exceptional groundwork has given me greater scope than my predecessors have enjoyed.
“We must expand the provision of in-borough and council provided temporary accommodation. Doing so will prevent many homeless families from being detached from their support networks, whilst providing far better value for money for the taxpayer. A report will be presented to September’s Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
“Homeless Departments across the country are braced for an increased level of homelessness cases as a result of the pandemic. We will make sure that adequate resource and preparation is in place to meet any increase in demand.
“Thurrock’s management of damp and mould is much improved. We will work closely with tenants, contractors and advisory bodies to drive further improvements.
“Some of our housing stock is ageing, and beyond effective repair. We will replace these units with the new better quality homes our tenants deserve.
“Increasing the opportunity for Thurrock residents to enjoy the security of homeownership or a secure tenancy is a key priority. Financial constraints, and then the pandemic, have prevented the Council from meeting this priority.
However, I am now able to charge officers with significantly upscaling our house building ambitions once more.
“We will expand our supported housing provision such as Head Start Housing, Housing First, care leaver support etc reducing the need for expensive out-of-borough placements that can leave our vulnerable residents feeling isolated.
“There is never an excuse for poor customer service, whilst every blip in performance needs to be embraced as a learning opportunity to inform future performance improvement. Housing will be a reflective department that embraces change.
“If residents believe there are other priorities I should add, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me [email protected].”
