Decision details

Testing of Electrical Wiring Installations in Council Houses

Decision of:

Councillor Johnson, Executive Councillor for 

Reference:

19/URGENCY/HSC/3

Date of decision:            

14 March 2019

Published on: 

22 March 2019

Decision Type:

Non Key Decision

Matter for Decision:

Approval of an additional budget allocation of £208,000 required to achieve 100% compliance with electrical wiring installations in Council houses.

Why the decision had to be made (and any alternative options):

Testing of electrical wiring installations in Council houses is currently carried out on a ten year cycle.

A recent audit has shown more gaps than expected, and having identified the properties we recommend taking the opportunity to catch up and seek to achieve 100% compliance in 2019/20 (this will depend on tenants allowing access).

In auditing records  we have identified:

1295 Properties without any details or dates of previous electrical inspections.

306 Properties where an electrical inspection has not been undertaken in the last 10 years

The reasons for failure are complex dating back over a ten year period. However, the audit will be used to put in place more rigorous systems of checking and updating certificate records to ensure ongoing compliance.

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

     i.        Agree that the work required to complete the backlog of electrical inspections is carried out in 2019/20

    ii.        Approve an additional budget allocation of £208,000 to complete this work.

Reasons for the decision:

As detailed in the Officer’s briefing note.

Scrutiny consideration:

The Chair and Spokesperson of Housing Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised.

Report:

A report detailing the background and financial considerations will be available on the agenda of the next Housing Scrutiny Meeting in June 2019.

Conflicts of interest:

None

Comments:

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