Best Value (Wales Programme for Improvement)Introduced by the Local Government Act 1999, best value became a statutory requirement from April 2000. Within the principality it was agreed that a radically new approach to this legislation was needed which led to the introduction of the Wales Programme for Improvement. The main aim of the programme is to achieve the delivery of high quality services to the public. A Whole Authority Analysis requires to be undertaken to assess the risk posed by poor or under-performing services.
The first review conducted within the Housing Division was undertaken on the Rent Service, commencing in September 2001 and completed in October 2002. A service review of Homelessness also commenced in October 2002, with a 'gap' inspection of the Repairs and Maintenance service carried out by the Audit Commission in Wales in March 2003. A self-assessment of Estate Management was also completed during 2003.
With the introduction of the Wales Programme of Improvement came the requirement to prepare a performance plan for each financial year, copies of which are available to the public along with an executive summary.
The ‘gap’ inspection of Repairs & Maintenance received a ‘poor’, no-star service with poor prospects for improvement. To address the criticisms made by the Inspectorate, a Repairs Strategy has been developed, to tackle those issues identified by the Audit Commission inspectors. A further inspection of the Repairs and Maintenance service undertaken in July 2004 identified that several building blocks are in place to improve the service including the Housing Needs Survey, Public Sector Stock Condition Survey, Housing Market Analysis, Repairs & Maintenence Satisfaction Survey and Options Appraisal.
An Audit Commission inspection on the Rent Service in May 2004 identified that the Council is beginning to take the right steps to bring extremely high levels of rent arrears under control.
The Welsh Assembly Government also carried out an inspection of the Supported Housing function in August 2004. A full report is expected to be received in November 2004.
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