The report states that we are improving services for residents, while delivering significant savings.
On a scale from zero to three stars, the Audit Commission inspection team gave our service a two star rating. The inspection was undertaken in June 2010 and is the first real inspection of our service since Lewisham Homes began in January 2007.
Julia Cotton, Lewisham Homes Chair, said: “This inspection result recognises the work that our staff, Board, the Council and our partners have done over the last three years to improve services. The report not only recognises that services are improving and becoming more efficient, but that they are also delivering value for money”.
Councillor Susan Wise, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, said: “Every resident deserves to live in a decent home, and the excellent news that the Audit Commission has awarded Lewisham Homes a two star rating at their inspection is recognition of the hard work that has already been done in order to achieve this.
“Although there is still much to do, the rating means that Lewisham Homes can access funding to improve residents' homes and estates. I know that Lewisham Homes will continue to deliver their focussed and listening service. A service that engages with residents, values their ideas and continues to improve.”
Our priority now is to improve homes to the government’s Decent Homes standard. The Homes and Communities Agency has made a provisional offer of £153.8 million to us to deliver a Decent Homes investment programme, however we will not know how much money we will be given until later this year after the government completes the comprehensive spending review and outlines it’s plans for public spending.
The inspectors found the following strengths:
- Lewisham Homes has succeeded in delivering efficiency savings and in improving the value for money of services.
- Lewisham Homes helps residents who are financially excluded or in debt.
- The responsive repairs service produces good, cost-effective outcomes and performance in servicing gas appliances is excellent.
- Residents have successfully influenced priorities and resident involvement has improved services.
- Robust processes for auditing tenancies are in place to reduce fraud.
The inspectors identified the following areas for improvement
- Resident satisfaction with the response to complaints is low
- Lewisham Homes needs to develop its approach to environmental sustainability
- The stock is in poor condition due to lack of investment over a long period
We are working on an action plan to address the areas of improvement suggested by the Audit Commission and will continue to consult and work closely with residents to build on the successes of the last three years.
