Gosport Borough Council
Councillors:
27
Wards:
14
Committees:
10
Meetings (2026):
59
Meetings (2025):
50
Meeting
Housing Board - Gosport
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
6:00 PM
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
6:00 PM
End:
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
10:00 PM
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
10:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
10 Mar 2026
10 Mar 2026
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Chairman
Sue Ballard
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Dave Herridge
Present, as expected
Agenda
1
APOLOGIES FOR NON ATTENDANCE
Minutes
There were none
2
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
All members are required to disclose at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter, any disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest in any item(s) being considered at this meeting.
Minutes
There were none
3
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING OF THE HOUSING BOARD HELD on 20 January 2026
Attachments:
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 20/01/2026 Housing Board 02 Mar 2026
Minutes
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January were signed as a true and correct record.
4
DEPUTATIONS - STANDING ORDER 3.4
(NOTE: The Board is required to receive a deputation(s) on a matter which is before the meeting of the Board provided that notice of the intended deputation and its object shall have been received by the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on Friday 6 March. The total time for deputations in favour and against a proposal shall not exceed 10 minutes)
Minutes
There were none
5
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
(NOTE: The Board is required to allow a total of 15 minutes for questions from Members of the public on matters within the terms of reference of the Board provided that notice of such Question(s) shall have been submitted to the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on Friday 6 March)
Minutes
There were none
6
Regulator of Social Housing Judgement and Grading Update report March 2026
This report updates the Board on:
1. Progress since the Council received a C% grading from the Regulator of Social Housing in December 2025
2. Development of an Interim Action Plan
3. Current compliance performance data.
1. Progress since the Council received a C% grading from the Regulator of Social Housing in December 2025
2. Development of an Interim Action Plan
3. Current compliance performance data.
Attachments:
- Document Housing Board report 10 March 2026 02 Mar 2026
- Document Appendix 1 - Compliance Data (Safety & Quality Standard) 02 Mar 2026
- Document Appendix 2 - Interim Action Plan 2026 02 Mar 2026
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Housing (Interim) (HOHI) updating the Board on progress since the Council received the C4 grading from the Regulator of Social Housing in December 2025, the development of an interim Action Plan and the current compliance performance data.
The HOHI introduced her report by pointing out to Members that the report includes an interim Action Plan, which will be brought to each Board meeting and the compliance data. She advised that there are currently fortnightly collaborative meetings with the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and they are happy with the steady progress being made.
Members queried the different figures of housing stock shown in different places, and the HOHI explained that the number does fluctuate with the Right to Buy sales and new properties being purchased. They were advised that there were 326 EICR, 225 of which were out of date and 101 requiring rewires. Incentives were being offered to those tenants whose properties had not been tested due to difficulties in accessing. For instance, any cabling required would be chased into the wall and not behind trunking and any plug sockets needing to be replaced would include USB ports. It was hoped that gaining access would be easier once the new legislation comes into force on May 1st. Officers will be producing an Access Policy which will come to Board.
Members were advised that a new tracker system would be available to all parties, with housing officers being able to support Kier in gaining access should this prove to be a problem. The plan was to address the out of dates and put in plans to prevent future out of dates, and then devise a timetable of inspections to spread the workload over the year.
In answer to a Member’s question the HOHI explained that it was recognized that additional resource would be needed to meet the May 1 target for electrical compliance. Keir have added 2 sub contractors to their compliment and GBC would be looking to source a further 4 companies via a framework to carry out this work.
The HOHI explained that any KPI’s in Kiers contract would have been determined when the contract was first drawn up, and things had changed significantly since then in legal requirements. The contracted KPI was 95%, and although there has been no penalty applied, neither has there been any financial uplift or benefit.
Members were advised that a specialist consultant would be onboarded to review the current action plan, test some of the root cause analysis and produce the Comprehensive Improvement Plan. It was hoped to have someone in place and able to bring early findings to the next board meeting. In the meantime the critical friend has been reviewing the repair service by spending time at Kiers offices observing how phone calls and enquiries are dealt with. This has identified some issues with equipment but preliminary findings are positive.
The HOHI assured Members that all findings from consultants and critical friends would be transparent and although weekly MIBS would not be achievable, agreed to release something before the next meeting. Members were reminded that briefings could be arranged if they had particular questions for officers.
In answer to a Member’s question, officers advised that a procurement exercise was underway for the legionella risk assessments work and depending on market availability, it is hoped that the project should be completed by the next Board meeting. Target dates will appear on the Action plan, with the key being the framework around compliance to ensure this situation does not reoccur.
Members were advised that work to extend the Keir contract by a year started six months ago using the delegated authority of the Chief Officers including the Borough Solicitor. Officers advised that it might be possible to extend a contract more than once under urgent circumstances, and with Local Government Review causing uncertainty for many local authorities, it would be difficult to procure a new contract.
The HOHI updated Members on the ongoing recruitment of compliance staff and consultants to carry out stock condition surveys. Using a framework to identify potential companies for the surveys saves time. These surveys will also cover the EPCs.
In answer to a Member’s question the HOHI advised that many officers had attended training on issues such as anti social behavior and scrutiny. Both technical and non-technical admin staff had received training around the repairs system and damp and mould in order to be able to assist the tenants better. Further training is being booked for subject matters such as domestic abuse.
Members were advised that new software had been procured to greatly improve the access and interrogation of data held in respect of fire risk assessments, certificates and remedial actions.
Members wished to register a vote of thanks to the HOHI and the whole team working hard to rectify the issues identified by the Regulator. They felt that things were moving forward in a positive way and recognized that smaller councils face more challenges in finding the resources to carry out the additional work on top of delivering services to the tenants.
RESOLVED: That the Board noted the contents of the report, acknowledged the progress made to date and recorded a vote of thanks to the Housing Team
The HOHI introduced her report by pointing out to Members that the report includes an interim Action Plan, which will be brought to each Board meeting and the compliance data. She advised that there are currently fortnightly collaborative meetings with the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and they are happy with the steady progress being made.
Members queried the different figures of housing stock shown in different places, and the HOHI explained that the number does fluctuate with the Right to Buy sales and new properties being purchased. They were advised that there were 326 EICR, 225 of which were out of date and 101 requiring rewires. Incentives were being offered to those tenants whose properties had not been tested due to difficulties in accessing. For instance, any cabling required would be chased into the wall and not behind trunking and any plug sockets needing to be replaced would include USB ports. It was hoped that gaining access would be easier once the new legislation comes into force on May 1st. Officers will be producing an Access Policy which will come to Board.
Members were advised that a new tracker system would be available to all parties, with housing officers being able to support Kier in gaining access should this prove to be a problem. The plan was to address the out of dates and put in plans to prevent future out of dates, and then devise a timetable of inspections to spread the workload over the year.
In answer to a Member’s question the HOHI explained that it was recognized that additional resource would be needed to meet the May 1 target for electrical compliance. Keir have added 2 sub contractors to their compliment and GBC would be looking to source a further 4 companies via a framework to carry out this work.
The HOHI explained that any KPI’s in Kiers contract would have been determined when the contract was first drawn up, and things had changed significantly since then in legal requirements. The contracted KPI was 95%, and although there has been no penalty applied, neither has there been any financial uplift or benefit.
Members were advised that a specialist consultant would be onboarded to review the current action plan, test some of the root cause analysis and produce the Comprehensive Improvement Plan. It was hoped to have someone in place and able to bring early findings to the next board meeting. In the meantime the critical friend has been reviewing the repair service by spending time at Kiers offices observing how phone calls and enquiries are dealt with. This has identified some issues with equipment but preliminary findings are positive.
The HOHI assured Members that all findings from consultants and critical friends would be transparent and although weekly MIBS would not be achievable, agreed to release something before the next meeting. Members were reminded that briefings could be arranged if they had particular questions for officers.
In answer to a Member’s question, officers advised that a procurement exercise was underway for the legionella risk assessments work and depending on market availability, it is hoped that the project should be completed by the next Board meeting. Target dates will appear on the Action plan, with the key being the framework around compliance to ensure this situation does not reoccur.
Members were advised that work to extend the Keir contract by a year started six months ago using the delegated authority of the Chief Officers including the Borough Solicitor. Officers advised that it might be possible to extend a contract more than once under urgent circumstances, and with Local Government Review causing uncertainty for many local authorities, it would be difficult to procure a new contract.
The HOHI updated Members on the ongoing recruitment of compliance staff and consultants to carry out stock condition surveys. Using a framework to identify potential companies for the surveys saves time. These surveys will also cover the EPCs.
In answer to a Member’s question the HOHI advised that many officers had attended training on issues such as anti social behavior and scrutiny. Both technical and non-technical admin staff had received training around the repairs system and damp and mould in order to be able to assist the tenants better. Further training is being booked for subject matters such as domestic abuse.
Members were advised that new software had been procured to greatly improve the access and interrogation of data held in respect of fire risk assessments, certificates and remedial actions.
Members wished to register a vote of thanks to the HOHI and the whole team working hard to rectify the issues identified by the Regulator. They felt that things were moving forward in a positive way and recognized that smaller councils face more challenges in finding the resources to carry out the additional work on top of delivering services to the tenants.
RESOLVED: That the Board noted the contents of the report, acknowledged the progress made to date and recorded a vote of thanks to the Housing Team
7
ANY OTHER ITEMS
Minutes
Previous Meetings
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