Croydon Council is implementing a new procurement process and assigning a dedicated officer to tackle a significant backlog in delivering aids and adaptations for residents. Currently, 123 cases are awaiting necessary modifications.
The council plans to have specialist contractors in place by September through a new procurement process. A dedicated housing officer will also be assigned to focus specifically on clearing the backlog. The council is committed to adapting approximately eight to nine properties per year using Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).
The challenges of retrofitting adaptations compared to incorporating them into new builds were discussed. It was noted that it's actually easier to build new properties with all the adaptations in place than it is to try and retrofit.
The potential use of DFG funds for extensions to accommodate mobility scooters was also considered. The council is committed to improving turnaround times for aids and adaptations.
The new procurement process for specialist contractors aims to have new contractors on board in September to improve efficiency and timeliness.
The goal is to have some specialists that we need, if we've got the knowledge, skills, and efficiencies that we need to actually have inspections to do the works, to the standard we want, in a timely fashion.
Furthermore, the council will ensure quality and suitability by closely aligning assets and teamwork
and updating the system. Once work is completed, it will be passed to the match team to ensure information is correct and used smartly at all times.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve housing services, as detailed in documents such as the HAB Forward Plan and the Housing Improvement Plan Tracker.
