A SENIOR Conservative councillor has slammed Harlow Council after they were the subject of a number of criticisms in a report on their council housing building programme.

The report was discussed at a fiery meeting on Thursday night. You can follow the item on the YouTube film from the 1hr 13 min mark.

Portfolio Holder for Growth and Prosperity, cllr Tony Durcan said he “welcomed the report..it showed we are a listening council”

Councillor Durcan made a number of robust defences over the Labour-run council’s record over the past nine years.

Cllr Mike Danvers also made reference (1hr 26 mins) to “George Osborne pulling the financial rug from under the feet of local authorities such as Harlow Council.

“We were saddled with £210 million worth of debt.”

The full report can be seen below

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/documents/s17731/Appendix%20A%20-%20Consultants%20Report.pdf

The report made 21 recommendations.

Shadow Housing spokesperson, cllr Simon Carter made a detailed response to the report.

Cllr Carter said:

Quote: ‘progress has been slower than anticipated’.’

Quote ‘there is a need for clear governance arrangements’

Quote: ‘work between different departments was not joined up’

And along with twenty, wide ranging, recommendations this report is not exactly a ringing endorsement of the council’s house building programme,

“It shows the complete failure by you in delivering one of your key priorities.  No leadership, no accountability and no one interested in doing anything about it.

When you lost the £3.5M three years ago it should have set off alarm bells to prevent it happening again.

So what happened?  Nothing, until about six months ago and there was a panic decision to buy properties on the open market – the most expensive way of acquiring new homes.

It was a kneejerk reaction to use the RTB receipts before the deadline.  Where were the long-term plans to build more houses?  Nowhere, because there was no leadership or accountability.

So what did you achieve, other than throwing money at the problem?  Yes, there are now forty four houses owned by the council, but how many ‘proper’ council houses at social rent are there?  Fourteen.  

And what does it say in the Corporate Plan?  

Quote: We will achieve our goals by: 

 Commencing a long term programme of ‘house building’ for all housing types that are genuinely affordable. 

So is buying houses for affordable rent achieving this priority?  No.

There appeared to be a glimmer of hope with the creation of a council owned company to build houses and undertake regeneration projects.  But what has that achieved in the three years of its existence?  Zilch.  Nothing.  Absolute zero, because, according to the report, officers did not have confidence in the company to deliver.

So why create the company in the first place?  Why?  

“The report highlights another shambolic failure of the house building programme – the silo mentality of the four key departments in not talking to each other.  Where was the leadership? Where was the accountability in delivering council priorities?  Nowhere, because nobody cared.

Chair, you will be only too well aware that house building is not the only example of your council failing.  There is the shambles over delays to the payment of government grants to small businesses, at a time most crucial for their survival.

Tonight we learn of the continuing delays in paying bills, and to avoid further embarrassment at this failure, you want to cancel this KPI.

We have all seen the shambles over fire safety regulations for Leaseholders.  You had no idea of the legislation you were relying on.  In the end you tried resorting to draft legislation which is nowhere near reaching the statute book.

Where is the humility to recognise a mistake and apologise for it?  Nowhere, because nobody cares.

Chair, if this was the private sector, heads would have rolled by now.  Why should the tenants and residents care for a council which clearly does not care for them? 

“In six weeks’ time the people of Harlow will have the opportunity to say. ‘Your fired’ to this shambolic and failing administration – and they will”.