The strategic housing services provided by Knowsley Council are 'fair' and have 'promising' prospects for improvement, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.
On a scale from zero to three stars the Audit Commission inspection team gave the Council a 'fair', one star rating because the Council understands local housing needs and is developing plans to meet them.'
Riza Yassin, Audit Commission Lead Housing Inspector in the North, said:
'The Council has come a long way in the past year. Local people can be confident that it understands their housing needs and is developing plans to try to address them with its partner organisations in trying economic conditions. Further work is needed to make sure that housing choices are improved and that the Council is delivering value for money.'
Inspectors found strengths including the following:
- There are strong partnerships in place with developers and housing providers.
- There has been some success in attracting inward investment.
- Regeneration initiatives on ex-Council estates have been successful.
Weaknesses include:
- Longer term housing strategies are still being developed.
- The Council has not made an impact in significantly improving the condition of private sector housing.
- There is only limited choice for people wanting to live in housing association-owned homes.
To help the service improve, inspectors made a number of recommendations. These include:
- ensuring all plans are comprehensive and focus on improving in priority areas establishing systems to ensure housing services deliver value for money; and
- improving choice for people who want to move to housing association owned homes.
Knowsley is one of Merseyside's five metropolitan boroughs. Almost 30 per cent of its homes are rented from housing associations. It is the fifth most deprived local authority area in the country, with more than twice the national average proportion of children living in families claiming benefits.
In 2009 the Council's strategic housing services were judged by the Audit Commission to be 'performing adequately'. This assessment identified that the housing strategy did not effectively address the needs of local people and that there were weaknesses in the delivery of homelessness services.Copies of the report are available from Knowsley Council or from the Audit Commission website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Notes to editors
- 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.
- On 13 August 2010 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced that he plans to disband the Audit Commission.' His intention is to have new arrangements in place for auditing England's public bodies by 2012/13.
- For more details about the role of the Audit Commission visit www.audit-commission.gov.uk
For a copy of the full report or for further information please contact: David Rose, Regional Communications Manager - Northern, on 0844 798 6654 or d-rose@audit-commission.gov.uk