Issue - meetings

The Care and Repair Manager introduced the report which provided the Committee with an update on the performance and achievements of the Care and Repair Home Improvement agency over the last twelve months.

Care and repair was established as a Home Improvement Agency (HIA) in Peterborough City Council almost twenty years ago.

The key points highlighted within the report were as follows:

·         Achievements

·         Performance

·         Benchmarking

·         Further development

·         Impact

The Committee was asked to scrutinise the performance and achievements of Care and Repair by providing challenge where necessary and to suggest ideas and initiatives to support the continued delivery of priorities within the service.

Observations and questions were raised around the following areas:

·         Members commented that Care and Repair was such a successful service due to the work of the Care and Repair Manager and his team.

·         Members Congratulated Care and Repair on the awards they had received.

·         Members queried how the work of Care and Repair was turned over so quickly and how costs were kept low. The Care and Repair Manager responded that the Handy Person Scheme was the cheapest way of completing jobs. Work was carried out by self-employed people and the price was set at an hourly rate.

·         Members queried how much it would cost to change a light bulb. Members were advised that it would cost around £8.50 although, some Housing Associations would send an electrician in to change a florescent tube and it could cost up to £100.

·         Members queried what the turnaround time was as there was no waiting list. Members were advised that each case was different. The new contract states that if a case is not urgent it would be turned around within 7 days and if a case was urgent then it would be turned around within 24 hours.

·         Members queried how it would be possible to let the public know about Care and Repair. Members were advised that Care and Repair was advertised on the Council’s website, the Care and Repair Manager would go out and give talks about the service and the Council’s call centre could point people in the right direction.

·         Members suggested that Care and repair could be advertised on the Council Tax bills.

·         Members thanked the Care and Repair Scheme as it had recently helped an 87 year old lady with her gardening.

ACTION AGRED

Members agreed for the Care and Repair Manager to investigate the possibility of advertising Care and Repair on the Council Tax bills.