Proposals for new style short notice inspections of local authority housing services and Arms Length Management Associations (ALMOs) have been launched by the Audit Commission. The consultation will be followed by a pilot programme of short notice inspections and reflects similar plans announced earlier this year for housing associations.
Local authority and ALMO housing inspections are likely to be risk-based and tailored to local circumstances so that administrative burdens can be reduced and the drawn out preparation associated with planned or cyclical inspections can be eliminated. If introduced, short notice inspections for council housing services are likely to follow the principles for inspection proposed in the consultation paper for Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). For example, inspections could be triggered by declining or unsatisfactory performance or where people who use the service are at significant risk. In addition, the Commission is keen that the pilot programme goes beyond assessing landlord services in councils and extends to other services such as homelessness.
The situation would be slightly different for ALMOs, which primarily concentrate on delivering housing management services on behalf of their local authority partners. The Commission is therefore proposing to inspect their landlord services only.
The consultation runs until Monday 1 December and the Commission's proposals are set out in full in the consultation document. As part of the consultation, the Commission is also inviting councils and ALMOs to volunteer to take part in the pilot programme. A summary of responses to the consultation will be published early in 2009 and will be considered by the Audit Commission's Board. The Board will also consider if this type of inspection should be piloted in other service areas overseen by the Commission.
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