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, 4th August 2026
6:00 PM
Tuesday, 4th August 2026
6:00 PM
End:
Tuesday, 4th August 2026
10:00 PM
Tuesday, 4th August 2026
10:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed; Extraordinary
Confirmed; Extraordinary
Date:
04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Councillor Kirsty Cox
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
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 31 July 2026. The total time for deputations in favour and against a proposal shall not exceed 10 minutes)
Minutes
There were none
4
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 31 July 2026)
Minutes
There were none
5
Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group
The purpose of this report is to seek Board approval to establish a Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group, accountable to the Housing Board, to oversee the improvements required to meet the Regulator of Social Housing Consumer Standards.
Attachments:
- Document Housing Board report - Creation of HIG.docx final 21.7.2026 27 Jul 2026
- Document Gosport Housing Improvement Group- Draft Terms of reference final 21.7.2026 27 Jul 2026
Minutes
The Chairman introduced Alison Bennett Interim Director of Housing Assets & Communities (DHAC) and Wayne Layton Interim Director of Finance & Section 151 Officer and welcomed Kelsey Walker from Savills.
Consideration was given to a report by the Deputy Chief Executive seeking Board approval to establish a Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group, accountable to the Housing Board, to oversee the improvements required to meet the Regulator of Social Housing Consumer Standards.
The Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) brought to the attention of members a couple of amendments to the terms of Reference, Appendix A of the report. Paragraph 1.1 the title of ROSH should read Regulator Social Housing and paragraph 5.1 date should read March 2027.
The DCE introduced the report-advising members thatthis report seeks approval from the Housing Board to establish a Member-led Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group (HIG) to provide strategic oversight of the Council's response to the Regulator of Social Housing Regulatory Judgement issued in December 2025.
Following the C4 grading, the Council has taken a range of immediate actions to improve compliance, tenant safety and service delivery. The proposed HIG, chaired by the Chair of the Housing Board, a second Member of the Board and supported by senior officers and external expertise, will strengthen governance arrangements, oversee delivery of the Gosport Regulatory Improvement Plan (GRIP), and provide assurance that sustainable improvements are being achieved in line with regulatory expectations.
The progress so far outlined in Section 1.4 of the report demonstrates that the Council is already delivering measurable improvements across key areas of statutory compliance and tenant safety. Significant gains have been achieved in electrical, gas and water safety compliance, whilst full compliance has been maintained in communal gas safety, lift servicing and asbestos management. These improvements provide evidence that the Council has acted swiftly in response to the Regulatory Judgement and is taking a proactive and risk-based approach to protecting tenants and ultimately improving our Grading.
The report confirms the continued engagement of Consultants Savills who are supporting the Council in preparing the GRIP and understanding the root causes to ensure corrective actions. Fortnightly meetings continue with the Regulator now attended by the Chair of Housing and Leader and reflect the commitment of the Council’s approach. Work is on-going on root causes and governance and all actions will feed into the GRIP currently in draft form, which is due to be presented at the November Housing Board.
The establishment of a Member-led Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group will ensure that this progress is maintained through enhanced scrutiny, accountability and oversight of the improvement programme.
The HIG will provide the strengthened governance, transparency and strategic oversight required to deliver the improvements identified through the Regulatory Judgement. By bringing together elected Members, senior officers and external expertise, the HIG will ensure that the Council maintains a clear focus on tenant safety, compliance and service improvement, whilst providing robust challenge and scrutiny of progress against the GRIP.
The creation of the HIG demonstrates the Council's commitment to taking ownership of the improvement agenda, driving sustainable change, and restoring regulatory assurance through a transparent and accountable programme of work that places tenants at its heart.
Member are invited to approve the recommendation set at in the report which establishes the HIG, sets out the TOR’s and membership and confirms regular reporting by the HIG to the Housing Board detailing actions and milestones to achieving all GRIP actions.
In answer to questions from a Member, officers confirmed that minutes from the HIG meetings would be available to members of the Housing Board, and the Gosport Regulatory Improvement Plan (GRIP) currently in draft form, would be brought to the November Housing Board once the new DHAC had been briefed. The representative from Savills wished to assure members that the HIG would be working on behalf of the Housing Board and was confident that the objectives could be achieved.
The DHAC advised Members that the issues identified by the RSH in Gosport were common themes across England particularly safety checks and resident engagement. The RSH would be looking for a dossier of evidence to show that processes and procedures were being followed and that tenants were being included and considered in each stage of the work to be carried out. Good tenant engagement begins with open conversations, and the Council seeking to provide a variety of mediums through which tenants can be involved in shaping the delivery of the service, for example through our existing tenant consultation platforms, but looking to expand this through the option of virtual meetings to engage with more tenants.
The DHAC advised how welcome she had been made and also commented on how she impressed she was with the level of care and commitment she had seen in her colleagues to move at pace from the C4, and advised that a key action for her was to review current working practices to stream line them and ensuring that tenants are empowered. .
In answer to a Member’s question, the DHAC advised that there are ways to reduce the number of no access properties, which starts with a strong no entry policy. Needing a gas certificate can help gain entry but it is important that residents circumstances, whether it be work patterns or physical or mental health issues are taken into consideration, and the team needs to be flexible to accommodate the tenants needs. All types of communication streams will be used to get the message out, ensuring that the tone of the message is friendly and inclusive. It was hoped that Members could help with communicating with residents and one Member felt it would be useful if each Councillor knew how many properties were in each of their wards.
Members were advised that the DHAC was keen to meet with the current contractors to fully understand all aspects of the contract and ensure that the focus is on performance and how that can be improved.
There was a discussion around the stock condition surveys which are due to start at the end of August and will take up to 6 months to complete. The surveys take between 25 and 45 minutes per property and Gosport would not be using cloning as some other authorities have. We will be inspecting all of our properties. The current focus must be to gain confidence with residents, complete the surveys then the outcomes can be prioritised, focussed on tenant safety. The compilation of this data will inform the 5 year asset management plan, 30 year HRA Business plan and feeds into the capital programme.
The Chairman explained that the HIG would meet every six weeks and that the minutes would be taken and brought to the Housing Board as part of the regular update report. It was hoped that the group would set achievable goals, which would ultimately improve things for our residents.
Resolved: That the Board:
1) Approved the establishment of a Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group- referred to hereafter as the HIG.
2) Approved the draft Terms of Reference for the Group as set out at Appendix A.
3) Agreed that the Group will report back to the Housing Board on 18th November 2026 with the draft Gosport Regulatory Improvement Plan (GRIP)
4) Provide full updates of the GRIP actions and milestones at each subsequent Housing Board thereafter.
5) Agreed that the Housing Task and Finish improvement group (HIG) will operate until any Voluntary Undertaking (VU) is agreed between Regulator of Social Housing (ROSH) and GBC.
Consideration was given to a report by the Deputy Chief Executive seeking Board approval to establish a Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group, accountable to the Housing Board, to oversee the improvements required to meet the Regulator of Social Housing Consumer Standards.
The Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) brought to the attention of members a couple of amendments to the terms of Reference, Appendix A of the report. Paragraph 1.1 the title of ROSH should read Regulator Social Housing and paragraph 5.1 date should read March 2027.
The DCE introduced the report-advising members thatthis report seeks approval from the Housing Board to establish a Member-led Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group (HIG) to provide strategic oversight of the Council's response to the Regulator of Social Housing Regulatory Judgement issued in December 2025.
Following the C4 grading, the Council has taken a range of immediate actions to improve compliance, tenant safety and service delivery. The proposed HIG, chaired by the Chair of the Housing Board, a second Member of the Board and supported by senior officers and external expertise, will strengthen governance arrangements, oversee delivery of the Gosport Regulatory Improvement Plan (GRIP), and provide assurance that sustainable improvements are being achieved in line with regulatory expectations.
The progress so far outlined in Section 1.4 of the report demonstrates that the Council is already delivering measurable improvements across key areas of statutory compliance and tenant safety. Significant gains have been achieved in electrical, gas and water safety compliance, whilst full compliance has been maintained in communal gas safety, lift servicing and asbestos management. These improvements provide evidence that the Council has acted swiftly in response to the Regulatory Judgement and is taking a proactive and risk-based approach to protecting tenants and ultimately improving our Grading.
The report confirms the continued engagement of Consultants Savills who are supporting the Council in preparing the GRIP and understanding the root causes to ensure corrective actions. Fortnightly meetings continue with the Regulator now attended by the Chair of Housing and Leader and reflect the commitment of the Council’s approach. Work is on-going on root causes and governance and all actions will feed into the GRIP currently in draft form, which is due to be presented at the November Housing Board.
The establishment of a Member-led Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group will ensure that this progress is maintained through enhanced scrutiny, accountability and oversight of the improvement programme.
The HIG will provide the strengthened governance, transparency and strategic oversight required to deliver the improvements identified through the Regulatory Judgement. By bringing together elected Members, senior officers and external expertise, the HIG will ensure that the Council maintains a clear focus on tenant safety, compliance and service improvement, whilst providing robust challenge and scrutiny of progress against the GRIP.
The creation of the HIG demonstrates the Council's commitment to taking ownership of the improvement agenda, driving sustainable change, and restoring regulatory assurance through a transparent and accountable programme of work that places tenants at its heart.
Member are invited to approve the recommendation set at in the report which establishes the HIG, sets out the TOR’s and membership and confirms regular reporting by the HIG to the Housing Board detailing actions and milestones to achieving all GRIP actions.
In answer to questions from a Member, officers confirmed that minutes from the HIG meetings would be available to members of the Housing Board, and the Gosport Regulatory Improvement Plan (GRIP) currently in draft form, would be brought to the November Housing Board once the new DHAC had been briefed. The representative from Savills wished to assure members that the HIG would be working on behalf of the Housing Board and was confident that the objectives could be achieved.
The DHAC advised Members that the issues identified by the RSH in Gosport were common themes across England particularly safety checks and resident engagement. The RSH would be looking for a dossier of evidence to show that processes and procedures were being followed and that tenants were being included and considered in each stage of the work to be carried out. Good tenant engagement begins with open conversations, and the Council seeking to provide a variety of mediums through which tenants can be involved in shaping the delivery of the service, for example through our existing tenant consultation platforms, but looking to expand this through the option of virtual meetings to engage with more tenants.
The DHAC advised how welcome she had been made and also commented on how she impressed she was with the level of care and commitment she had seen in her colleagues to move at pace from the C4, and advised that a key action for her was to review current working practices to stream line them and ensuring that tenants are empowered. .
In answer to a Member’s question, the DHAC advised that there are ways to reduce the number of no access properties, which starts with a strong no entry policy. Needing a gas certificate can help gain entry but it is important that residents circumstances, whether it be work patterns or physical or mental health issues are taken into consideration, and the team needs to be flexible to accommodate the tenants needs. All types of communication streams will be used to get the message out, ensuring that the tone of the message is friendly and inclusive. It was hoped that Members could help with communicating with residents and one Member felt it would be useful if each Councillor knew how many properties were in each of their wards.
Members were advised that the DHAC was keen to meet with the current contractors to fully understand all aspects of the contract and ensure that the focus is on performance and how that can be improved.
There was a discussion around the stock condition surveys which are due to start at the end of August and will take up to 6 months to complete. The surveys take between 25 and 45 minutes per property and Gosport would not be using cloning as some other authorities have. We will be inspecting all of our properties. The current focus must be to gain confidence with residents, complete the surveys then the outcomes can be prioritised, focussed on tenant safety. The compilation of this data will inform the 5 year asset management plan, 30 year HRA Business plan and feeds into the capital programme.
The Chairman explained that the HIG would meet every six weeks and that the minutes would be taken and brought to the Housing Board as part of the regular update report. It was hoped that the group would set achievable goals, which would ultimately improve things for our residents.
Resolved: That the Board:
1) Approved the establishment of a Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group- referred to hereafter as the HIG.
2) Approved the draft Terms of Reference for the Group as set out at Appendix A.
3) Agreed that the Group will report back to the Housing Board on 18th November 2026 with the draft Gosport Regulatory Improvement Plan (GRIP)
4) Provide full updates of the GRIP actions and milestones at each subsequent Housing Board thereafter.
5) Agreed that the Housing Task and Finish improvement group (HIG) will operate until any Voluntary Undertaking (VU) is agreed between Regulator of Social Housing (ROSH) and GBC.
6
ANY OTHER ITEMS
Minutes
Previous Meetings
Join the Discussion
You need to be signed in to comment.
Sign in