The Housing Inspectorate is part of the Audit Commission, which looks at many public sector services including local government and housing and has links with other national inspectorates. Housing is becoming a big part of the broader agendas of social inclusion, regeneration, sustainable development and neighbourhood management. The inspectorate's work therefore looks at these areas.
Housing inspection aims to be a driver for change. Inspections inform the public about the performance of the services inspected, and contribute directly to local, regional and national policy debates. The housing inspectorate produces detailed inspection reports with short and easy-to-read summaries, and aims to design more innovative means of delivering key messages.
Eastbourne Homes being an ALMO (Arms Length Management Organisation) depends on achieving a 2 star rating from the Housing inspectorate to get access to substantial funding. The funding will allow us to meet the national and local target of achieving the Decent Homes Standard in all of our properties.
The Council who, up until April 2005, directly managed the housing stock was inspected in October 2004 and Eastbourne Homes Ltd were inspected in November 2005. The Council's landlord services and Eastbourne Homes Ltd, at that time, were found to be 1 Star (fair) and have promising prospects for improvement.
Eastbourne Homes was re-inspected in September 2007 when the company achieved a 2 Star rating with Promising Prospects for Improvement. Inspectors said that positive aspects of the service were a strong focus on customer care and effective approaches to tackling anti-social behaviour, promoting diversity and home improvements. However the inspectors also made a number of recommendations where services could further improve and we hope to work with customers to develop these services in the coming months.
The two star rating allowed the Council to receive an initial sum of £7.52 million which is the first tranche of the £45.2 million funding bid.
Copies of all previous inspection reports can be found on the Audit Commission's website.
