Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Community Resilience Manager providing an update on the performance of Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency (CHIA) and to seek authorisation to extend the shared service agreement with CHIA for a further 3 years.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

The Cabinet has extended the shared service agreement for a further 3 years with authority delegated to the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Housing and Economic Development to finalise the agreement.

(At 7:03pm, during discussion on this item, Councillor J A Gray took his seat at the meeting).

A report by the Community Resilience Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) providing an update on the performance of Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency (CHIA) and seeking authorisation to extend the shared service agreement with CHIA for a further 3 years.

The Chairman, as Executive Councillor for Housing and Economic Development introduced the report and reminded Members that the shared service agreement with South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City had now been in place for 10 years and operating successfully. Members were encouraged to note the performance levels achieved and acknowledged the number of referrals had reduced owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In noting the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers & Partnerships) and having expressed their support for the extension of the agreement, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

to extend the shared service agreement for a further 3 years with authority delegated to the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Housing and Economic Development to finalise the agreement.

(Owing to his remote attendance via Zoom, Councillor J Neish did not vote on this item).

The Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency – Extension of Shared Service Agreement is to be presented to the Panel.

By means of a report by the Community Resilience Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency – Extension of Shared Service Agreement was presented to the Panel.

Following questions from Councillor Mrs Wilson and Councillor West, the Panel heard that although the DFG were down last year when compared to the previous year, these numbers can fluctuate on an annual basis. Furthermore, the Panel were advised that due to the shared nature of the service, there was confidence that both capacity and funding would be sufficient to cope with demand.

Having received an enquiry from Councillor Gardener, the Panel were advised that although the agreement presented remained extensively unchanged, there had been implementation of a new IT system and support, which had resulted in greater efficiencies for the service.

Having widely praised and welcomed the report, the Panel thereupon

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be encouraged to endorse the recommendations contained within the report.