Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance

RESOLVED that:

(1)       a five year extension of the management agreement (in accordance with clause 2 of the Management Agreement) to RHL for the provision of housing services, effective from 1 April 2026, be agreed.

(2)       the appointment of Managing Director, as required by Clause 19.1 of the Management Agreement, be ratified.

Cabinet considered a report which sought agreement of a five-year continuation to the management agreement to Rykneld Homes Ltd for the provision of housing services.

The report explained that the current management agreement included five-year review clauses and the first was due in April 2026. The Director of Finance & Resources (Section 151 Officer), as client lead in consultation with the Leader of the Council who had portfolio responsibility for Housing, had undertaken a review, which commenced in March 2025. An internal review had been undertaken, which was considered sufficient as external assurance could be taken from the inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in May 2024.  The findings of the internal review were set out in the report.

It was also noted that the Managing Director of Rykneld Homes Ltd, Lorraine Shaw, who had been with the company for 18 years had decided to retire. A recruitment process had been undertaken and the current Deputy Managing Director, Niall Clark, had been appointed, subject to Cabinet ratifying the decision.

Cabinet noted the positive relationship the Council currently had with Rykneld.

Cabinet agreed to write to thank Lorriane for her service.

RESOLVED that:

(1)      a five year extension of the management agreement (in accordance with clause 2 of the Management Agreement) to RHL for the provision of housing services, effective from 1 April 2026, be agreed.

(2)      the appointment of Managing Director, as required by Clause 19.1 of the Management Agreement, be ratified.

REASONS FOR DECISION – Continuity of service provision for a major front line service such as Housing was hugely important.  Rykneld Homes Limited had demonstrated high levels of service provision across all areas.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – To undertake an external review.  This was rejected as sufficient external assurance was available from the recent RSH inspection.  Not to extend the Management Agreement.  This was rejected as the result of the review undertaken was that this was the best arrangement for the Council.