The General Purposes Committee of Westminster Council met on Wednesday 5th June 2024 to approve a new policy on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for councillors and to authorise several compensation payments to residents following Housing Ombudsman investigations. The committee approved the new DBS policy, which will require enhanced checks for councillors involved in decisions concerning children's and vulnerable adults' services, and basic checks for all elected councillors. Additionally, five compensation payments totalling £36,530.91 were approved for residents who had experienced significant service failures related to housing disrepair and complaint handling.

Policy on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks for Councillors

The committee approved a new policy requiring Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all councillors. This policy aligns with recommendations from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) following Simon Bailey's Independent Review of the Disclosure and Barring Regime. Enhanced DBS checks will be mandatory for councillors involved in decisions concerning children's services or services for vulnerable adults. All elected councillors will be required to undergo a basic DBS check. The policy aims to enhance safeguarding and ensure public confidence in the council's commitment to protecting children, young people, and vulnerable adults. The cost of these checks, estimated at £1,452, will be funded from the Governance and Councillor Liaison Team budget. The policy will be reviewed every three years or sooner if legislative or guidance changes occur. The committee recommended this policy to the Full Council for adoption.

Compensation Payments Approved

The committee approved five separate compensation payments to residents, totalling £36,530.91, following investigations by the Housing Ombudsman. These payments address service failures related to housing disrepair and inadequate complaint handling.

• £2,062.50 was approved for a leaseholder due to a 17-month delay in completing heating pipework repairs, inconvenience, and poor record-keeping.
• £4,125 was approved for a tenant who experienced prolonged periods without heating and hot water, distress, and inconvenience due to delays in repairs and poor complaint handling. This included compensation for the lack of enjoyment of their home and reimbursement for fan heaters.
• £4,045 was approved for a tenant who suffered from an ongoing leak, damage to their property, and prolonged periods without heating. The compensation covers distress, inconvenience, and poor communication.
• £21,407 was approved for a tenant who is a wheelchair user and has other health issues. This significant payment addresses years of disrepair, particularly in the kitchen, and failures in complaint handling, distress, and inconvenience. The council acknowledged missed opportunities to discuss a move to more suitable housing.
• £3,411.23 was approved for a tenant experiencing delays in repairs following a leak, leading to a lack of enjoyment of their home, damage to furniture, and distress and inconvenience to their family.

In each case, the committee noted the details of the complaint, the service failures identified, and the remedial actions taken by the council, including staff training and system updates. The council expressed hope that lessons had been learned to prevent similar issues in the future.