National Housing Maintenance Forum

1a Procurement finished equals job done?

We all sigh with relief when the contract has been procured and all documents are in place so at last we can all sit back and relax. In the excitement of it all we can forget that the relationships we started to forge during the procurement process need to be developed, shaped, maintained or even severed. We openly discuss awards of contract but appear to be less forthcoming to discuss when things don't go the way we expected.

This session is a very practical overview of how what we do during the procurement process can impact on contract delivery, what we can do to make these relationships work once the contract has commenced, what signals that all is not well and suggestions on how to pull things around.

1b Innovative waste management solutions

This session will inform delegates about how waste management within the housing sector that has become a huge problem can be an opportunity to satisfy all stakeholders and improve the living environment. Jonathan will begin by outlining the current difficulties associated with waste and perceived assumptions. There will be three case studies that will show how common problems can be solved with innovative solutions. They are:-

1. Recycling in high rise buildings
2. Fly tip disposals
3. Segregation of building waste after refurbishments

All three studies will have demonstrable and live examples of how practical implementation of new approaches have changed mindsets and introduced innovation.

1c Energy Certification

The presentation will look at the opportunities that the requirement to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) can bring to social landlords to obtain high quality energy data. The requirement to provide EPCs in respect of rental properties is now established and while there is some hesitation about whether it provides any tangible benefit to tenants, it could provide a significant opportunity for landlords who need energy information.

Social landlords need energy information to calculate the average SAP of its stock, to ensure it is meeting the thermal comfort element  of Decent Homes, to make sure that they are not exposing their tenants to Category 1 risks and to ensure that their homes are affordable and will not cause their tenants to be in fuel poverty. With planning, the production of EPCs can provide the opportunity to obtain this information and incorporate it in existing systems while minimising cost.

1d Managing your organisation's exposure to tree related risks

The law states there are duties of care in relation to trees. What are these duties and how should this affect your management of trees, and the staff who deal with such issues? What processes should you have in place to provide a defendable tree risk management system? What are the statistical levels of death and injury? How do you manage tenant garden trees? How do you ensure that tree work contractors are delivering a cost effective service? How do you manage your organisations exposure to the potential issues of Corporate Manslaughter? What procedures should you have in place in the event something does go wrong?

In this session we will take a detailed look at how to address these issues to ensure, that in the event of injury or death caused by an identifiable tree related risk, your organisation can demonstrate they had appropriate measures in place. In addition we will look at how to instruct tree surgery works and what other benefits can be delivered by having your trees under ‘active’ management.

1e Single source supply chain management - Responding to repairs and maintenance in the 21^st Century

The presentation will provide delegates with a practical insight into how a major project to deliver a single source supply contract can be successfully delivered and implemented. It should appeal to procurement officers and DLO Management.

We will look at the key practical decisions and procurement options that can be taken when outsourcing materials management to a single supply partner, within the context of a large social housing environment.

It will identify some of the challenges faced in terms of its impact upon the need for organisational cultural change, traditional working practices, TUPE and employment implications, union and staff consultation, mobilisation and risk management etc.

The session will also explore value for money, looking at both existing and projected efficiencies in terms of the triple bottom line of cost, performance and quality. It will consider innovative solutions, open book accounting, partnership incentivisation options and the post tender evaluation process.