19 June 2002 (Review)

HOUSING REVIEW PANEL

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Wednesday, 19 June 2002 at 2.00pm

PRESENT

Mr George Lonie (Chairman)

Mr Iain Morrison

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mr Norman M Macleod

Mr Martin Taylor

Mr Murdo Macleod

Mr David Blaney

APOLOGIES

Mr Norman L Macdonald

Mr Angus Nicolson

MINUTES

Minute of Meeting of 25 April 2002

1

The Minute of Meeting of 25 April 2002 was approved.

It was agreed that in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 7(A) Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the press and the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following six items on the grounds that exempt information relating to any particular occupier, or former occupier of, or applicant for accommodation provided by, or at the expense of the Comhairle would be disclosed.

MANAGEMENT

Request for Tenancy Transfer: Property Reference No: 06036517A

H05.01

2

The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report concerning a request from Mr AB to remove his name from the tenancy and to transfer the tenancy, property reference no: 06036517A to Mr CD and Mr EF. The Report gave background information in relation to the request and stated that the application could not be dealt with in terms of the Comhairle's Allocation Policy.

The Report invited the Panel to determine the request.

Mr CD and Mr EF and the Senior Housing Officer were invited into the Meeting.

Mr CD and Mr EF and the Senior Housing Officer were invited to address the Panel.

Both parties and Members of the Panel were given an opportunity to ask questions.

Mr CD and Mr EF and the Senior Housing Officer withdrew from the Meeting during consideration of the matter.

Mr Murdo Macleod, seconded by Mr David Blaney moved that Mr CD and Mr EF be granted joint tenancy of property reference no: 06036517A.

Mr Norman M Macleod, seconded by Mr Donald I Nicholson moved as an amendment, that the application to transfer the tenancy, tenancy reference no: 06036517A, be deferred until the meeting of the Panel, scheduled to be held in September 2002, to give Mr CD and Mr EF an opportunity to clear outstanding debt.

On the matter being put to the vote, the amendment received the majority of votes cast and became the finding of the Meeting.

Mr CD and Mr EF and the Senior Housing Officer were invited into the Meeting and informed of the Panel's decision.

Update of Information: Serious Rent Arrears

H13.01.02

3

The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report giving information in relation to Serious Rent Arrear Cases which had been determined previously by the Panel.

It was agreed to note the Report.

Serious Rent Arrears

H13.01.02

4

The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report concerning tenant rent arrears in respect of tenancy reference no: 0804935644. The Report gave background information and detailed the tenancy history.

It was recommended in the Report that:

(1) the Housing Review Panel determine the case;

(2) if a further repayment agreement was accepted by the Housing Review Panel, the Director of Housing be given delegated authority to seek, obtain and implement a Decree of Ejection, if the arrangements relating to the repayment were not discharged to the satisfaction of the Director of Housing, and;

(3) if the house was repossessed, all rent arrears associated with the abovementioned tenancy be written off against the bad debt provision and be not pursued.

It was noted that Miss AB, tenancy reference no: 0804935644 had given four weeks notice to terminate her tenancy and had agreed to repay the outstanding rent arrears from any redecoration allowance payable to her and to clear any remaining debt by repaying £20 per fortnight.

Serious Rent Arrears

H13.01.02

5

The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report concerning tenant rent arrears in respect of tenancy reference no: 0507564515. The Report gave background information and detailed the tenancy history.

It was recommended in the Report that:

(1) the Housing Review Panel determine the case;

(2) if a further repayment agreement was accepted by the Housing Review Panel, the Director of Housing be given delegated authority to seek, obtain and implement a Decree of Ejection, if the arrangements relating to the repayment were not discharged to the satisfaction of the Director of Housing, and;

(3) if the house was repossessed, all rent arrears associated with the abovementioned tenancy be written off against the bad debt provision and be not pursued.

It was agreed that the Director of Housing be authorised to inform the tenant Mr AB, tenancy reference no: 0507564515 that he was required to honour the terms of his tenancy agreement to pay current rent due and the tenant be further requested to pay £10 per month, in addition to the current rent due, towards clearing the outstanding rent arrears, on the basis that his case would be reviewed at the meeting of the Panel scheduled to take place in September 2002.

Serious Rent Arrears

H13.01.02

6

The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report concerning tenant rent arrears in respect of tenancy reference no: 0515370019. The Report gave background information and detailed the tenancy history.

It was recommended in the Report that:

(1) the Housing Review Panel determine the case;

(2) if a further repayment agreement was accepted by the Housing Review Panel, the Director of Housing be given delegated authority to seek, obtain and implement a Decree of Ejection, if the arrangements relating to the repayment were not discharged to the satisfaction of the Director of Housing, and;

(3) if the house was repossessed, all rent arrears associated with the abovementioned tenancy be written off against the bad debt provision and be not pursued.

It was agreed to accept the tenant's offer, tenancy reference no: 0507564515, to pay £6 per fortnight, exclusive of current rent due, on the basis that this case of serious rent arrears would be reviewed at each appropriate meeting of the Panel.

Serious Rent Arrears

H13.01.02

7

The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report concerning tenant rent arrears in respect of tenancy reference no: 0705142243. The Report gave background information and detailed the tenancy history.

It was recommended in the Report that:

(1) the Housing Review Panel determine the case;

(2) if a further repayment agreement was accepted by the Housing Review Panel, the Director of Housing be given delegated authority to seek, obtain and implement a Decree of Ejection, if the arrangements relating to the repayment were not discharged to the satisfaction of the Director of Housing, and;

(3) if the house was repossessed, all rent arrears associated with the abovementioned tenancy be written off against the bad debt provision and be not pursued.

It was agreed that it be delegated to the Director of Housing to negotiate a repayment agreement with Mr AB, tenancy reference no: 0705142243 and that the Director of Housing be given delegated authority to seek, obtain and implement a Decree of Ejection if the arrangements relating to the repayment schedule determined by him, in consultation with the abovementioned tenant, were not discharged to the satisfaction of the Director of Housing and that if the house was repossessed, all rent arrears associated with the abovementioned tenancy be written off against the bad debt provision and be not pursued.

PRESENT	Mr George Lonie (Chairman)
	Mr Iain Morrison	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mr Norman M Macleod	Mr Martin Taylor
	Mr Murdo Macleod	Mr David Blaney

APOLOGIES	Mr Norman L Macdonald
	Mr Angus Nicolson

		MINUTES
Minute of Meeting of 25 April 2002	1	The Minute of Meeting of 25 April 2002 was approved.
		It was agreed that in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 7(A) Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the press and the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following six items on the grounds that exempt information relating to any particular occupier, or former occupier of, or applicant for accommodation provided by, or at the expense of the Comhairle would be disclosed.
		MANAGEMENT
Request for Tenancy Transfer: Property Reference No: 06036517A H05.01	2	The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report concerning a request from Mr AB to remove his name from the tenancy and to transfer the tenancy, property reference no: 06036517A to Mr CD and Mr EF. The Report gave background information in relation to the request and stated that the application could not be dealt with in terms of the Comhairle's Allocation Policy.
		The Report invited the Panel to determine the request. Mr CD and Mr EF and the Senior Housing Officer were invited into the Meeting. Mr CD and Mr EF and the Senior Housing Officer were invited to address the Panel. Both parties and Members of the Panel were given an opportunity to ask questions.
		Mr CD and Mr EF and the Senior Housing Officer withdrew from the Meeting during consideration of the matter. Mr Murdo Macleod, seconded by Mr David Blaney moved that Mr CD and Mr EF be granted joint tenancy of property reference no: 06036517A. Mr Norman M Macleod, seconded by Mr Donald I Nicholson moved as an amendment, that the application to transfer the tenancy, tenancy reference no: 06036517A, be deferred until the meeting of the Panel, scheduled to be held in September 2002, to give Mr CD and Mr EF an opportunity to clear outstanding debt.
		On the matter being put to the vote, the amendment received the majority of votes cast and became the finding of the Meeting.
		Mr CD and Mr EF and the Senior Housing Officer were invited into the Meeting and informed of the Panel's decision.
Update of Information: Serious Rent Arrears H13.01.02	3	The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report giving information in relation to Serious Rent Arrear Cases which had been determined previously by the Panel. It was agreed to note the Report.
Serious Rent Arrears H13.01.02	4	The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report concerning tenant rent arrears in respect of tenancy reference no: 0804935644. The Report gave background information and detailed the tenancy history.
		It was recommended in the Report that: (1) the Housing Review Panel determine the case; (2) if a further repayment agreement was accepted by the Housing Review Panel, the Director of Housing be given delegated authority to seek, obtain and implement a Decree of Ejection, if the arrangements relating to the repayment were not discharged to the satisfaction of the Director of Housing, and; (3) if the house was repossessed, all rent arrears associated with the abovementioned tenancy be written off against the bad debt provision and be not pursued.
		It was noted that Miss AB, tenancy reference no: 0804935644 had given four weeks notice to terminate her tenancy and had agreed to repay the outstanding rent arrears from any redecoration allowance payable to her and to clear any remaining debt by repaying £20 per fortnight.
Serious Rent Arrears H13.01.02	5	The Assistant Director of Housing submitted a Report concerning tenant rent arrears in respect of tenancy reference no: 0507564515. The Report gave background information and detailed the tenancy history.
		It was recommended in the Report that: (1) the Housing Review Panel determine the case; (2) if a further repayment agreement was accepted by the Housing Review Panel, the Director of Housing be given delegated authority to seek, obtain and implement a Decree of Ejection, if the arrangements relating to the repayment were not discharged to the satisfaction of the Director of Housing, and; (3) if the house was repossessed, all rent arrears associated with the abovementioned tenancy be written off against the bad debt provision and be not pursued.
		It was agreed that the Director of Housing be authorised to inform the tenant Mr AB, tenancy reference no: 0507564515 that he was required to honour the terms of his tenancy agreement to pay current rent due and the tenant be further requested to pay £10 per month, in addition to the current rent due, towards clearing the outstanding rent arrears, on the basis that his case would be reviewed at the meeting of the Panel scheduled to take place in September 2002.