City Homes Probe - why so long to report back?

12.00.00am GMT Sat 4th Nov 2006

One year ago, an investigation was launched into the way some council homes were allocated in Nottingham. It came after a Government inspection, which led to a damning report into the body responsible for managing Nottingham's 32,500 council homes. Today, auditors are still investigating, as JAMES SMITH reports

Tyron Browne's sudden resignation as one of Nottingham City Homes' top officials on November 4, 2005, came as a shock to tenants and staff.

Government inspectors had just carried out a two-week inspection of NCH to see if it was well enough run to qualify for £165m needed for vital improvements to council homes.

Their findings were damning. As well as a raft of concerns about the performance of the organisation they were worried about potential abuse of council house lettings.

Mr Browne resigned citing ill health and NCH pledged a speedy investigation into the "serious concerns" raised by the inspectors.

Ten days later, the city council told the Post that investigation would be completed by the end of the week.

But a year on, auditors are still at work and tenants, NCH staff and councillors are still in the dark.

The District Auditor, brought in by the city council's audit team earlier this year to help, says the investigation will continue "well into 2007".

Liberal Democrat councillor Gary Long - himself a former internal auditor - is increasingly worried about the time the investigation is taking.

"It is very disappointing that we have not had even an interim report," he said.

"For the good of Nottingham City Homes you want it completed sooner rather than later - whatever it reveals."

The probe is understood to be focusing on alleged misuse of the allocations system.

The Audit Commission's report, delivered in March, said there was "clear evidence" of preferential treatment being given to some applicants.

Questioned was the practice of using manual offers, which should only be used

in exceptional circumstances, such as if a tenant' s life is endangered. In April 2005, the Hyson Green office let 42.3% of properties this way. District Auditor Andrew Blackburn described the investigation as "detailed and time-consuming" with the end still months away.

He told the Post: "

I acknowledge that there is considerable public interest in that investigation and a desire to be given more information. However, until it is complete it would be inappropriate for me to comment publicly."

NCH board member Tom Stephenson, also a Liberal Democrat councillor, believes the organisation has made progress, particularly in the six months since former chief executive Lynne Pennington left her post.

But he feels the lengthy investigation - and its potential implications - are frustrating. He says even board members do not know its full scope.

Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson believes NCH has become "the largest secret society in the city".

"It has fiercely undermined the accountability link between the community and the councillors elected to represent them and hasn't delivered the promised improvements," he said.

(This article appeared in the Nottingham Evening Post, 4th November 2006 www.thisisnottingham.co.uk)