Council sorry for 'serious' social housing failures

Council leader Martin Lury said the council had "accepted the regulator's findings in full"

The leader of Arun District Council has offered a "sincere and unreserved" apology to its tenants over its housing service score.

Liberal Democrat council leader Martin Lury said at a meeting the lowest possible C4 rating given by the social housing regulator in August highlighted "serious failings" by the local authority, including a failure to meet health and safety requirements relating to fire safety and smoke detection.

"These failings have spanned many years and many administrations and we fully accept that over this time this has been unacceptable," said Mr Lury.

"We have accepted the regulator's findings in full and are determined to put things right."

The council said the failings had happened over years

He said a "comprehensive" improvement programme was already under way, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"This includes work on fire safety, smoke detection, data collection, repairs and ensuring all homes meet the decent homes standard," he said.

Issues raised in the report included a lack of accurate information on stock quality, repairs not being completed on time, and homes not meeting the decent homes standard.

Mr Lury said the council, which serves the central southern area of West Sussex, was also improving tenant "engagement and transparency".

Opposition leader Shaun Gunner asked the leader how the council could show accountability for the decision, saying if this had happened under the Conservatives other councillors would be calling for "heads to roll".

Mr Lury said this had "not happened overnight" and that councillors from previous administrations might also owe an apology to residents for the council's failings.