Gosport Borough Council
Councillors:
28
Wards:
14
Committees:
10
Meetings (2025):
48
Meetings (2024):
47
Meeting
Housing Board - Gosport
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Wednesday, 25th September 2024
6:00 PM
Wednesday, 25th September 2024
6:00 PM
End:
Wednesday, 25th September 2024
10:00 PM
Wednesday, 25th September 2024
10:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
25 Sep 2024
25 Sep 2024
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Council Staff
Head of Planning and Regeneration and Assistant to the Chief Executive
Debbie Gore
Expected
Agenda
1
APOLOGIES FOR NON ATTENDANCE
Minutes
Apologies for non attendance were received from Councillor Jessop who was substituted by Councillor Burgess
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 MEETING OF THE HOUSING BOARD HELD on 12 June 2024
Attachments:
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 12/06/2024 Housing Board 17 Sep 2024
Minutes
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 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 Monday 23 september 2024. 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 Monday 23 September 2024)
Minutes
There were none
6
Community Alarm Service
This report sets out the findings of a review of the Community Alarm Service and options considered.
Attachments:
- Document Housing Board report 25092024 - Community Alarm Service 17 Sep 2024
- Document GBC IIA - Equality and Climate Change Community Alarm Service 05092024 17 Sep 2024
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Housing (HOH) setting out the findings of the Community Alarm Service and options considered.
In answer to a Members question, the HOH explained that although officers would be able to help residents find alternative options, they would not be in a position to recommend one service over another. It is anticipated that family members will also assist in this change.
Members were advised that the current service offered is a basic, outdated analogue system and there were now many other digital services available that allowed for add-ons depending on the needs of the resident. The current charge is £3.64 (excluding VAT) a week and many of those alternate services available were cheaper and more flexible than offered by the Council. One of the options was HCC, who already provide the majority service across the country, and there was the possibility that some might qualify for funding towards the cost.
In answer to a Members question, the HOH explained that although there may be an additional cost for installation, if GBC moved their service to digital there would be considerable costs involved.
Members were advised that the number of residents in the current scheme has already dropped to 202. The HOH agreed to provide an update to the Board on how many might meet the criteria for the HCC funding.
RESOLVED: That the Board approved that the Community Alarm Service is discontinued and existing customers are assisted to move to an alternative provider.
In answer to a Members question, the HOH explained that although officers would be able to help residents find alternative options, they would not be in a position to recommend one service over another. It is anticipated that family members will also assist in this change.
Members were advised that the current service offered is a basic, outdated analogue system and there were now many other digital services available that allowed for add-ons depending on the needs of the resident. The current charge is £3.64 (excluding VAT) a week and many of those alternate services available were cheaper and more flexible than offered by the Council. One of the options was HCC, who already provide the majority service across the country, and there was the possibility that some might qualify for funding towards the cost.
In answer to a Members question, the HOH explained that although there may be an additional cost for installation, if GBC moved their service to digital there would be considerable costs involved.
Members were advised that the number of residents in the current scheme has already dropped to 202. The HOH agreed to provide an update to the Board on how many might meet the criteria for the HCC funding.
RESOLVED: That the Board approved that the Community Alarm Service is discontinued and existing customers are assisted to move to an alternative provider.
7
ANY OTHER ITEMS
Minutes
Previous Meetings
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