Wrthi'n llwytho
Bu'r pwyllgor yn craffu ar dri adroddiad cyn iddynt fynd gerbron y Cabinet ar 19 Mawrth: Cynllun Busnes diwygiedig y Cyfrif Refeniw Tai a'r strategaeth ymgysylltu â thenantiaid, y bwriad i brynu bloc o lety myfyrwyr yng Nghathays, a chaffael contractwr ar gyfer gwaith ailorchuddio a gwella yn Beech House a Sycamore House. Cymeradwyodd y pwyllgor hefyd adroddiad grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen ar fynediad at wasanaethau gofal cymdeithasol i oedolion o gymunedau lleiafrifol ethnig hŷn, i'w gyflwyno i'r Cabinet. Ar gyfer y tair eitem gyntaf, cytunodd y pwyllgor y byddai'r Cadeirydd yn ysgrifennu at yr Aelod Cabinet gyda'i sylwadau.
Apologies were received from Cllr Lent.
There were no declarations of interest.
The minutes of the 23rd February (Budget) meeting were approved and signed as a correct record.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Members were provided with the opportunity to scrutinise the report seeking approval to present the refreshed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2026-2027 to the Welsh government, and approval of the new Cardiff Council Homes Tenant Engagement Strategy 2026-30, before it was considered by Cabinet on 19th March. For this item, the Chair welcomed: Cllr Lynda Thorne Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities Cllr Lee Bridgeman Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities Sarah McGill Corporate Director, People & Communities Jane Thomas Director of Adults, Housing & Communities Helen Evans Assistant Director, Housing & Communities David Jaques Assistant Director, Development & Regeneration Gil Brow OM Account Manager, Major Projects Anil Hirani OM Account Manager, Capital The Cabinet Members introduced the item, which consisted of the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan for 2026-2027 and the Tenancy Engagement Strategy for 2026-2030. They emphasised the importance of balancing needs identified with the budget, and delivering on statutory requirements with funding of £9.57m for major repairs. The focus was on damp and mould in properties and the need to support tenants under increasing pressures, as well as growth and investment in the responsive repairs sector. This was being done through enhancing front line support to tenants, customer excellence and support from ASB teams. They added that the Tenancy Engagement Strategy was flexible and sought to involve tenants in shaping services. Feedback rates had improved and they were able to respond to tenants’ lived experiences. Officers delivered a presentation, after which Members were invited to ask questions and make comments; the discussion is summarised below. Members asked if there was a risk of funding not coming from Welsh government due to the pending Senedd elections, and what plans were in place to mitigate any shortfalls in grant income. Officers explained that the plan was reviewed annually, and could be flexible and adjusted as needed, but they felt that there was likely to be support for the issue irrespective of the political party elected. Members asked if there was any specific mitigation in place if government grants were not forthcoming, and heard that officers considered the governance arrangements to be strong, and while they were based on a point in time, they could be flexible if things changed. Members asked for more details about the savings planned on models of homeless accommodation, and heard that officers were looking at how grants could be best used. Managed accommodation was being considered as an option for homeless accommodation, as this was less costly and could release funding for use in other areas whilst ensuring the best accommodation was available for people’s needs. Managed accommodation offered more secure contracts so people were able to settle. Members asked how children and young people could provide feedback on their housing situation as part of the Tenant Engagement Strategy. Officers advised that Youth Services and the Into Work teams were meeting with tenant officers to plan how to engage with children and young people, and there had been some visits to tenants aged over 18. They were keen to boost digital engagement, and would use Discord to get feedback from young people specifically. Members explored the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS), in particular its deadlines and whether property inspections would be carried out externally or in-house. Officers explained that a survey commissioned by Savills covering doors, windows and other issues and hazards was 44% complete, and there were ongoing inspections for damp and mould. All technical managers had been trained and were qualified in this area. As soon as the addendum came into force in April, any hazard would come under it, both urgent and routine items, and more guidance was needed from the Welsh government in this area. Members asked if this had been fed back to the Welsh government, and officers confirmed they were awaiting a response. Members welcomed the extra £1.7m allocated to responsive repairs, and asked how the impact of this funding would be measured. Officers explained that they were working on timescales for repairs, with a workflow system being created to support this which would help to provide feedback to tenants and councillors. The level of unallocated work was much improved, and the funding was being used mainly to meet the targets for damp and mould in the WHQS. A successful recruitment event had been held recently, with similar events likely to follow, and the Repairs Academy sought to help future recruitment to trade posts. Officers emphasised that the issue with repairs had not been quality but rather delays, lack of communication and co-ordination. Members asked about timescales, and heard that emergency repairs were always carried out within 24 hours, while urgent repairs had a target of 10 days, which was being met. Routine repairs could be longer term, and there was no specific Welsh government deadline for them. Overall there were 4,200 repairs each month, and the main issue was administration. Members asked when improvements to the communication and complaints process would be fully seen, and heard that improvements had already been made, especially regarding non-allocated work, but more investment was planned in the complaints process. Members advocated using the business plan to improve parks and gardens for children to play in. Officers explained that there was regeneration funding for regeneration in the budget and plans to improve estates safety including play provision, such as a recent one next to Llanrumney Hall. Members asked what was being done in council properties to improve fuel costs, sustainable energy and decarbonisation considering global cost issues. Officers explained that the average energy efficiency was relatively high at SAP 72, but some properties were lower than this and they wanted all of them to be SAP 75. This was done by adding solar panels, cladding and loft insulation, but funding for this was insufficient and they would need more long-term grant funding to bring all properties up to this standard. Members asked about responsibility for antisocial behaviour support and additional cameras. Officers clarified explained that it depended on which part of the city was concerned, and some issues were better addressed to the Community Safety Partnership. Members asked if there was a danger that they were creating communities that were set to fail due to the amount of social housing. Officers explained that new programmes were a mix of social housing, private housing and rented housing, and they were working towards ten-year neutral estates. Members asked whether the 30% capital financing referred to was going into the capital programme. Officers explained that capital financing budget was part of the revenue budget to meet the costs of interest and repay any borrowing for capital investment over 50 years, going forward and historically. Members queried how the housing waiting list fed into the HRA business plan, and heard that the Housing Development Programme addressed this. It was difficult to link it directly to the HRA as void properties also needed to be considered, but officers would provide further clarity after the meeting. Members enquired about the increase in rental charges. Officers explained that they had made the case to the Welsh government to increase rental charges and use this money to fund repairs to homes and future building projects, but this had not been permitted. Officers added that they aimed to keep all rents affordable, and all council tenants’ rent went into the HRA. Their feedback suggested that tenants felt it was value for money and much more affordable than the private rental sector, and this was one of the reasons for the long waiting list. AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting at this point during consideration of this item as the Committee discussed exempt information of the description contained in paragraph 14 of Part 4 and paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Action 1972. The public may be excluded from the meeting by resolution of the Committee pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during discussion of this item. AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Members were provided with an opportunity to scrutinise a report seeking approval for the acquisition of an existing student accommodation block located in Cathays, subject to vacant possession and standard legal due diligence, before its consideration by Cabinet on 19th March. For this item, the Chair welcomed: Cllr Lynda Thorne Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities Cllr Lee Bridgeman Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities Sarah McGill Corporate Director, People & Communities Jane Thomas Director of Adults, Housing & Communities David Jaques Assistant Director, Development & Regeneration Neil Taylor OM Delivery Ashley Eley OM Housing Development The Chair reminded Members that Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 contained exempt information of the description contained in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and as such could only be discussed in closed session. The Cabinet Members were invited to make opening statements, after which officers gave a presentation. Members were invited to ask questions and make comments; there were none in public session. RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting at this point during consideration of this item as the Committee discussed exempt information of the description contained in paragraph 14 of Part 4 and paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Action 1972. The public may be excluded from the meeting by resolution of the Committee pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during discussion of this item. AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting at this point during consideration of this item as the Committee discussed exempt information of the description contained in paragraph 14 of Part 4 and paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Action 1972. The public may be excluded from the meeting by resolution of the Committee pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during discussion of this item. AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Members were provided with the opportunity to scrutinise a report regarding the procurement process for the over-cladding and WHQS improvement of Beech House and Sycamore House, prior to its consideration by Cabinet on 19th March. For this item, the Chair welcomed: Cllr Lynda Thorne Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities David Jaques Assistant Director, Development & Regeneration Neil Taylor OM Delivery Ashley Eley OM Housing Development The Chair reminded Members that Appendix A contained exempt information of the description contained in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and as such could only be discussed in closed session. The Cabinet Member was invited to make an opening statement, after which officers gave a presentation. Members were invited to ask questions and make comments; there were none in public session. RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting at this point during consideration of this item as the Committee discussed exempt information of the description contained in paragraph 14 of Part 4 and paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Action 1972. The public may be excluded from the meeting by resolution of the Committee pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during discussion of this item. AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED: that the draft report on ‘Access and Experience of Adult Social Care Services for Older Ethnic Minority Communities’ (Appendix A) be endorsed for submission to Cabinet.
Members were provided with the report of the Task & Finish group report on ‘Access and Experience of Adult Social Care Services for Older Ethnic Minority Communities’ attached at Appendix A for discussion, amendment, and approval, prior to submission to Cabinet for consideration. The Chair opened the floor up to Members. There were no questions, but Members thanked the Scrutiny Officer, Chair, other officers and communities who engaged in the work for the report and the amount of work that had gone into producing it. AGREED: that the draft report on ‘Access and Experience of Adult Social Care Services for Older Ethnic Minority Communities’ (Appendix A) be endorsed for submission to Cabinet.
There were none.
20th April at 4:30pm.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Dyw'r cofnodion ddim yn cofnodi unrhyw ddatganiadau o fuddiant.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.