Birmingham council's promise to clear all outstanding repair work by 31 March has been thrown into doubt by the discovery that its maintenance backlog was underestimated by more than 50%.
A comprehensive audit of repairs done by the council in the aftermath of September's damning Audit Commission report on the city's maintenance service found more than 45,000 jobs remained to be done.

Previous council estimates had put the figure nearer to 30,000.

Almost 3750 repairs have been completed since the beginning of October, but even at this rate the council will not be able to meet its deadline (HT 19 September, page 7).

It also appears that the council has underestimated the resources needed for the repairs programme. Birmingham has identified £6.4m that could be used for the work, but the Audit Commission put the amount needed at about £13m.

The council still believes itself capable of meeting the target. Senior housing manager David Hucker said: "Both our repairs contractors will be assuring the [Cabinet] committee the work programmes sent to tenants are achievable. [Utilities firm] AWG, which covers the north of the city and a larger share of the backlog, has 200 operatives working exclusively on the task."

On the funding issue, he said: "We have identified £6.4m – principally capital receipts. We will advise members early next month of the options for meeting the rest."

n  Meanwhile, the council has unveiled its budget plans for devolving the bulk of its housing service to 11 constituency committees.

The committees, expected to take responsibility for repairs, general management and estates services by April 2004, will be able to spend a total of £124.7m from the council's central budget.

Source

Housing Today