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Opposition parties critical of housing failings

Pete Cooper/ BBC A electronic sign advertising where to complain when facing difficulties with social housing in the middle of a high street. Pete Cooper/ BBC
Labour, the Lib Dems and the Independent groups on West Northamptonshire Council will raise criticisms at a council meeting on Thursday

Opposition politicians have criticised a council and a social housing provider after "serious failings" were identified by the regulator.

The Regulator of Social Housing said West Northamptonshire Council could not provide assurances that all health and safety checks were being carried out in these homes.

The Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent groups all plan to put pressure on the ruling Conservatives at a full council meeting on Thursday.

Adam Brown, the leader of the council, said work to improve services was "well under way".

Laura Coffey/ BBC A man in a striped blue shirt and a navy blazer stands by a white wall looking at the camera. Laura Coffey/ BBC
Adam Brown said checks on all 11,500 properties would be completed by the end of December

The regulator said "significant improvement" was needed to improve social housing services, which were provided by Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH).

The regulator said there was no assurance that health and safety checks - regarding fire, electrical, water, asbestos, lifts, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms - were being carried out - and that it was fixing any issues quickly enough.

Earlier this month, the Conservative-controlled council said it referred itself to the regulator because NPH may have failed to maintain national quality and safety standards in some homes.

Laura Coffey/BBC A woman with glasses in a black and white knitted top over a cream funnel neck jumper stands on some stairs looking at the camera. Laura Coffey/BBC
Wendy Randall, leader of the Labour group on West Northamptonshire Council, described the report's findings as "deeply shocking" but "expected"

Wendy Randall, leader of the Labour group on the local authority, said: "Lessons need to be learned, priorities rethought, and safeguards put in place to ensure this doesn’t happen again."

Jonathan Harris, deputy leader of the Northamptonshire Liberal Democrats, said there should be a plan to "bring responsibility for council houses currently under NPH’s responsibility, directly back within the responsibility of the council".

Independent group councillor Ian McCord went further: "This council has no confidence in the board, chief executive and chairman of NPH and calls for their resignations".

Mr Brown said: "We will make sure there is a level of accountability in these matters, but for the time being, our focus is meeting the demands of the regulator, making sure the tenants are safe, and carrying out the works required."

Work was "well under way" to correct the issues, he added.

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