Two directorates are to be created. One will bring together all landlord functions, the other will concentrate on strategy.
The structure is designed to prepare the housing service for either arm's-length management or transfer. An options appraisal exercise is under way.
Housing director Glyn Hall said: "We are taking 12 months to analyse our options but well before that we will make a big difference for tenants. We've been through desolation but it spurred us to look at wider issues."
The council was embarrassed earlier this year by an Audit Commission verdict that its housing maintenance service was worth no stars and unlikely to improve.
The district, prime minister Tony Blair's constituency, had already suffered a "well below average" rating from the Government Office North-east. Sedgefield promised to show concrete results in better services to its 10,000 tenants by April (HT 16 May, page 3).
Hall said that what started as a review of maintenance has become a blueprint for a massive change in the way housing services are delivered. Services were previously divided among four different departments. Repairs were handled by contract services, planned maintenance rested with planning, and technical services and rent collection with finance.
The job of chief of the new directorate handling all landlord functions will be advertised shortly. Hall himself will head the other directorate, covering strategy, planning, environment and community safety.
Hall said the council can comfortably reach the decent homes standard. It expects to have £70m to spend, with only £25.5m needed.
The council is putting an extra £300,000 into maintenance, which is in the hands of a specialist service improvement team. Top of the agenda will be replacing bonus payments for tradespeople with salaries.
Source
Housing Today
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