A PEER group review of Thurrock Council's housing services has delivered a critical assessment of its performance.

Though the council has put forward an upbeat appraisal of the review, once readers dig down there are considerable criticisms of the service - delivered at a time when the authority is reeling in the wake of condemnation of how it has responded to the flooding and evacuation of the Brisbane House tower block in Tilbury. This report is just one of a number of critical assessments after a catastrophic night in November.

In a report on its website the council has cherry-picked many of the positive aspects of the review carried out by the Local Government Association's social housing peer challenge team.

They were invited to Thurrock to appraise local services and present a review of the council's 30-year Housing Revenue account (HRA) business plan.

While the reporting team delivered a number of bouquets, they also produced a significant number of brickbats, questioning Thurrock's performance levels.

The report, based on a visit to analyse Thurrock Council services over three days between 30 September and 2 October this year, was delivered and discussed at a meeting of the council's cabinet on Wednesday (17 December).

The peer report was created by senior officers and councillors from other authorities.

Cllr Mark Hooper, who recently stepped back into the role of portfolio holder for housing as well as his responsibilities to adult social care, was charged with presenting the report, originally created on the watch of Cllr Mark Hurrell, who quit the cabinet last month.

Cllr Hooper said: "I would like to say how much I welcome this review, it will help us as a council to improve our landlord services.  

"It looked at leadership, culture, governance and performance

"The report did highlight some good achievements from council, including appreciation of the way the Blackshots decant was handled.

"However, that doesn't mean to say there are not significant concerns.

"There was criticism of how reports were created to deliver information to monitoring councillors."

Peer reviewers criticised the council for not preparing proper reports on things like damp and mould, rather than 'just statements'.

The report highlighted 'fragmented and often inconsistent data' and the council was criticised for its level of tenant engagement.

It would be fair to say that Cllr Hooper stumbled through his delivery of the report's findings, somewhat compromised by the negativity which he appeared to be trying to dress up as positivity.

Cllr Hooper's presentation can be viewed here from  0:17:59 to 0:23:51

At one point he talked about referring the report retrospectively to the People's overview and scrutiny committee 'if required' - though it is a committee that no longer exists. He omitted to mention that under the council's constitution the report should have been considered prior to presentation at cabinet by members of at least one of the council's existing overview and scrutiny committees

Cllr Hooper said: "I really want to make the point that tenants really should be at the heart of what we are doing and I will be working hard, with officers, to meet tenants and listen to their concerns and involve them in some of the solutions."

There were no questions or challenges about matters in the report from cabinet members.

The full report to cabinet can be read via this link.

The council's upbeat presentation of the report can be read here.

It quotes Cllr Hooper as saying: "I am delighted that the peer group highlighted the hard work of our housing officers and teams.

"They are at the forefront of delivering our programme of improvements and ensuring we respond to new legislation such as Awaab's Law regulating how we now deal with mould and damp in our homes.

"The number of tenants satisfied with the service they receive is growing, but we won't stop until everyone is happy with the support they receive in their homes."

However, he did not say that at the meeting. Nor was it included in the report he presented.