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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Homes service 'let down tenants' | Homes service 'let down tenants' |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| A report has accused Nottingham City Homes and the council's former housing service of letting down the city's tenants. | A report has accused Nottingham City Homes and the council's former housing service of letting down the city's tenants. |
| The Audit Commission stepped in after a routine inspection. | The Audit Commission stepped in after a routine inspection. |
| It found that council houses were not allocated to those most in need and people who knew housing officers were able to jump waiting lists. | It found that council houses were not allocated to those most in need and people who knew housing officers were able to jump waiting lists. |
| Council leader Jon Collins said he was "appalled" and that "such alleged behaviour was possibly criminal". | Council leader Jon Collins said he was "appalled" and that "such alleged behaviour was possibly criminal". |
| An Audit Commission report said Nottingham's housing service was not consistently operating in the public's best interests between 2003 and 2005 when there were "failings in the culture, systems and management". | An Audit Commission report said Nottingham's housing service was not consistently operating in the public's best interests between 2003 and 2005 when there were "failings in the culture, systems and management". |
| Management overhaul | Management overhaul |
| Alison Rigg from the Commission said: "The people of Nottingham have been let down by the council's housing service. | Alison Rigg from the Commission said: "The people of Nottingham have been let down by the council's housing service. |
| "A culture prevailed where policies and procedures were not consistently applied and where staff felt unable to challenge things that appeared to them to be wrong. | "A culture prevailed where policies and procedures were not consistently applied and where staff felt unable to challenge things that appeared to them to be wrong. |
| "As a result, the allocation of tenancies, in particular, failed to match the fair, consistent and transparent standards that prospective tenants were entitled to expect." | "As a result, the allocation of tenancies, in particular, failed to match the fair, consistent and transparent standards that prospective tenants were entitled to expect." |
| She added that most of the events happened some time ago. | She added that most of the events happened some time ago. |
| "All the senior managers at NCH have since left and there has been a complete overhaul of management arrangements and the introduction of a choice-based lettings system." | "All the senior managers at NCH have since left and there has been a complete overhaul of management arrangements and the introduction of a choice-based lettings system." |
| Councillor Collins said: "I'm appalled by what I read in this report and I expect local residents to be appalled. | Councillor Collins said: "I'm appalled by what I read in this report and I expect local residents to be appalled. |
| Residents can be assured that we will investigate these matters fully and that we will not hesitate to take appropriate action Council leader Jon Collins | Residents can be assured that we will investigate these matters fully and that we will not hesitate to take appropriate action Council leader Jon Collins |
| "The alleged behaviour of a number of people who worked for our housing service between 2003 and 2005 was completely unacceptable. We're sorry that it was possible for this to happen. | "The alleged behaviour of a number of people who worked for our housing service between 2003 and 2005 was completely unacceptable. We're sorry that it was possible for this to happen. |
| "At its worst such alleged behaviour was possibly criminal. At the very least it was a serious breach of the trust of the residents of Nottingham. | "At its worst such alleged behaviour was possibly criminal. At the very least it was a serious breach of the trust of the residents of Nottingham. |
| "Residents can be assured that we will investigate these matters fully and that we will not hesitate to take appropriate action, including disciplinary action." | "Residents can be assured that we will investigate these matters fully and that we will not hesitate to take appropriate action, including disciplinary action." |
| Legal advice | Legal advice |
| The council will now determine its comprehensive response to the report which will be presented to a public meeting of the authority in February. | The council will now determine its comprehensive response to the report which will be presented to a public meeting of the authority in February. |
| Councillors are taking legal advice and may ask the police to investigate. | Councillors are taking legal advice and may ask the police to investigate. |
| Nottingham City Homes was set up in April 2005 and ran the housing service for the final six months of the period covered by the District Auditor's report. | Nottingham City Homes was set up in April 2005 and ran the housing service for the final six months of the period covered by the District Auditor's report. |
| Since then, the organisation has appointed a new chief executive and a new management team. | Since then, the organisation has appointed a new chief executive and a new management team. |
| Paul Rowe, chair of Nottingham City Homes' board, said he shared Councillor Collins' concerns. | Paul Rowe, chair of Nottingham City Homes' board, said he shared Councillor Collins' concerns. |
| "We will work with Nottingham city council to investigate the cases and implement any outstanding recommendations in the report." | "We will work with Nottingham city council to investigate the cases and implement any outstanding recommendations in the report." |
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| Police are now investigating widespread abuse of Nottingham's council house system |