Audit Commission

North Tyneside Council is providing a 'fair' strategic housing service, that has 'promising' prospects for improvement, according to a report released today by the independent Audit Commission.

On a scale from zero to three stars, the Audit Commission inspection team gave the service a 'fair', one star rating. The inspection was undertaken in May 2010.

Domini Gunn, Lead Housing Inspector for the North East, said:

'North Tyneside Council has a clear vision for housing. Joint working with house builders has increased the number of homes available to buy and rent. The Council is working well to prevent homelessness and vulnerable people are being helped to live independently in their homes. However, more work is needed to tackle poor housing conditions in privately rented homes and to link housing and health issues. The Council needs to develop a better understanding of the housing needs of all local people and opportunities for local communities to get involved.'

The inspectors found the following strengths:

• a clear vision and an effective strategy to increase the availability of housing to meet local people’s needs;
• strong internal and external partnership working is developing in many areas;
• the Council’s planning policy is strong and helps partners provide new housing and meet regeneration objectives;
• regional targets to build new homes have been exceeded;
• homes are built to high and increasingly sustainable standards; and
• positive action has helped to minimise the impact of the economic downturn on the housing market.

Inspectors identified the following weaknesses:

• there is a lack of understanding of the housing needs of all local people, particularly those who are vulnerable;
• it is not always easy for customers to access Council services;
• engagement with community groups and private landlords is developing but is not yet effective;
• work to connect health and housing issues is under-developed;
• a strategic approach to making neighbourhoods and new homes more sustainable is underdeveloped; and
• the condition of private sector homes is not significantly improving.

To help the service improve, inspectors made a number of recommendations, including:

• review and improve customers’ experience when contacting the Council for advice and assistance;
• provide information on the quality of services to people receiving housing-related support;
• develop relationships with private sector landlords to provide a wide range of integrated services with the Council and partners; and
• secure the improvement of private homes including houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

Notes to editors

1. The population of North Tyneside is 196,000 which has grown in the last ten years as new jobs and housing have brought people to the area. It is projected to rise to 225,000 by 2031.
2. It is estimated that over 27,000 of households in the Borough contain one or more people with a disability and 11.9 per cent of these households have an outstanding support need. Ten per cent of all homes are already adapted.
3. The level of owner occupation in North Tyneside is the same as the national average at 69 per cent. Social housing makes up 23 per cent of the housing stock, with the remaining 8 per cent of stock being private rented housing.
4. Homes are not affordable to people on low incomes. The house price to earnings ratio in North Tyneside is currently 5.6:1 – based on a single income. In 2008, the average price was £146,413 compared to £144,606 for Tyne and Wear, £141,674 for the North-East and £220,310 for England. The scale of under-occupation at 37 per cent of all households is high.

The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone. Our work across local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services means that we have a unique perspective. We promote value for money for taxpayers, auditing the £200 billion spent by 11,000 local public bodies. As a force for improvement, we work in partnership to assess local public services and make practical recommendations for promoting a better quality of life for local people.