Agenda item

To receive a progress update on the Consort Estate, SE15 Major Works following the hearing of the matter at the overview and scrutiny committee meeting held on 4 November 2024.

The committee first heard from Councillor Sarah King, Cabinet Member for Council Homes on the Consort Estate, Major works update covering the following themes

• Recommendations on the Consort Estate to be actioned; Focus on details of contracts and services being provided on the ground.

The committee then received a report from Sayeed Kadir, Assistant Director, Planned Maintenance on Consort Estate Major Works update covering the following topics

• Site visits, asbestos surveys, reduction in concrete and brickwork repairs, reduction in major works costs to leaseholders.
• Cost of repairs not to exceed 5%, penalties for contractors exceeding specifications before section 20 is sent out.

The committee then asked questions on the following topics

• Insulations and asbestos works required and costs, improvements in overall energy efficiency
• Mobile phone costs average of £46/week for 10 mobiles each, resident confidence in future major work costings
• Due diligence, spot checks, value for money and political oversight in past major works projects

Sayeed explained that when compartmentation walls were installed some roof insulations were damaged and those areas now need dormer roofs. The areas that have asbestos are not in the operational areas and they are low levels of asbestos. On energy efficiency residents have questioned the need for external insulation to improve energy efficiency as the estate has district heating pipes running through it.

The committee also heard from Councillor Sarah King, Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Hakeem Osinaike, Strategic Director for Housing.

Cllr King informed the committee that Southwark desperately needs a decent and green home standards in the future of major works, however it does have an enormous costs associated with it on the HRA.

The committee learnt from Hakeem that the council is in process of procuring a contractor to deliver a stock condition survey for the whole of Southwark council homes and that this will include retrofitting existing properties to improve energy efficiency. This will put Southwark in a better position to procure contractors to deliver the energy efficiency works.

Cllr King explained to the committee that the housing department has reflected and reviewed internally the approach towards future procurement of major work contracts, which are to include penalties for contractors, value for money and delivery standards. 

Hakeem informed the committee that due diligence and reviews of other major works in estates is already on-going. The issues from all reviews of past major works have either being actioned or are being reviewed and considered.

The committee then asked further questions on the following points

• The impact of savings in costs on guarantee, quality and/or life expectancy of works; compliance of reduced specifications of works to national standards.

The committee learnt from Sayeed that residents questioned the need for resin flooring over the existing vinyl flooring, resin flooring lasts longer without any joints and are easier to clean. Residents did not want to pay more for resin flooring. Options are being explored with contractors to procure cheaper resin flooring with a limited warranty and this option will be discussed with residents to increase the life expectancy of these floorings.

Hakeem further explained to the committee that vinyl floorings have lasted on the estate for decades and the proposed change to resin flooring is not a compromise on quality, it is an upgrade to a completely different flooring (resin) which would last longer.