Voluntary undertaking
How Norwich City Council worked with the Regulator of Social Housing to resolve problems around building safety compliance
REGULATION
Image: Istock
Hattie Llewelyn-Davies
Non-Executive Chair
Hattie Llewelyn-Davies
Associate, Campbell Tickell
Issue 70 | February 2024
In 2022 local authorities’ housing services became subject to regulation by the Regulator of Social Housing. It was unfamiliar territory for both the regulator and the regulated.
In July 2022 Norwich City Council became one of the first local authorities to enter into a dialogue with the regulator to resolve problems around building safety compliance in the authority’s stock.
Campbell Tickell was asked to advise the council and suggested that a Voluntary Undertaking (VU) could be a useful way for Norwich to signal its determination to resolve any problems at pace. A VU is a form of co-regulation, under which the regulator can step back from taking enforcement measures, knowing that remedial action is under way.
Implementation
One of the undertakings suggested by CT in the VU was to set up an independent panel of industry experts to oversee the implementation of the VU and to meet with the Regulator and the council each month to report on progress. There was also a requirement to audit progress halfway through the process and then again at the end. These provisions were designed to ensure accountability both to the council, to its tenants and to the Regulator.
I was invited to chair the panel and two others – Keith Carter and Jo Sedley Burke – were invited to join me. Our range of expertise covers governance, regulation, transformation, property compliance, repairs, IT and systems management. Regular communications with the regulator and with the council officers and members was essential throughout.
Norwich City Hall’s clock tower rises above the bustling marketplace.
Range of expertise is key
With hindsight, the range of expertise that we could provide was key to supporting council officers to resolve the issues they faced. We have had oversight of the whole range of building safety compliance issues, sometimes uncovering new problems as we worked to resolve known problems.
We have also been able to support:
- implementing a new IT system;
- delivering a new system of recording properties on the database;
- designing and implementing a staff restructure;
- supporting the implementation of a full stock survey;
- and training and developing staff and council members to enable them to fulfil their obligations after the VU was completed.
Roller coaster ride
It has been a roller coaster at times, and only made possible with the dedicated team of interims who have led the work and the commitment of the senior leadership in the council, led by the Chief Executive, and encouraged by the determination of the members to provide a better service to their tenants. Everyone has worked with energy and innovation, as any new issue arose the implementation plan was adjusted to reflect the new workload.
Our housing compliance work has had a significant influence on the council’s General Fund stock, which has been great to see. Buildings and services are better managed, which benefits the whole community and Norwich can be justly proud at the openness with which different teams have worked together to find solutions that work more widely than just the housing stock.
Working with the Regulator
The relationship with the Regulator has been key. We made a commitment at the outset that the relationship must be honest and transparent. Each time we discovered a new issue we would immediately let the Regulator know and follow this up with a plan to resolve it.
This created a relationship that has been professional and constructive. Our lead regulator has been consistently constructive too, setting clear expectations and telling us when something fell short of their requirements.
On 13 December 2023, the VU for Norwich City Council was lifted. It is a real mark of pride for all of us who have worked so hard to achieve it. We have all learned new skills and approaches and Norwich has learned about working with the Regulator. Most importantly, the council’s tenants now live in stock that is compliant with regulatory requirements and they can be confident that their homes are safe and healthy to live in.
I am grateful to the council for their agreement to this article – I know they are keen to share their experience and learning with other authorities.
“Most importantly, the council’s tenants now live in stock that is compliant with regulatory requirements and they can be confident that their homes are safe and healthy to live in.”
