'Serious failings' with Slough Borough Council's social housing
There were "serious failings" in the way a council allocated housing and treated its tenants, inspectors have found.The Regulator of Social Housing said it was not assured Slough Borough Council's housing service allocated homes in a "fair and transparent way" and found recent evidence of "serious tenancy fraud".Its report said the authority, which owns almost 6,000 homes, needed to make "significant improvement" but acknowledged it had "recently put in place more effective controls and oversight for allocations".The council said it wanted to put "tenants back at the heart of our service" and hoped improvements would be apparent soon.
Inspectors said there were serious problems in the county's approach to complaint handling and tenant engagement activity.The report noted the authority had a "good understanding of the condition of its homes".It also said it was "meeting all legal requirements" relating to the health and safety of tenants, except electrical and fire safety where hundred of certificates and risk assessments were overdue, with "limited engagement with tenants around building safety".
The regulator awarded Slough Borough Council a C3 grade which is just one higher than the worst possible grade.Robert Stedmond, the councillor responsible for housing, said the authority would use the inspection to help it improve."Our aim is to put our tenants back at the heart of our service, engaging with them and listening to them to do much better and delivering the standards they deserve," he said."We have been increasing the capacity and resources within the housing team and we will be using the results of this inspection to re-engage with our tenants as we implement plans to improve our services."
You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
27 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Death of Drag Race star The Vivienne was misadventure, rules coroner
Popular drag queen performer The Vivienne's death was from misadventure after suffering cardio-respiratory arrest after taking ketamine, a coroner has ruled. James Lee Williams, 32, was found in the bath by a neighbour at their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on Sunday, January 5th. Advertisement The last time anyone had contact with them was on the previous Friday evening, when their friend, Bobby Musker, told Warrington Coroner's Court it was evident the entertainer had taken ketamine. The inquest into their death heard that five drug snap bags were found in the property, including in a bedroom draw and a bin in the bathroom. Although the performer had struggled with drugs in the past, Williams' family told the hearing they should not be remembered for their use of ketamine and that drugs did not define the person they were. Friends and family had no worries about Williams' mental health, the hearing was told, and the performer was looking forward to future roles on TV and in the theatre, although did 'occasionally' take ketamine. Advertisement Jacqueline Devonish, senior coroner for Cheshire, concluding the inquest, said: 'The medical cause of death is cardio-respiratory arrest due to ketamine use. 'The conclusion, on the balance of probabilities, I'm satisfied that James Williams' death was a misadventure, he took ketamine but he did not intend to take his own life.' Williams was the winner of the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and years later admitted having been a drug addict. An officer of the coroner's court told media that Williams' family would like the media to use 'they/them' pronouns for their loved one. Advertisement
BreakingNews.ie
27 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Campaign group Palestine Action to challenge proscription under anti-terror law
Campaign group Palestine Action is seeking a legal challenge against the UK government's bid to proscribe the group under anti-terror laws. An urgent hearing was held in the UK High Court on Monday related to an application for judicial review on behalf of one of the founders of the direct action group, Huda Ammori. Advertisement A further hearing will be held on Friday to decide whether the UK government can temporarily be blocked from banning the group, pending a hearing to decide whether Palestine Action can bring the legal challenge. A decision on whether the group will be given the green light to bring the legal challenge will be given at a further hearing expected to be held in the week of July 21st. Supporting statements have also been submitted by Amnesty International, Liberty and European Legal Support Centre over concerns of unlawful misuse of anti-terror measures to criminalise dissent, a spokesperson said. It comes as a draft order was laid before Parliament on Monday to amend the Terrorism Act 2000 to include Palestine Action as a proscribed organisation, making membership and support for the direct action group illegal. Advertisement If approved, it would become a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. UK home secretary Yvette Cooper unveiled the intention to ban the group on June 23 (James Manning/PA) Commenting on the hearing, Ms Ammori said: 'I have been left with no choice but to request this urgent hearing and to seek either an injunction or other form of interim relief because of the Home Secretary's decision to try to steamroll this through Parliament immediately, without proper opportunity for MPs and Peers to debate and scrutinise the proposal, or for legal and human rights experts and civil society organisations to make representations, or for those of us who would be denied fundamental rights as a result and criminalised as 'terrorists' overnight, including the many thousands of people who support Palestine Action.' The UK government's move comes after two planes were vandalised at RAF Brize Norton on June 20th in an action claimed by Palestine Action. Five people have since been arrested on suspicion of a terror offence in relation to the incident. Advertisement Unveiling the intention to ban the group following the incident on June 23rd, UK home secretary Yvette Cooper said it was the latest in a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action'. The group has staged a series of demonstrations in recent months, including spraying the London offices of Allianz Insurance with red paint over its alleged links to Israeli defence company Elbit, and vandalising US president Donald Trump's Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire. Its website states the group uses disruptive tactics to target 'corporate enablers of the Israeli military-industrial complex' and seeks to make it 'impossible for these companies to profit from the oppression of Palestinians'. Ms Ammori added that causing disruption 'is not terrorism', while Ms Cooper has said proscribing the group is a 'legitimate response to the threat posed' by Palestine Action. Advertisement The home secretary has the power to proscribe an organisation under the Terrorism Act of 2000 if she believes it is 'concerned in terrorism'. Some 81 organisations have been proscribed under the 2000 Act, including Islamist terrorist groups such as Hamas and al-Qaida, far-right groups such as National Action, and Russian private military company the Wagner Group.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Mother and friend of teenage drowning victim urge people to stay safe in the sea
The mother and best friend of a teenager who drowned in a 'fierce' rip current on Bournemouth beach, which also killed a 12-year-old girl, have backed Coastguard advice to help people enjoy the sea safely this summer. Joe Abbess, from Southampton, Hampshire, and Sunnah Khan, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, drowned during the incident at the Dorset seaside resort on May 31 2023. Now, the mother of the 17-year-old trainee chef, Vanessa Abbess, has issued a warning that anyone could be caught out like her son, who was a regular gym-goer. She said: 'Joe was incredibly loved by his family and friends, and I feel it is so important to tell his story. He was being so sensible and safe. He was healthy. He was strong. He could swim. 'It is so shocking that Joe died and shows you're never entirely safe in the sea – but there are ways to reduce the risk, which we want everyone to know.' She added: 'Even two years on, the world doesn't feel quite right because there's a great big Joe-shaped hole in our lives. Joe is, and will always be, loved and very missed every day. 'We live on an island; people should know the dangers. You wouldn't cross the road without thinking about it – don't enter the sea without thinking about it. You need to think, what could happen? What do I do in an emergency? 'Joe was a very caring young man – he would want people to know what happened that tragic day. 'And if by telling his story I can prevent this heartbreak happening to another family, that has got to be a benefit, in a strange way, because it's absolutely awful to lose somebody you love like this.' His friend, Joe Green, 19, said: 'It 100% has affected my life. I mean, you just never think this would happen to your best friend. 'I miss him loads. Somehow, after more than two years, it still doesn't feel real. It still feels like he's going to come into my life whenever I turn a corner. 'I think he'd be very proud. I think he'd be very happy that I'm doing this for him, and his mum is doing this for him, because we just want to get the message across that this can happen to anyone.' The pair have backed safety tips issued by the Coastguard to choose a lifeguarded beach and to swim between the flags and to go into the sea with a buddy. They also advise that in a rip current to not struggle but instead 'float to live' by floating with head back and ears submerged. They also urge people to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they see an emergency by the coast. James Instance, Coastguard divisional commander, said: 'Vanessa and Joe have shown real bravery in reliving their loss to highlight hidden risks at the beach and how you can stay safe. 'As we approach the summer holidays and our seaside gets busier, it's a perfect time to remind everyone of a few simple tips to ensure your fun trip ends with good memories.' Earlier this month, Darren Paffey, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, spoke in the Commons, calling on the Government to increase swimming safety in schools and highlighting that 150 children had lost their lives to drowning in the past three years. He said that just 74% of children leave school with the ability to swim 25 metres, and those from the most deprived areas are twice as likely to drown. Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin also wrote to the Education Secretary calling for better water safety for children following the inquests into the deaths of Joe and Sunnah. Responding to the debate in Parliament, education minister Catherine McKinnell said: 'Data from Sport England's active life survey reported in 2024 that 95.2% of state primary schools surveyed reported that they do provide swimming lessons, and we do want all pupils to have the opportunity to learn to swim.' She added: 'We are working to ensure that teaching pupils the water safety code at primary and secondary school will feature in our new RSHE (relationships, sex and health education) statutory guidance, which will be published shortly.'
