Council proposes £2.3m investment to transform Housing service
In a report to Cabinet published this week, Castle Point Borough Council is proposing an investment of £2.3 million into its Housing Improvement Programme. The costed proposal includes significant investment in staffing, IT systems and health and safety contracts.
The report follows a judgement by the Housing Regulator in December 2024 in which the Council was downgraded to C4, meaning that there are very serious failings in its housing services.
The Council has acknowledged and fully accepted the findings of the Regulator and is developing a comprehensive plan to transform housing services.
An internal analysis of the causes of the issues identified historic deficiencies in the housing service which have resulted in:
- The voices of tenants not being heard or incorporated into service delivery
- Poor management of the performance of partners and contractors
- Insufficient record keeping to provide assurance of compliance with safety standards
- Infrequent reporting on the performance of the housing service to members, tenants and residents thereby missing opportunities to improve services
- Underinvestment in housing staff and resources to enable staff to perform at their best
The report outlines the significant steps that have already taken place to deliver the required improvements including:
Tenant engagement
- A Tenant Relationship Manager has been appointed to lead on tenant engagement
- The Council has joined up with tenant engagement experts Tpas to develop a new tenant engagement approach
- An improved Complaints Policy that meets the requirements of the Housing Ombudsman is in place
Contractor management
· A Fire Safety Manager has been recruited to review the fire safety assessments, liaise with tenants and put in place a fire management investment programme
· A contractor has started surveying a sample of properties to test compliance with the ‘Big Six’ health and safety compliance standards (fire safety, gas safety, electrical safety, lift safety, asbestos management, legionella)
Data
· A specialist Data Analyst and Contract Manager have been appointed to check data and systems
· Work has started on procuring a new system to hold health and safety data including repairs
Programme management
· A new Project Director has been brought in to lead the Housing Improvement Programme
· The Housing Improvement Programme Board, responsible for overseeing the Programme, has met twice and published meeting minutes.
Cabinet members are due to discuss and review the report’s findings and recommendations at the Cabinet Meeting 7pm 22 January. The meeting will be livestreamed at www.youtube.com/@CastlePoint-BC.
Cllr Rob Lillis, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Housing said: “This detailed report gives a full and honest assessment of where the deficiencies in the housing service have arisen and sets out the progress that has been made in addressing them. Although we regret to be in this position, this is our opportunity to put things right and we are committed to doing so.”
Cllr Dave Blackwell, Leader of Castle Point Borough Council, said: “We have made a commitment to tenants that we will look at every aspect of the housing service and that tenants will be at the very heart of this journey. The transformation of the housing service will be one of the top priorities for the Administration going forward.”
View a copy of the full report to Cabinet.