(1) To endeavour to meet the aspirations of the Council and the citizens of the Borough through continuous improvement in service delivery, the implementation of best practice and the recognition of the cultural diversity of the population of the Borough. To work towards the priorities of the Sandwell Partnership.

(2) To be responsible for a duty of well-being, good community relations and the promotion of sustainability within the scope of this portfolio.

(3) To ensure equality in service provision, in consultation with appropriate Cabinet Members.

(4) To support partnership working, including the health partnership agenda, within the scope of this portfolio.

(5) To ensure the full involvement of local people and communities in decisions relating to the Cabinet Member’s portfolio.

(6) To champion:-

(a) the implementation of the Neighbourhood Strategy and improvement of neighbourhoods within the Borough;

Duties:

(7) In consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Resources to regulate their impact on the Council’s three year budget strategy.

(8) Undertake periodic contract monitoring/challenge meetings with Heads of Service responsible for services falling within this portfolio as determined by the governance arrangements for the strategic partnership, Transform Sandwell.

(9) To ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the Council’s Select Committees in so far as they affect this portfolio. Agenda Item 9 25

Housing

(10) To attend Scrutiny Management Board and Scrutiny Panels when required and provide timely information in the format requested.

(11) To seek advice from Scrutiny Management Board and Scrutiny Panels where appropriate.

(12) To consider and respond to any recommendations from the Scrutiny Management Board and Scrutiny Panels insofar as they relate to this portfolio.

(13) To represent the Council on appropriate external partnerships, negotiating and consultative bodies, at a national, regional and local level on those matters which fall within their remit.

(14) To undertake any other duties or roles as may from time to time be assigned to the Cabinet Member, by the Leader or the Cabinet.

(15) To ensure compliance with the Council’s petition scheme, where the subject area falls within this portfolio, and in accordance with the statutory duty placed on local authorities to receive and consider petitions.

Portfolio Responsibilities:

(16) To take responsibility within the Cabinet for:-

• the development, implementation and review of local housing strategy, policies and local strategic housing improvement programmes, including private sector housing;
• the oversight and commissioning of housing services for citizens of the Borough;
• the strategic direction of the Council's input to the Sandwell Homes Annual Business Plan;
• monitoring the performance management of the Council’s interests in relation to the delivery of social housing through Sandwell Homes;
• all matters relating to the ownership and management of the Council's housing stock which are not otherwise dealt with under the Management Agreement with Sandwell Homes;
• the Housing Agency Service;
• regional development of housing provision and the supporting infrastructure, including the Regional Housing Strategy;
• where not otherwise delegated to the relevant Chief Officer, housing conditions in the private sector, including the private sector housing strategy, the declaration and making of Housing Clearance Areas and the determination of closing and demolition orders and associated environmental health and enforcement issues;
• relocation, renovation and other private sector housing grants (with the exception of those functions which fall within the terms of reference of the relevant Appeals Committee);
• services for the provision of aids and adaptations including:-

(a) where not otherwise delegated to a chief officer or where he/she is unable to act; the consideration and determination of requests for the provision of aids and adaptations in the public and private sectors;

(b) the consideration and determination of requests under the approved hardship criteria for the provision of aids and adaptations which exceed, £20,000;

• grant support to organisations within the voluntary sector whose services support the delivery of services within the Cabinet Member’s remit;
• the development of services within the remit of the portfolio holder, through the use of external income streams;
• where not already delegated to the relevant Chief Officer or chief officer of Transform Sandwell and acting within the Council’s Corporate pay, Terms and Conditions and Grading structure, the appointment, promotion, termination of employment by resignation or otherwise, discipline or secondment of employees, the salaries of employees including the regrading and deletion of posts and the establishment of new posts within those service areas which fall within the Cabinet Member’s remit including housing and aids and adaptations.