Mid Suffolk 'meeting local housing needs' says watchdog

The strategic housing service provided by Mid Suffolk District Council is good and has 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 service, which includes homelessness and private sector housing services, a good two star rating. Providing affordable and decent housing is the Councils top priority and substantial numbers of new affordable homes are being completed, both for rent and for sale. Services are accessible, with friendly and welcoming staff. Homelessness prevention work is effective with low numbers of new and repeat homelessness cases.

Mark Elsworth, Lead Housing Inspector for the East of England, said: The Council has given housing a high priority and is meeting the needs of the local community by working with partners to provide good quality affordable housing. Many new homes have been completed over the last two years and there is a healthy programme of new homes due to be completed in the future. It is working well to reduce homelessness and is supporting people to make improvements to their homes. 
 

Strengths include:
 

• Affordable and decent housing is the top corporate priority
• Homelessness prevention is effective with new and repeat case numbers low
• Temporary accommodation owned by the Council is of good quality and well supported
• Significant numbers of new affordable and other dwellings are being completed, supported by a clear understanding of the districts housing needs
• An effective approach has been taken to assisting gypsies and travellers, based on good research

Weaknesses include:

• Limited knowledge about all service users, and a lack of service standards in some areas
   

Recommendations include:
 

• Ensuring compliance with the Commission for Racial Equality's (now the Equality and Human Rights Commissions) code of practice in housing
• Improving telephone answering performance to meet agreed targets
• Improving the level of choice available to people placed in temporary accommodation

Mid Suffolk District Council provides a strategic and enabling role for housing in the district. It also owns and manages around 3,400 Council dwellings and provides planning services, and services to maintain and improve housing conditions in the private sector. It has responsibility for homelessness and housing advice services and provides grants to enable people with disabilities to continue to live safely and independently at home.

Copies of the report are available from Mid Suffolk District Council or from the Audit Commission website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/reports