Gosport Borough Council
Councillors:
27
Wards:
14
Committees:
10
Meetings (2026):
59
Meetings (2025):
50
Meeting
Housing Board - Gosport
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Wednesday, 23rd September 2026
6:00 PM
Wednesday, 23rd September 2026
6:00 PM
End:
Wednesday, 23rd September 2026
10:00 PM
Wednesday, 23rd September 2026
10:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
23 Sep 2026
23 Sep 2026
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Councillor Kirsty Cox
Present, as expected
Agenda
1
APOLOGIES FOR NON ATTENDANCE
Minutes
Apologies for non attendance were received from Councillor Kevin Casey
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 MEETINGS OF THE HOUSING BOARD HELD on 10th June and 4th August 2026
Attachments:
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 10/06/2026 Housing Board 15 Sep 2026
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 04/08/2026 Housing Board 15 Sep 2026
Minutes
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings held on 10 June 2026 and 4 August 2026 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 21st September . 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 21st September)
Minutes
There were none
6
Housing Policy Updates- Anti Social Behaviour Framework
This report seeks Board approval for the Council's revised suite of policies relating to Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Hate Crime and Hate Incidents, Good Neighbour Management, and Noise Nuisance. The policies have been reviewed to ensure compliance with current legislation, regulatory expectations, Housing Ombudsman guidance, and best practice in housing management.
Attachments:
- Document Housing Policies Board Report -Anti-Social Behaviour Framework 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 1 - ASB Policy 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 1a - IIA ASB Policy 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 1c -ASB Risk Assessment Matrix 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 1d - ASB Value Steps 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 2 - GBC Housing policy Hate Crime Draft Ver 1.0 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 2a - IIA - Equality and Climate Change Hate Crime Policy 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 3 - GBC Housing policy Good Neighbour 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 3a - GBC IIA - Equality and Climate Change Good neighbour Policy 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 3b - Good Neighbour and Noise - dear neighbour card 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 4 - GBC Housing policy Noise Nuisance DRAFT 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 4a - GBC IIA - Noise Policy 15 Sep 2026
- Document Appendix 5 ASB Framework Glossary 15 Sep 2026
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report by the Director of Housing, Assets and Communities (DHAC) seeking board approval for the Council’s revised suite of policies relating to Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) Hate Crime and Hate Incidents, Good Neighbour Management and Noise Nuisance. The policies have been reviewed to ensure compliance with current legislation, regulatory expectations, Housing Ombudsman guidance and best practice in housing management.
The DHAC introduced her report by advising that the review of these policies was important in ensuring consistency, and the creation of separate but interconnected policies which clarified for example what would and what would not be considered to be anti social behaviours, for example babies crying is not anti social behavior. The purpose of the policies and procedures is to deliver a standard approach and provide officers with clear operational guidance, and offer improved transparency and what residents can expect from the service, as the policies will be available on the Council’s website.
The DHAC hi-lighted the key points of each policy and stressed that key to all of them was the acknowledgement of the impact to residents and the need for a victim informed approach, acknowledging that issues such as anti social behavior cannhave very different impacts on individuals and the need for the housing department to consider this as part of their case management. All the policies have been circulated to the tenants reading panel and their comments/suggestions appraised. It was hoped to increase the opportunities for tenant inclusion with the introduction of a digital platform to enable tenants to become involved remotely. The IIA ensures that the policies have no adverse effect on any particular group.
In answer to Members questions the DHAC advised that
: each policy will be supported by an accompanying glossary that clearly defines key terms and explains the distinction between anti social behavior and other forms of behavior that may not meet the threshold for formal intervention. This will help ensure a consistent understanding amongst tenants, officers and stakeholders. Work is underway to enhance the Council’s website so that tenants can easily understand what falls within each category and what action the Council can reasonable take in response. Neighbourhood Managers will play a key role in helping tenants and staff interpret these definitions and apply them in practice. It is important that these distinctions are explained in plain, accessible language and illustrated with real life examples that reflect everyday community living. This will help manage expectations, improve understanding of the Council’s role and ensure that reports are directed to the most appropriate service.
: the starting point for all of the policies is managing the expectation of the tenant and being open about the likely timeframes. Sometimes the best solutions come about by empowering staff to think outside the box and utilising the option to provide mediation by taking a pragmatic approach and work with outside agencies including the police if necessary.
: the housing officers are focused on the tenancy update visits and spending more time out in the community and from this will be better placed to be informed of and responsive to potential anti social behavior or matters which are causing concerns to our tenants.
:the tenancy agreement includes a summary of behavior expectations.
: These policies only apply to our tenants, which is a benefit of being a social housing tenant. Private tenants would have to use the Police, independent legal advice or maybe council departments such as environmental health and community safety if they were experiencing issues with their neighbours..
: The tenant satisfaction survey identified 1% reported hate crime instances last year and 0% this year, though it is possible these instances are underreported.
: the policies all promote reporting of all types of behaviours as this helps identify patterns of behavior or obvious areas of concern. It may well be the case that as the Council promotes these policies and the definitions which sit behind them, that the Council will receive an increase in for example the number of hate crimes which are reported to the council.
: 3 reports of ASB in a 6 month period would warrant a community trigger under the Anti Social behavior Crime and Policing Act 2014. The purpose of such an intervention is to get the relevant people round the table and make sure everything that can be is being done.
:Any complaint against another tenant would be investigated fairly to look at the evidence base, offer mediation and reaffirm that the Good Neighbour agreement makes it clear that a tenancy could be broken if it found that the policies have been used spuriously or that the anti social behavior is not modified/resolved.
: every two years a tenancy update visit is undertaken to verify who is living in the property, ensure tenancy records remain accurate and identify any support or communication needs. This includes establishing whether the tenant requires information in alternative formats, such as large print Braille translated materials, or other accessible communication methods. The visits also provide an opportunity to identify any changes in circumstances and ensure that services can be tailored to meet the individual needs of the tenant.
: The good neighbor policy includes a standard letter that could be used by tenants if they are reluctant to contact their neighbor directly to discuss how thie behavior is impacting on them and to provide further support if the tenant does not wish to speak directly with their neighbor would be for the housing officer to become involved with both parties. Use of these letters is backed by the policy and will be explained and promoted through the housing newsletter.
: the Housing Ombudsman advice on noise nuisance was welcomed as it promotes tolerance and understanding but recognises that expectations need to be managed and tenants need to understand what constitutes statutory noise.
The DHAC advised members that the policy regarding Domestic Abuse is still in draft. It needs to include the Councils priority to address violence against women and girls and will be brought to a future Board.
Members were advised that these policies were a key indicator for the Regulator that issues were being recorded accurately and assigned to the appropriate policy.
RESOLVED: That the Board:
1. Approved the revised ASB Policy
2. Approved the Hate Crime and Hate Incidents Policy
3. Approved the Good neighbor Policy
4. Approved the Noise Nuisance Policy
5. Noted the supporting Integrated Impact Assessments and consultation undertaken
6. Noted the arrangements for monitoring performance and policy effectiveness.
The DHAC introduced her report by advising that the review of these policies was important in ensuring consistency, and the creation of separate but interconnected policies which clarified for example what would and what would not be considered to be anti social behaviours, for example babies crying is not anti social behavior. The purpose of the policies and procedures is to deliver a standard approach and provide officers with clear operational guidance, and offer improved transparency and what residents can expect from the service, as the policies will be available on the Council’s website.
The DHAC hi-lighted the key points of each policy and stressed that key to all of them was the acknowledgement of the impact to residents and the need for a victim informed approach, acknowledging that issues such as anti social behavior cannhave very different impacts on individuals and the need for the housing department to consider this as part of their case management. All the policies have been circulated to the tenants reading panel and their comments/suggestions appraised. It was hoped to increase the opportunities for tenant inclusion with the introduction of a digital platform to enable tenants to become involved remotely. The IIA ensures that the policies have no adverse effect on any particular group.
In answer to Members questions the DHAC advised that
: each policy will be supported by an accompanying glossary that clearly defines key terms and explains the distinction between anti social behavior and other forms of behavior that may not meet the threshold for formal intervention. This will help ensure a consistent understanding amongst tenants, officers and stakeholders. Work is underway to enhance the Council’s website so that tenants can easily understand what falls within each category and what action the Council can reasonable take in response. Neighbourhood Managers will play a key role in helping tenants and staff interpret these definitions and apply them in practice. It is important that these distinctions are explained in plain, accessible language and illustrated with real life examples that reflect everyday community living. This will help manage expectations, improve understanding of the Council’s role and ensure that reports are directed to the most appropriate service.
: the starting point for all of the policies is managing the expectation of the tenant and being open about the likely timeframes. Sometimes the best solutions come about by empowering staff to think outside the box and utilising the option to provide mediation by taking a pragmatic approach and work with outside agencies including the police if necessary.
: the housing officers are focused on the tenancy update visits and spending more time out in the community and from this will be better placed to be informed of and responsive to potential anti social behavior or matters which are causing concerns to our tenants.
:the tenancy agreement includes a summary of behavior expectations.
: These policies only apply to our tenants, which is a benefit of being a social housing tenant. Private tenants would have to use the Police, independent legal advice or maybe council departments such as environmental health and community safety if they were experiencing issues with their neighbours..
: The tenant satisfaction survey identified 1% reported hate crime instances last year and 0% this year, though it is possible these instances are underreported.
: the policies all promote reporting of all types of behaviours as this helps identify patterns of behavior or obvious areas of concern. It may well be the case that as the Council promotes these policies and the definitions which sit behind them, that the Council will receive an increase in for example the number of hate crimes which are reported to the council.
: 3 reports of ASB in a 6 month period would warrant a community trigger under the Anti Social behavior Crime and Policing Act 2014. The purpose of such an intervention is to get the relevant people round the table and make sure everything that can be is being done.
:Any complaint against another tenant would be investigated fairly to look at the evidence base, offer mediation and reaffirm that the Good Neighbour agreement makes it clear that a tenancy could be broken if it found that the policies have been used spuriously or that the anti social behavior is not modified/resolved.
: every two years a tenancy update visit is undertaken to verify who is living in the property, ensure tenancy records remain accurate and identify any support or communication needs. This includes establishing whether the tenant requires information in alternative formats, such as large print Braille translated materials, or other accessible communication methods. The visits also provide an opportunity to identify any changes in circumstances and ensure that services can be tailored to meet the individual needs of the tenant.
: The good neighbor policy includes a standard letter that could be used by tenants if they are reluctant to contact their neighbor directly to discuss how thie behavior is impacting on them and to provide further support if the tenant does not wish to speak directly with their neighbor would be for the housing officer to become involved with both parties. Use of these letters is backed by the policy and will be explained and promoted through the housing newsletter.
: the Housing Ombudsman advice on noise nuisance was welcomed as it promotes tolerance and understanding but recognises that expectations need to be managed and tenants need to understand what constitutes statutory noise.
The DHAC advised members that the policy regarding Domestic Abuse is still in draft. It needs to include the Councils priority to address violence against women and girls and will be brought to a future Board.
Members were advised that these policies were a key indicator for the Regulator that issues were being recorded accurately and assigned to the appropriate policy.
RESOLVED: That the Board:
1. Approved the revised ASB Policy
2. Approved the Hate Crime and Hate Incidents Policy
3. Approved the Good neighbor Policy
4. Approved the Noise Nuisance Policy
5. Noted the supporting Integrated Impact Assessments and consultation undertaken
6. Noted the arrangements for monitoring performance and policy effectiveness.
7
Regulator of Social Housing Update Report
This report provides the Housing Board with a comprehensive update on the Council's response to the Regulator of Social Housings’ C4 Regulatory Judgement issued in December 2025. It outlines the progress made since the report presented at Housing Board January 2026 and updates Members on the development and implementation of the Council's Grading and Regulation Improvement Plan – GRIP.
Attachments:
- Document 7. HB FINAL - 23.9.26 RSH Update 15 Sep 2026
- Document 7. Gosport Housing Improvement Group- Draft Terms of reference final 21.7.2026 15 Sep 2026
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report by the Director for Housing Assets and Communities (interim) (DHAC) providing the Housing Board with a comprehensive update on the Council’s response to the Regulator of Social Housings’ C4 Regulatory Judgement issued in December 2025. It outlines the progress made since the report presented at Housing Board January 2026 and updates members on the development and implementation of the Council’s Grading and Regulation Improvement Plan (GRIP).
The DHAC introduced her report by reminding members that this would be a regular report to ensure that they are fully informed of changes and the work that has taken place. The Gosport Regulation Improvement Plan (GRIP) is a blue print written in response to the category 4 judgement and additional actions were added following the strategic root cause and lesson learned review. It was presented to the Housing Improvement Group (HIG) at the beginning of September.
Members were advised of the progress already made moving from immediate risk mitigation towards a structured programme of service improvement and transformation as laid out in the report.
The DHAC advised members that the two most important aspects required by the Regulator was that we could evidence that we “Know Our Tenants” and “Know Our Stock” hence the programme of Stock Condition Surveys due to start imminently which should be completed within 6 months. The surveyors would be looking to identify category 1 and 2 risks, but would be asked to go further and include instances of damp mould and condensation, whilst considering the tenant and how they present and whether they have any concerns. The surveys will not be a one off and the aim will be that no property has a survey older than 5 years, with 25% of stock being visited yearly. To be able to manage the increased demand for repairs as a result of the surveys discussions are taking place with Kier to help them manage and prioritise the workload. There maybe need to engage contractors to carry out specific works such as guttering clearing and repair.
In answer to a Members question regarding funding, the DHAC advisd that this is a key area of work and once the stock condition surveys has concluded and the results analysed a capital works programme will be produced aligning spend with priorities such as compliance works, windows kitchen bathroom and heating system replacement with the overall objective of improving the condition of our tenants homes and increasing energy efficiency.
As mentioned at the previous Housing Board a No Access Policy will be written to help officers understand the barriers there might be for the tenant and for the tenant to understand the Councils necessity to access their homes to carry out essential works such as the annual gas safety inspection. Once these compliance checks have been carried out the compliance certificates will be uploaded to a new IT software system and shared with the tenants.
Members were advised that new IT systems were essential to provide a single point of truth and bring together data that is currently held on a number of separate systems. The DHAC will also be carrying out a staffing service review to ensure resilience and capacity, and also undertaking a skills analysis to ensure that the council’s staff hold the correct qualifications and to identify officers who wish to undertake further training and qualifications to enhance their career.
In answer to a Members question, the DHAC advised that they currently meet with the regulator on a fortnightly basis. Once the GRIP is finalised and the Regulator can see significant progress and risk mitigation those meetings could become monthly. It was hoped that the Council being re-assessed from a category 4 to a category 3 rated Council could happen reasonable quickly.
Members wished to thank the DHAC and the whole housing team for the hard work put in to date and congratulate them on the progress made so far.
RESOLVED: That the Housing Board noted the progress to date.
The DHAC introduced her report by reminding members that this would be a regular report to ensure that they are fully informed of changes and the work that has taken place. The Gosport Regulation Improvement Plan (GRIP) is a blue print written in response to the category 4 judgement and additional actions were added following the strategic root cause and lesson learned review. It was presented to the Housing Improvement Group (HIG) at the beginning of September.
Members were advised of the progress already made moving from immediate risk mitigation towards a structured programme of service improvement and transformation as laid out in the report.
The DHAC advised members that the two most important aspects required by the Regulator was that we could evidence that we “Know Our Tenants” and “Know Our Stock” hence the programme of Stock Condition Surveys due to start imminently which should be completed within 6 months. The surveyors would be looking to identify category 1 and 2 risks, but would be asked to go further and include instances of damp mould and condensation, whilst considering the tenant and how they present and whether they have any concerns. The surveys will not be a one off and the aim will be that no property has a survey older than 5 years, with 25% of stock being visited yearly. To be able to manage the increased demand for repairs as a result of the surveys discussions are taking place with Kier to help them manage and prioritise the workload. There maybe need to engage contractors to carry out specific works such as guttering clearing and repair.
In answer to a Members question regarding funding, the DHAC advisd that this is a key area of work and once the stock condition surveys has concluded and the results analysed a capital works programme will be produced aligning spend with priorities such as compliance works, windows kitchen bathroom and heating system replacement with the overall objective of improving the condition of our tenants homes and increasing energy efficiency.
As mentioned at the previous Housing Board a No Access Policy will be written to help officers understand the barriers there might be for the tenant and for the tenant to understand the Councils necessity to access their homes to carry out essential works such as the annual gas safety inspection. Once these compliance checks have been carried out the compliance certificates will be uploaded to a new IT software system and shared with the tenants.
Members were advised that new IT systems were essential to provide a single point of truth and bring together data that is currently held on a number of separate systems. The DHAC will also be carrying out a staffing service review to ensure resilience and capacity, and also undertaking a skills analysis to ensure that the council’s staff hold the correct qualifications and to identify officers who wish to undertake further training and qualifications to enhance their career.
In answer to a Members question, the DHAC advised that they currently meet with the regulator on a fortnightly basis. Once the GRIP is finalised and the Regulator can see significant progress and risk mitigation those meetings could become monthly. It was hoped that the Council being re-assessed from a category 4 to a category 3 rated Council could happen reasonable quickly.
Members wished to thank the DHAC and the whole housing team for the hard work put in to date and congratulate them on the progress made so far.
RESOLVED: That the Housing Board noted the progress to date.
8
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