NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL
HOUSING CABINET MEMBER
18 November 2002
112 (37) CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS ADVISORY
PANEL - 29 OCTOBER 2002 - HOUSING MATTERS -
Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on
29 October 2002 setting out recommendations of the panel be
approved in so far as they relate to housing matters.
113 (38) REMOVING THE RESTRICTIONS ON LIKE TO LIKE
TRANSFERS - The Director of Social and Housing Services
referred to minute 54 approving the removal of the current
restriction on like to like transfers as part of the drive to
improve residents' choice in where they lived.
He submitted a report stating that the intention of the
restriction was to reduce the number of transfers and so reduce the
number of properties becoming void. A quarterly performance review
had shown that although the number of transfers had reduced
dramatically, the turnover of void properties had actually
increased.
The council was keen to give existing and prospective tenants as
much choice as possible and so proposed to remove the
restriction.
Before the restriction could be lifted the Housing Act 1985
required that tenants of the council be consulted about the
proposed change.
Council tenants had been consulted in a recent housing
newsletter. No formal responses had been received apart from
tenants who wished to apply for a like to like transfer.
Resolved - (a) That the current restriction on
like to like transfers be removed, and (b) that the effects of this
action be reviewed after six months through the quarterly
performance review process.
114 (39) MANUFACTURE AND INSTALLATION OF WINDOWS BY
B-LINE INDUSTRIES - The Director of Social and Housing
Services submitted a report seeking approval for additional
resources to implement building control consent for the
installation of replacement windows.
In June 2002 approval was given for the establishment of two
posts at B-Line Industries for implementing Part L of the Building
Regulations. These regulations governed the minimum standards of
the materials to be used in the manufacture of plastic windows and
the elements of control the local authority must exercise over the
actual installation.
It was now clear that two posts were insufficient to guarantee
compliance with regulations given the increase in window
installation that has now occurred and the increase in window
production now required in order to meet the window replacement
programme.
To comply with the changed requirements and the increased
workload due to the success of the operation, it was proposed that
a further full time Technical Officer post be created within B-Line
Industries to carry out all window measuring, specifying, ordering
and submitting of Building Control consent requests.
The report set out the funding implications.
Resolved - (a) That approval be given to create
an additional post of Technical Officers B-Line Industries, grade
6, and (b) that the staffing implications be referred to the
Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval.
The following item contains exempt information as defined in
paragraph 8 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act
1972.
115 (40) WILLOUGHBY ROAD
SHOPS - Further to minute 124 of the Cabinet the Director
of Social and Housing Services submitted a report seeking approval
for the sale of Willoughby Road shops to the Lincoln Co-operative
Society.
The Secretary of State had given approval for the sale. The sale
price was supported by the District Valuer.
The flats to the shops had three secure tenants and they had
been consulted on the proposal. The council retained 'flying
freehold' of the flats so the secure tenants rights remained
unaffected.
Resolved - That the sale of the Willoughby Road
shop site to the Lincoln Co-operative Society be approved on the
terms set out in the report.
