The Wandsworth Borough Council Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee convened to discuss an interim update on the Regulatory Inspection and the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) consultation response to proposed changes to the Local Plan. The meeting was scheduled to address the council's response to a recent regulatory judgement and outline steps being taken to improve landlord services. Councillors were expected to note the actions taken and the ongoing collaboration with the Regulator of Social Housing.

Interim Update on the Regulatory Inspection

The committee was scheduled to discuss the council’s response to the Regulator of Social Housing's grading of Wandsworth Council’s landlord services. The council received a C3 grading, indicating serious failings in meeting consumer standards, particularly regarding quality and safety.

The report pack noted that the inspection involved submitting documents, including past committee reports and meeting minutes, and meetings with residents, senior officers, the Cabinet Member and Leader.

The report pack stated that the Regulator of Social Housing found the council to be compliant on the Neighbourhood and Community Standard and Tenancy Standard, but identified areas for improvement on the Transparency Influence and Accountability Standard, such as informal resident engagement.

Areas of concern raised in the report pack included:

• Stock Condition: The Regulator of Social Housing noted that full stock condition surveys were only undertaken on a small sample of homes. The report pack stated that the council is now planning to survey 20 per cent of its stock annually for the next five years.
• Electrical Safety: At the time of the inspection, electrical safety checks to homes and communal spaces were not fully completed. According to the report pack, significant progress has since been made, with 88 per cent of communal areas and 70 per cent of homes now having completed electrical tests.
• Fire Remedial Actions: 1,800 fire remedial actions were overdue at the time of inspection, but the report pack claims that none of the overdue actions were assessed to be serious or place residents at risk.
• Tenant Engagement: The Regulator of Social Housing considered how the landlord engages with tenants and listens to their views, and recognised that more needs to be done to improve informal routes of participation.

The report pack also mentioned that focus groups have taken place to review low satisfaction with repairs and complaints, and a new resident participation manager is now in post.

Local Plan Consultation

The committee was also scheduled to note the GLA's response to the council's Regulation 19 consultation on the partial review of its Local Plan¹. The report pack stated that the council will have the opportunity to respond to all representations made as part of the Examination in Public overseen by a Planning Inspector.