County council sets up new housing scrutiny committee in response to C4 grading

In response, NCC councillors have voted unanimously to set up a fifth overview and scrutiny committee dedicated to housing.

A report put forward for a council meeting on 6 May said NCC has been working with the regulator on an improvement plan following its inspection. 

It continued: “A key part of these improvements is to extend governance and the robustness of assurance arrangements for the NCC landlord function. 

“In order to provide oversight of the delivery of this improvement plan and associated assurance, including tenant engagement, [the] council is recommended to establish a dedicated housing scrutiny committee.”

The report said the committee will be set up on an “initial task and finish basis until such time as the regulator requirements are met”.

“Following this, arrangements will be reviewed, but it is anticipated that appropriate formal and specific housing scrutiny will be required,” it added.

As well as scrutinising delivery of the council’s housing improvement plan, the committee will seek to explore any wider improvements to NCC’s housing service, to ensure it “considers how to adopt sector best practice”.

During the council meeting, councillor Scott Dickinson said: “It is incredibly important that we have a structured and competent committee that looks at the housing issues not only with the council but brings in wider partners such as other social providers and others that provide housing services to our residents.”

Glen Sanderson, leader of the council, said it is “very important” to him that the new committee is both “vibrant and challenging” and also chaired and vice-chaired by members of the opposition.