South Essex Homes contract extension approved

September 21, 2015 by Southend Borough Council

South Essex Homes contract extension approved

Tuesday 22nd September 2015

Southend-On-Sea Borough Council’s cabinet has today agreed to extend its contract with South Essex Homes, which is due to expire in March 2016.

This follows consideration of the future options for housing management. South Essex Homes currently manage the council’s housing stock on its behalf.

Cllr David Norman, Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning, and Regulatory Services said:

"The Council needs to decide how best to manage its housing into the future, including the future of South Essex Homes. However this needs to be done in the context of an increasingly uncertain economic climate. The recent announcements in the June budget on public sector housing and the uncertainties ahead of the Autumn comprehensive Spending Review make long term planning difficult.

"For these reasons I recommended that the current management arrangement with South Essex Homes be extended for three years. This will allow us the time to properly evaluate the impacts for Southend-on-Sea of recent Government changes, the potential effects of the 2015 comprehensive spending review, other public sector cutbacks over the next three years, national changes to housing policy and the upcoming Housing Bill that will be published in October. This recommendation will give South Essex Homes a level of certainty to operate over that period, whilst also providing some assurance for local tenants and leaseholders.

“Having served on the South Essex Homes Board for over 10 years I am well aware of the good service that it has given to residents. Our task now is to ensure that it is shaped and equipped to meet the demands of the future for the benefit of residents and our town as a whole.”

The meeting also heard how council officers have had discussions with the senior management of South Essex Homes, who welcome the approved extension and welcome the opportunity of working with the Council to develop the existing partnership.