Brent Council's response to Social Housing Regulator after C3 judgment way behind schedule. What's the hold up?

 

Dear Editor,

 

Brent Council told us they would keep residents up to date regarding their response to the Social Housing Regulator by providing updates through their two scrutiny committee meetings. The regulator graded the council at C3 which means the council has serious failings in the delivery of consumer standards and significant improvement is needed. LINK

 

However, the Council have not published anything in either scrutiny committee but instead announced that they will give us an update at the 19th November Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny meeting. 

 

At the Audit  and Standards Committee meeting on 16th June 2025, several councillors suggested that the council needed to restore the Housing Scrutiny Committee. The council replied there was no need as housing was already covered in their two scrutiny committees. LINK

 

But with nothing published regarding the council’s response to the regulator, how will residents ever find out if their homes are safe?

 

I thought the response to the regulator might be discussed at next week's Full Council meeting, but it seems no one is interested in this very important issue that affects the lives of everyone living in a council home which currently stands at 8400 tenants and 4000 leaseholders.

 

At the end of May the Council reported that they would take 6 weeks to carry out the housing repairs audit but then extended it to 8 weeks.  They were due to discuss it at Monday’s cabinet meeting The Council will now publish an update on the performance of their housing services on the 3rd October in papers tabled for the October 13^th Cabinet when they will also publish their Action Plan which responds to the regulator. Previously the Council reported they had major concerns with the Wates contracts that were only given an extension back in April of this year and I expect it will be highlighted in the report.

 

Obviously, there were several housing delivery failures identified by the regulator, so all these reports are likely to affect service delivery, especially on repairs for several years to come.

 

The Council have not explained why it is taking so long to publish anything The audit should have been ready before the end of July.

 

I can only speculate that the council have uncovered so many issues, that they are finding it difficult to cover everything before they give us the full picture.

 

Best wishes

 

John