Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:  1)         That the Board of Directors of West Norfolk Property Limited and West Norfolk Housing Company Ltd be respectively requested to submit a written report addressed to the Chair of the Shareholder Committee within 8 weeks on the following matters:

1.1          The number of notices served under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 (“section 21 notices”) within the last two years by the company or its contracted housing management provider;

1.2          The number of tenancies the company has or their contracted housing management provider has in which a section 21 notice could be served;

1.3          The predicted impact, financial or otherwise, on the company or their contracted housing management provider if the company was to voluntarily choose to never use section 21 notices going forwards;

1.4          Confirmation of any changes that would be necessary in legal contracts with any contracted housing management provider (and where possible confirmation of whether the housing management provider is willing to agree such change) in order to codify the voluntary removal of section 21 notices as an option for ending a tenancy;

1.5          Whether, with reference to its Business Plan, the Board of Directors considers it is in the best interests of the company to implement a company decision to voluntary remove section 21 notices as an option for use for ending a tenancy.

Reason for Decision

In anticipation of approving business plans for the companies which support the Council’s Corporate Strategy, as sole shareholder and owner of the companies.

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In support of its proposed Corporate Strategy on supporting communities and helping to prevent homelessness, the administration wished explore the fast-tracking of the removal of section 21 notices (referred to as ‘No Fault Evictions”) from the range of options available to its wholly owned companies, West Norfolk Property Limited and West Norfolk Housing Company Limited, to terminate tenancies issued by the company or their contracted housing management provider.

The Chair stated that the Council was opposed to S21 notices.  The Committee debated whether they required the information from the Companies or could just implement the decision.  It was agreed that there was a potential risk of financial or legal impact with this action so it was recommended that the recommended route be taken.

RESOLVED:  1)         That the Board of Directors of West Norfolk Property Limited and West Norfolk Housing Company Ltd be respectively requested to submit a written report addressed to the Chair of the Shareholder Committee within 8 weeks on the following matters:

1.1          The number of notices served under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 (“section 21 notices”) within the last two years by the company or its contracted housing management provider;

1.2          The number of tenancies the company has or their contracted housing management provider has in which a section 21 notice could be served;

1.3          The predicted impact, financial or otherwise, on the company or their contracted housing management provider if the company was to voluntarily choose to never use section 21 notices going forwards;

1.4          Confirmation of any changes that would be necessary in legal contracts with any contracted housing management provider (and where possible confirmation of whether the housing management provider is willing to agree such change) in order to codify the voluntary removal of section 21 notices as an option for ending a tenancy;

1.5          Whether, with reference to its Business Plan, the Board of Directors considers it is in the best interests of the company to implement a company decision to voluntary remove section 21 notices as an option for use for ending a tenancy.

Reason for Decision

In anticipation of approving business plans for the companies which support the Council’s Corporate Strategy, as sole shareholder and owner of the companies.