Mid Suffolk “meeting local housing needs” says watchdog

The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone. It promotes value for money for taxpayers by auditing the £180 billion spent by 11,000 local public bodies and making practical recommendations for promoting a better quality of life for people.

Mid Suffolk District Council provides a strategic and enabling role for housing in the district. It also owns and manages around 3,500 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.

The Audit Commission’s Inspectors visited Mid Suffolk District Council in early May of this year. They have just announced that the strategic housing service provided is ‘good’ and has ‘promising prospects’ for improvement.

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 Council’s top priority and substantial numbers of new affordable homes are being completed, both for rent and sale. Services are accessible, with friendly and welcoming staff. Homelessness prevention work is effective with low number 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 number one strategic 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 district’s housing needs
• An effective approach has been taken to assisting gypsies and travellers, based on good research

In response, Councillor Sara Michell, Portfolio Holder for Housing said, “We are delighted with this result. Providing affordable and decent housing has always been our top priority and I am glad this has been recognised by the Audit Commission. Much credit should go to the Officers at Mid Suffolk who have worked tirelessly towards that goal. I am pleased that our efforts have been so well rewarded."

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