Section: Best Practices & Standards
LA Stars
The following summarises some of the key issues raised in a selection of Audit Commission
local authority inspection reports released during May 2005.
Havering LBC (Supporting People)
An Audit Commission report
concludes that the management of the Supporting People programme by Havering Council is a poor no-star service with uncertain
prospects for improvement. Key issues noted for consideration include:
- Service users have not been involved in the
development and delivery of the programme.
- It is difficult to get information about housing-related support services available in the
Borough.
- There are not effective arrangements in place to deliver the programme.
Hounslow Homes (ALMO)
The
housing services provided by Hounslow Homes on behalf of Hounslow LBC are excellent three-star services with excellent prospects for
improvement, according to a report by the Audit Commission. The inspectors found that:
- Services are highly
accessible.
- Services are monitored and reviewed through audits and mystery shopping exercises.
- There is a high level of
resident involvement.
- Comprehensive training opportunities exist for residents, staff, and Board members.
- Estates are clean,
tidy, and well maintained.
South Kesteven DC (Strategic Housing)
An Audit Commission report concludes that the
management of strategic housing by South Kesteven DC is a poor no-star service and has uncertain prospects for improvement. Reasons
given in the report include:
- There are no targets set for affordable housing at the maximum level achievable.
- There is
not a comprehensive and structured approach to the prevention of homelessness.
- Suitable supported temporary accommodation for vulnerable
homeless people is not provided.
- There is not a sound analysis of needs within the private housing sector.
- No impact has been
made on the level of unfitness, either through the use of enforcement powers, or through grants for private sector
repair.
Wansbeck DC (Repairs & Maintenance)
Audit Commission inspectors found that the Repairs and Maintenance provided
by Wansbeck DC is a
poor no-star service with
uncertain prospects for improvement. Inspectors found:
- The service
was not user focused, with poor information on standards and performance.
- User involvement in the service is limited with a lack of clear
examples where the service has changed as a result of their involvement.
- Gas servicing is an area of substandard performance, with
significant weakness in policies and procedures.
Other Reports Issued
- Arun DC (Landlord Services)
Fair one-star service with promising prospects for improvement.
- Broxtowe BC (Housing Services)
Fair
one-star service with promising prospects for improvement.
- Buckinghamshire CC (Supporting People)
Fair
one-star service with promising prospects for improvement.
- East Durham Homes (ALMO)
Fair one-star service
with uncertain prospects for improvement.
- Hackney LBC (Homelessness)
Fair one-star service with uncertain
prospects for improvement.
- Haringey LBC (Repairs & Maintenance)
Fair one-star service with promising
prospects for improvement.
- Harrow LBC (Supporting People)
Good two-star service with promising prospects
for improvement.
- Kingston upon Hull CC (Supporting People)
Fair one-star service with promising prospects for
improvement.
- Mid Devon DC (Affordable Housing)
Fair one-star service with uncertain prospects for
improvement.
- Norwich CC (Repairs & Maintenance)
Fair one-star service with promising prospects for
improvement.
- Nuneaton and Bedworth BC (Landlord Services)
Fair one-star service with uncertain prospects for
improvement.
- Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (ALMO)
Good two-star service with promising prospects for
improvement.
- South Buckinghamshire DC (Housing Services)
Fair one-star service with promising prospects for
improvement.
- South Tyneside MBC (Supporting People)
Fair one-star service with promising prospects for
improvement.
- Swindon BC (Supporting People)
Fair one-star service with uncertain prospects for
improvement.
- Tristar Homes (ALMO)
Fair one-star service with poor prospects for improvement.
- Wigan
and Leigh Housing (ALMO)
Good two-star service with uncertain prospects for improvement.
www.audit-commission.gov.uk
RSL Performers
Audit
Commission housing association inspection reports issued during May 2005 included the following:
Housing 21
Housing 21 provides
good two-star housing services with promising prospects for improvement, according to a report by the Audit Commission. The
inspectors found that:
- A front line service is provided which is customer focused and well regarded.
- Residents are
involved and consulted throughout the planning, delivery and monitoring of services.
- Rents are collected and rent arrears dealt with
effectively and sensitively.
Pennine Housing 2000
An Audit Commission report concludes that Pennine Housing 2000
provides a good two-star service that has promising prospects for improvement.
Pennine Housing 2000 Ltd. is the housing
association that was created in March 2001 to take over the management of homes previously owned by Calderdale MBCl. Inspectors found
that:
- There is a positive approach to resident participation.
- Estates and communal areas are well
maintained.
- There is a well developed approach to anti-social behaviour.
- There is a focus on achieving value for
money.
Inspectors also commented that:
- Services to leaseholders need improving.
- Service standards
are not yet comprehensive.
- The repairs appointment service needs expanding.
South London Family Housing
Association
Audit Inspectors concluded that the Association was providing a poor no-star service that has uncertain
prospects for improvement. The report notes that:
- Overall, customer satisfaction remains below average.
- Tenant
satisfaction on responsive repairs is low and the approach to post and pre-inspections and variations is not efficient.
- The quality of the
void work is not always high.
- Some estates are not well looked after, with rubbish, health and safety issues, and maintenance issues not
adequately addressed.
Other Reports Issued
- Community Seven Housing Association
Fair
one-star service with promising prospects for improvement.
- Derwent Living
Fair one-star service with
promising prospects for improvement.
- Penwith Housing
Fair one-star service with promising prospects
for improvement.
- Riverside Housing Association (Liverpool Division)
Fair one-star service with promising
prospects for improvement.
- South Yorkshire Housing Association
Fair one-star service with promising
prospects for improvement.
- Wulvern Housing
Fair one-star service with uncertain prospects for
improvement.
www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Scottish Inspection Reports
Inspections of associations in Scotland are
arranged by Communities Scotland in its role as a regulator:
-
Glasgow's Tollcross HA was given a B grade and a
good rating for its housing management and property maintenance services by housing inspectors working for Communities Scotland, the
Executive's housing and regeneration agency, in its role as the housing regulator. The report follows a comprehensive inspection in December
2004.
Tollcross HA owns 672 houses in the east end of Glasgow.
-
Grampian HA was given a B grade and a
good rating for its housing management, and a C grade and fair rating for its property maintenance services by Communities Scotland,
following a comprehensive inspection in December 2004.
The Association owns 2,540 houses in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Moray. It has
grant funding of £4 million this year to develop new housing.
-
Port Glasgow HA was given a B grade and a good
rating for its housing management services by Communities Scotland. The property maintenance provided by the Association was rated as fair
and graded C. The report follows an intensive inspection in December 2004.
Port Glasgow HA owns 272 houses in Port Glasgow. The
Association became a landlord in 2002 after it took ownership of houses previously owned by Scottish Homes. This was the first inspection since the
organisation was formed.
www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk
