Issue - meetings

To consider the independent report into issues around repairs to the heating system at Riverside Flats in Grantham

The Chairman advised that due to the Appendix for this item being exempt should this be referenced then the meeting would go to closed session. Julie Picken, an independent consultant was welcomed by the Chairman to the meeting.

A statement was read to all present by the Chairman as a ward member:

I was horrified to read in the local Grantham Journal a headline: “Lied to and let down” as my colleague, Councillor Smith and I had both responded immediately to every call we had had of lack of water or heating from the Riverside complex.

The whole sorry saga has been a catalogue of errors and like the residents we too have been let down as we escalated the complaints to the housing department in blind faith that positive steps had been taken.

I believe many residents had reported their complaints to Customer Services and then contacted councillors in desperation and frustration when things did not improve.

Let me make it clear, the residents and the community are my priority and this must never, ever, happen again as it is a total disgrace to the residents and some elderly and vulnerable people in such distress.

Hopefully lessons have been learned.

However I fully understand the distress all this has caused and I was pleased to hear from a couple of residents last year that they were happy with the repairs that had taken place and to quote one gentleman he said to me he was “as warm as toast” which was good news.

We also have a new Chief Executive who, along with the Leader, is totally committed to putting in place the proper management within a housing portfolio; supported by Councillor Robert Reid the Cabinet Member for Housing.

I look forward to having a single point of contact for residents and further updates at meetings.

The Chairman invited ward Councillor Jacky Smith to make a statement however she was not able to due to technical difficulties.

The Leader of the Council reported that he had visited Riverside with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning and would continue to do so on a regular basis. The commissioned report had identified failures for which he unreservedly apologised on behalf of the District Council to the residents for the inconvenience and trauma. The Chief Executive added her sincere apologies and expressed disappointment that the Health and Safety Executive report had not yet been received to also present at this meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning reported that he had not been satisfied with the heating system being provided to tenants. There was a 5-year life span remaining for the boilers which he would be looking to replace with allocated budget already in place.

A report was presented by the independent consultant, Julie Picken, in the form of slides which were circulated with the agenda. The consultant was appointed on 20 January 2020 to conduct an independent inquiry.

A further presentation by the Cabinet Member for Housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80