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Housing allocations 'fair' and 'promising'

The way the council allocates housing and tackles homelessness has been praised by the Audit Commission this week as offering a 'fair' service with 'promising prospects for improvement'.

According to the independent inspectors, the council's Housing Advice Service operated a 'transparent and well-managed' system and had a 'good track record in delivering improvements'.

They also welcomed the council's good work to prevent local people becoming homeless, including a scheme to get them into rented accommodation of their own.

However, the report also highlighted some weaknesses, including the number of families in temporary accommodation, and made recommendations about how the service could be improved.

According to Adrian Brown, the commission's Lead Housing Inspector, Barking and Dagenham Council had shown that it was allocating homes 'based on housing need' and welcomed services for homeless people that were 'generally good'.

However, Adrian was concerned about the council's 'strategic approach to homelessness' and made some important recommendations for raising standards.

Overall, though, the inspection team was happy to award the service 1 star, the third rating on a 4-point scale ranging from no stars to 3 stars.

The Housing Advice Service now joins other council housing services given the 'fair' and 'promising' rating by the Audit Commission.

David Woods, Director of Customer Services, said:

"It's welcome news for our housing service, and I am pleased that the Audit Commission has given us credit for providing well managed service and recognised the strength of our letting system.

"The inspection has also helped us identify our weak points, and given us some clear ideas about how we can make our services better.

"I look forward now to implementing these changes and making sure that local people continue to get the housing service they deserve."

Thursday 5 June 2008.

Houses in the borough

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