Newham’s Cabinet has today (4 March) discussed the quarterly update on a programme set up to deliver improvements across the board in Newham’s Social housing.
· £2m improvement programme established with oversight of Mayor, senior Members and officers and external experts
· Safety and quality the primary focus-with £20m investment for fire safety already agreed
· Improvements noted in electrical certificates and % of repairs delivered on time
Newham’s Cabinet has today (4 March) discussed the quarterly update on a programme set up to deliver improvements across the board in Newham’s Social housing, which last year was given a C4 rating by the Housing Regulator.
While improvements have been made on electrical safety inspections, and repairs backlogs, resident engagement and on setting up overarching programme governance with the overview of external experts - that there is still much to do.
“Cabinet has already agreed a £20million investment in addressing fire safety in blocks of flats and £18million investment in accelerating our Decent Homes Programme. Significant work is being carried out to better understand the needs of our more vulnerable tenants in relation to fire safety and building safety so we can take further steps to mitigate risk,” said Councillor Blossom Young, Lead Member for Housing Landlord and Tenant Experience Improvements. “The service is starting to make inroads into the repairs backlog and I am pleased to see improved performance against many of our repairs indicators.”
The programme currently involves 11 projects across four of the themes, each responding to an issue identified in the Regulator’s report, with £2m allocated to deliver the programme on top of money already agreed for housing improvements.
In the Council’s 16,000 largely post war housing stock, with a legacy of maintenance problems, a series of themed projects are set to deliver safety and quality improvements - in particular delivering fire safety improvements, clearing repair backlogs and identifying the most vulnerable tenants who may need additional safety support.
The Regulator criticised the Council for a lack of up to date electrical checks. Cabinet heard that 66% of properties now have electrical certificates under 10 years old but further work is underway to ensure completion, with a priority on properties occupied by vulnerable tenants. In February the Council agreed procurement of contracts to deliver improvements to kitchens, bathrooms, heating and ventilation for 3,000 identified homes.
The regulator was critical of the Council for not carrying out repairs within target time. This has also improved, with 89% of all repairs completed in target time in December.
Improvements to resident access and transparency – another theme in the regulator’s report – is being delivered by means of a new and improved resident engagement strategy. The first round of engagement with residents on the principles for the strategy begins with drop-in sessions across the borough from spring, with a view to having a final published strategy in late summer 2025. A Resident Challenge Board which will feed into the new governance arrangements for the programme, is currently being established.
You can read the paper here.
The Cabinet meeting can be viewed live on the Council’s YouTube channel here.
