Stoke-on-Trent City Council refuse to release results of £118k home repairs survey- in case residents want work done
MORE than £118,000 has been spent on a survey to review how much repair work is needed on the city's council houses – but tenants and councillors are not allowed to see the results.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council reviewed the condition of thousands of homes to help officers budget for how much money will be needed to pay for maintenance and repairs over the next 30 years.
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HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS: The city council has surveyed 3,900 homes so it can budget for maintenance and repairs over the next 30 years.
It saw 3,900 properties surveyed in full, roughly 20 per cent of the council's houses, at a cost of £118,420.
But the authority has refused to release the results under Freedom of Information laws – over concerns it would lead to a surge in tenants demanding repairs at their properties.
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And even councillors and housing staff are barred from seeing the details until they have been "briefed."
Mum-of-three Karen Bowen's council house was fitted with a new boiler and insulation in June under a £2.6 million partnership between the city council and energy firm EDF.
The 50-year-old, of Theodore Road, Bucknall, hopes the survey will lead to similar improvements elsewhere but feels the results should be made public.
She said: "As well as tenants needing to know, we elect councillors to take up these issues on our behalf and it doesn't seem right that they can't have the information.
"Without all of the information being available they can't make decisions.
"The improvements here have made a remarkable difference. It's much warmer and much more economical.
"It's the sort of thing I'd like to see being done elsewhere when the funding becomes available."
The council carried out the 'comprehensive housing stock survey' after buying its way out of Government control under national reforms.
Major changes mean the council is now responsible for self-funding its council housing, using cash from loans and rents to pay for maintenance and improvements.
It increased rent charges by 6.91 per cent this year, an increase of £218 a year to £64.84-a-week for most tenants, and further rises are expected to help fund maintenance.
Housing officers will use the survey to draw up budgets for investment, including when kitchens, bathrooms and roofs need replacing.
The survey also looked closely at heating efficiency and smaller repairs like gutters and paving.
But information control officers say releasing the results would cause "an increase in customer enquiries relating to when improvements will be carried out."
They added: "Prior to publishing the stock condition survey it will be necessary to properly brief frontline staff, elected members and other stakeholders."
Data is now likely to be published "over the coming months", albeit in an edited format, alongside information about how investment will be targeted.
Independent councillor Dave Conway, opposition leader and former cabinet member for housing, pictured, said: "Tenants are paying for the housing service and they have paid for the survey. They have a right to know the extent of repairs needed on their homes.
"If the results were brilliant I would fully expect them to publicise it so it makes me wonder what exactly it is they have found out."
Comments
by gormhenghast
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 9:32PM
“Ah Bisto!! the City Council hierarchy as enigmatic as ever.
Well WHISTLE BLOWERS over to YOU,
your City needs YOU...............”
by truestokie
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 7:01PM
“And even councillors and housing staff are barred from seeing the details until they have been "briefed."
Who as got this much power that they can dictate what "OUR" elected councillors can and cannot see???
Is this control freak Hackney "again"???
This is a disgrace.”
by Notanumber
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 5:54PM
“Could I proffer a figure of £40m as a starting point?”
by Dizzy1960
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 2:15PM
“Obtaining information under the "Freedom of Information Act" should be adhered to if requested and failure to do so is illegal and therefore, those who don't respond or give false information under this act are open to prosecution.
Mind you, our council are protected by the government and was clearly identified when they stepped in to protect them over the Dimensions affair. Demonstrating that both are perverse!
Action to rid ourselves of these self righteous misrepresenting oik' is what we need, not answers. Or haven't we the backbone?”
by Raymondc1
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 1:07PM
“Stoke-on-Trent, is a Council whom make rules and laws as go long day by day, indeed the Council must issue the requested information failing to do so, may end up in legal proceeding been taken against the said Council under the freedom of information act.
but it does show beyond reasonable doubt who is running the City Council, and it is not the Councillor's we Elect in to run the Council.”
by warren-lloyd
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 9:59AM
“If the finding are there they should be given to council members, no two ways about that.”
by warren-lloyd
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 9:57AM
“My RA has been openly told by officers that we can not have work done in the are, that they themselves agree should be done, will not be done, as areas that don't need the work done would then demand it.”