The Council’s new Portfolio Holder for Housing and Assets, Councillor Helen Adkins, reflects on the progress made by officers in addressing the recent regulatory judgements in her statement at last night’s Council meeting:
“Since taking office in May 2023, the Green-Labour administration has uncovered serious and long-standing issues within Warwick District Council’s Housing and Assets policies and procedures that had not previously been addressed. The gravity of the situation became undeniable through several independent reports over the past twelve months, culminating in a Regulatory Judgement that highlighted deep-rooted problems. Despite the severity of these findings, Council officers have moved swiftly to implement corrective measures, demonstrating a commitment to overhaul the housing system.
Earlier this year, an external body was appointed to assist the Council with preparations to achieve compliance with the four consumer standards which were introduced in April 2024. The findings of their appraisal revealed serious issues that go back many years. For example, poor data records and lack of an effective risk management framework meant the council couldn’t evidence its health and safety measures. Such feedback was provided to the Regulator for Social Housing who has issued a regulatory judgement and has confirmed a consumer grading of C3. From the outset, this Green-Labour administration has been concerned about aspects of the way Warwick District Council’s housing assets are managed. Over the last 12 months, we’ve been working hard to address the huge number of issues left by previous administrations. Risk and complaints procedures have been designed and are being implemented. Officers are working hard on our housing safety action plan and have been praised by the body providing external advice, commenting they have made ‘an impressive amount of progress…’. Overall, we are prioritising a major restructure of how the council operates in this area, to be sharper, more effective, with clear lines of responsibility. To this end we, as an administration, are developing a new housing strategy.
This strategy will reassure our tenants that all regulatory standards are fully met. Furthermore, a Consumer Standards Action Plan has been drafted and will be presented to the Housing Committee at its next meeting in November. Again, I am confident that this approach will be successful.”
Cllr Davison Leader of the Council commented:
“It is extremely disappointing that the external reviews of the Council services itemise so many long-standing failings; but I am impressed how efficiently officers are now addressing the issues. Even so, we expect it will take another 2 years to rebuild the Council’s housing processes to provide a high-quality service for our council tenants and value-for-money for taxpayers.”
Warwick District Council is not alone, being one of several local authorities who have been rated C3 by the Regulator for Social Housing since the introduction of the new regime.
For more information see: https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20160/social_housing_and_garages/1914/housing_regulations_and_compliance