It also awarded Dacorum council's housing cleaning and caretaking services two stars, for a "good service to local people that is likely to improve" as a result of the Best Value review.
The councils are the first of nine housing department inspections to be reviewed and have reports issued. Results from Manchester, Barnet, Cannock Chase, Exeter, Gosport, Havant and Harrogate are also expected shortly.
On Sutton, the inspectorate's report says: "The service has some strengths, in particular the commitment to involving and consulting customers. In addition, the council is delivering a large and complex estate renewal project on the Roundshaw estate."
In order to improve its housing service, the report recommends tackling its most serious repairs immediately. It says: "[Sutton must] create a clear short term plan to address the most urgent major repairs within the stock."
Sutton council leader Mike Cooper said: "By continuing to develop and implement our own Best Value action plan, while taking on board the Audit Commission's recommendations, I am confident we can meet the challenges that lie ahead."
Dacorum's report praised its clear targets for improvement and timescales by which those improvements should be delivered; and the cleaning standards which were maintained to a high level on most sites.
Janice Marshall, chair of Dacorum's housing committee said: "We know there is room for improvement but it is good to know that we are providing a good quality service to tenants."
Chief inspector of housing Roy Irwin said: "The challenge of Best Value is to improve services year on year for local people and it is encouraging that our initial inspections have demonstrated a solid capacity by authorities to improve service further."
Source
Housing Today
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