URL: https://democracy.middevon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1393

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Health introducing the new Mid Devon Housing (MDH) Knowledge and Information Management Strategy for 2026–2031.   The Cabinet Member for Housing, Assets and Property Services outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:   This was a new Strategy reflecting the fact that information about tenants was becoming increasingly important. The Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman recognised the importance of landlords understanding who lived in their properties, what challenges they had, what issues they might have in terms of accessing services and what concerns they may or may not have around their property. The Strategy enabled MDH to tailor the services as much as possible around those individual needs. There was a need to capture the right information in the right way to help shape those services in a way that was legal, safe and met data protection requirements. The Strategy set out how the data would be used and how it was going to be stored. The Strategy would result in a better understanding of who lived in the Council’s homes and whether they had particular needs or vulnerabilities. An Action Plan sat beneath the Strategy which described how the housing service was going to deliver against the Strategy. The Action Plan would come back to the relevant Policy Development Group (PDG) on an annual basis with an update.   Discussion took place with regards to:   Concern was raised about delays in implementing the data integrity process and equipping frontline staff with electronic tablets. Clarification was requested on timescales for both actions. It was confirmed that work to join up and strengthen data integrity processes would begin in the current financial year, although no end date had yet been set. Whether significant staff training would be required to implement the new tablets system for frontline staff? It was explained that the new system required an update to a cloud-based version of the current housing management software, which was intuitive and similar to the current one, using the same data and fields. Some training would be required.   RECOMMENDED to Full Council that the MDH Knowledge and Information Management Strategy 2026 – 2031 be ADOPTED as recommended by the Homes Policy Development Group (PDG)   (Proposed by Cllr J Lock and seconded by Cllr G DuChesne)   Reason for Decision: Knowledge and Information Management was a fundamental component of the Regulator of Social Housing inspection framework. MDH must demonstrate a clear understanding of the data it held - and did not hold - and use that data to drive meaningful improvements for tenants and stakeholders. Note: * Report previously circulated.      

Date of Decision: April 7, 2026