Housing services receive zero stars
Two councils have received zero-star ratings for their housing services from the Audit Commission.
The strategic housing services provided by West Somerset Council, in the south west, and Copeland Borough Council, in Cumbria, were both described as ‘poor’.
Inspectors found West Somerset was not providing a good service to vulnerable people, and the number of new affordable homes built are not meeting needs.
The report also says the council has had little success in returning empty homes to use, and its plans for improving poor-quality homes in the private sector are weak.
Kieran Colgan, the Audit Commission’s lead housing inspector for the south west, said: ‘Since our last inspection there have been some significant improvements in the strategic housing service.
‘While this is positive, service quality still falls below the standard that local people expect and deserve.’
Kate Kravis, lead member for housing at the council, said: ‘Naturally we would like to have progressed more swiftly but we are pleased that the Audit Commission has recognised that we have made significant improvements in a short period of time from an extremely low base.’
She added that the council only has 15 households in temporary accommodation, and approved strategies on empty homes and affordable energy last week.
Copeland was criticised for not meeting local people’s need for housing, and because some services are not performing well.
Inspectors said there was limited understanding of local housing markets, weak regulation of the private rented sector, not enough development of affordable housing, and it took too long to bring empty homes back into use.
Riza Yassin, the Audit Commission’s lead housing inspector for the north west, said: ‘Copeland, like many smaller councils, has found it difficult to deliver the high quality service that local people deserve.
‘While there is still much to do, some housing services are improving and the council needs to ensure that this momentum is maintained and applied consistently across all services.’
George Clements, deputy leader of Copeland Council, said: ‘Whilst we do not agree with the judgement that the Audit Commission have given us, we are pleased that they have recognised that we have made significant improvements to our strategic housing service and are putting our service users first.
‘We accept the recommendations that the Audit Commission have made as we recognise that these will help us improve our service further and build on the progress we have already made. We will now be working across the authority to implement the recommendations.’
Other inspections this week
- Kensington Housing Trust was found to have strong maintenance services, and to be improving its engagement with residents, although more could be done in this area.
- Arhag Housing Association provides a ‘fair’ housing management service, and has ‘promising’ prospects for improvement – it received a ‘fair’ one-star rating. Performance in rent arrears and tackling anti-social behaviour were described as ‘weak’.
- Midland Heart Housing Association has ‘excellent prospects for improvement’. Empty homes are being let more quickly and residents were happy with their homes, but gas safety checks, repairs and rent arrears were weak but improving.
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Readers' comments (1)
Being me | 04/03/2010 4:54 pm
In the Audit Commission inspection report many of the faults are wrongly attributed to causes. If the organization acts on the recommendations then these will become the new causes of service failure.
What is the value in a inspection that does not know how to look. When it does looks it applies all of the previous inspection reports because otherwise it could be sued? It scores them 0 stars because that will motivate them won't it? And then makes recommendations that will make things worse? The final insult being to charge the residents of the organization for the privilege of providing no value!
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