Issue - meetings

The Assistant Director of Environmental and Housing Property Services presented the Regulator of Social Housing Inspection Report for the Executive Committee’s consideration.  Members were asked to note that this report included an Improvement Plan, which had incorporated a proposed governance structure, designed to address areas of concern identified by the regulator.

Following changes nationally, all social landlords managing in excess of 1,000 properties, which included Redditch Borough Council, were required to undergo an inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing.  An inspection had been carried out of Redditch Borough Council’s Housing Service, starting in January 2025 with a final report having been issued by the regulator in July 2025.  During this inspection process, the Council’s performance had been assessed in relation to housing consumer standards. 

There were four different grades that could be awarded to a social housing provider in an inspection:

·             C1, which was awarded to the providers that demonstrated best practice.

·             C2

·             C3

·             C4, which was the worst grade that could be awarded.

In the final report issued by the regulator, the Council had been awarded a C3 rating.  This rating had been issued for a number of reasons including:

·             A lack of effective and efficient repair and maintenance services.

·             Concerns relating to fire remediation actions.

·             A limited stock condition survey having been conducted in the preceding five-year period.  Members were asked to note that this would have been assessed at a higher level if stock condition surveys conducted in the years immediately leading up to this period had been taken into account.

·             A lack of tenant engagement mechanisms where residents had opportunities to hold the authority, as landlord, to account. 

There had been some positive areas of practice which had been highlighted by the regulator.  This included:

·             Staff at the Council knew what stage the Council had reached and where it needed to be.

·             The Council was open and transparent.

Tenant engagement was recognised as an area where the Council needed to improve.  Funding was therefore proposed to support the employment of a new Tenant Engagement and Participation Officer.

Following the presentation of the report, Members noted that this item had been pre-scrutinised at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1^st September 2025.  All Members had been invited to attend that meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to observe the debate in respect of this item as it was recognised that it was important to ensure that all Members were informed on this subject.  There had been a robust debate at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding this item and the Executive Committee welcome the challenge arising.

Consideration was given to the grade that had been awarded to Redditch Borough Council’s Housing Service in the inspection.  Members expressed disappointment that the Council had received a C3 grading, although it was noted that over 50 per cent of local authority social housing providers had received the same grade.  To address the issues identified, Officers were already liaising with a Council that had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36