Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21^st August 2024 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

To consider whether to exclude the press and public for the item of private business for the reasons shown in the report.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee agrees to exclude the press and public under Sections 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 relating to the private report in Minute 42 below headed ‘Temporary Accommodation – Lease Renewal of Caradoc Hall, Coventry’ on the grounds that the report involves the likely disclosure of information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as it contains information relating to the financial affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of the Director of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a report and received a presentation on the Climate Change Strategy.

The report is also to be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 5^th November 2024 and by Council at its meeting on 3^rd December 2024.

The Coventry Climate Change Strategy 2024-2030 sets out how the Council plans to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change, which is central to the delivery of the One Coventry Plan.  The Strategy sets out the challenges and opportunities to creating a more sustainable city through the following five key pathways or themes:

·  Adaptation and Resilience 

·  Route to net zero

·  A circular economy

·  Fairer green future

·  Nature

The report provided a summary of the five pathways, which included the existing challenges and key recommendations.

Tackling the causes and consequences of climate change is a key priority for the Council as set out in the One Coventry Plan. The Strategy gives a comprehensive insight into the challenges and opportunities the Council faces  collectively in tackling the causes and consequences of climate change. Whilst the challenges ahead are significant, taking positive action to address them brings about real opportunity to create a better future for the city and its residents. The Climate Change Strategy is an important step for Coventry in being clear on the Council’s level of ambition, to be a leading city on the global stage, which is innovative, forward-thinking and capable of delivering meaningful change and leading the green industrial revolution. The Council needs to be bold and rise to these challenges.  However, the Council can’t do this alone and the success of how it responds to this will rely on city-wide support.

Climate change has many complex challenges which must be looked at holistically to deliver meaningful and lasting chance.

The Council recognised the importance of this issue well before many authorities were declaring emergencies, the Council were a founding signatory of the Global Covenant of Mayors in 2008, which set a target of achieving net zero by 2050 and the Council published its first Climate Change Strategy in the same year.  In 2021 the Council signed up to the Covenant of Mayors revised interim target of 55-65% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2030. The Council are committed to working towards the UK government’s more recent interim target for a 68% reduction in emissions by 2030. More recently the Council has been working towards how it can support government targets to tackle the ecological emergency, whereby 30% of land in the UK should be conserved and managed for nature by 2030.  Whilst Coventry recognises the importance of targets to give focus, the Council’s focus is taking action and being innovative to tackle climate change.

It is important that the Council is seen to lead from the front; and is committed to reducing the direct impact the Council has on the environment and climate change, and have a role to lead and encourage city-wide action.  It is for that reason that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

Report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a report of the Director of Adults and Housing, which set out options to enter into a new lease for Caradoc Hall for 10 years.

The report would also be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting scheduled for 5^th November 2024 and the Council at its meeting scheduled for 3^rd December 2024.

The Housing Act 1996 (as amended) places a statutory duty on Local Authorities to provide Temporary Accommodation to homeless households who are eligible and have a priority need.

Nationally the number of households living in temporary accommodation has increased significantly over the last 3 years and as of the 31^st March 2024 the Government’s quarterly publications show this is the highest recorded figure ever.  Coventry has also seen an increase in demand with 1,329 households living in temporary accommodation as at the 23^rd September 2024.

The Housing and Homeless Service have implemented several different accommodation options leading to a diverse temporary accommodation portfolio including lease agreements with private providers, provision through Registered Providers and the purchasing of properties. The results being that despite increases in temporary accommodation the Council has very few families in bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation in comparison to similar sized Councils. As of the 30^th September 2024 there were 1,326 households in temporary accommodation with 938 being families with dependent children. Even with these significant numbers there were no families in B&B and only 19 single people. B&B does not typically have cooking facilities and is often the most expensive temporary accommodation option alongside being the most inappropriate form of temporary accommodation, particularly for families with dependent children.

The lease of Caradoc Hall woud allow the Council to secure the use of the building for 10 years. The length of the lease term reflects the current demand and includes a break clause for the Council to terminate the lease arrangement after five years.

As part of the proposed lease agreement, the managing agent will commit to a refurbishment of the 103 flats in line with a condition survey agreed with the Council, as a well as continued improvements to the building such as replacement of the lifts.

Caradoc Hall is a residential building and as of 23^rd January 2023, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 made it a requirement in law to provide information to fire and rescue services to assist them in planning for and responding to a fire in the building. Caradoc Hall has complied with these regulations. A high-rise residential building is defined as a building containing two or more sets of domestic premises that is at least 18 metres tall or has at least seven storeys. The Housing & Homeless service has commissioned independent fire safety inspections quarterly with high levels of compliance by the provider. The building has a sprinkler system installed as part of the initial lease, smoke detectors and linked fire panel.

A corresponding private report detailing confidential financial matters was also submitted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Report fo the Director of Law and Governance

The Committee considered and noted their Work Programme and Outstanding Issues for 2024/25.

There were no other items of public business.

  Report of the Director of Adults and Housing

(Listing Officer: J Crawshaw – Email: Jim.Crawshaw@coventry.gov.uk)

Further to Minute 39 above, the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a private report of the Director of Adults and Housing, which set out options to enter into a new lease for Caradoc Hall for 10 years.

During consideration of the report, the Committee requested that information be circulated to the Committee Members and the Members of the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4) who were invited to attend the meeting, on the total costs of the existing lease for temporary accommodation at Caradoc Hall.

RESOLVED that, the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee note the report and confirm there are no comments or recommendations to be forwarded to Cabinet for consideration at their meeting on 5^th November 2024.

There were no other items of private business.