The report found that the Association is committed to encouraging resident involvement and is involved in a range of activities aimed at promoting respect for diversity and equality of opportunity. It is helping to safeguard the quality of life of residents and neighbours through its approach to anti social behaviour and has a clear plan to fully identify the maintenance and improvements necessary to meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2012.

The report also highlights some examples of good practice at the Association. These include putting in place clear and effective arrangements to ensure that information and advice is readily accessible in a wide range of formats. The Association has also piloted the use of assured shorthold tenancies as introductory tenancies, evaluated their impact and sought views of residents prior to their introduction for general use.  

The Association has a robust and effective approach to Best Value with responsibility allocated to a senior staff member, a clear methodology and processes which resulted in comprehensive reports and recommendations for action. However there are still areas where services could be improved and the report makes several recommendations. These include:

• developing a comprehensive and systematic framework for resident involvement and community development activities;
• meeting action deadlines within the Welsh Language Scheme action plan;
• strengthening arrangements for partnership working with relevant local authorities and other agencies;
• providing an effective debt prevention service; and
• improving the responsive repairs service to secure value for money, effective budget control, accurate performance information, and a quality service to residents.  

Jeremy Colman, Auditor General for Wales, said today:

“North Wales Housing Association is meeting the Assembly Government’s key expectations for the quality of services it provides to tenants, and there is clear evidence that services are getting better. However this report shows that there are areas that still need attention, and includes recommendations to help the Association improve further.”

Notes to Editors:

• The inspection of North Wales Housing Association was carried out in March 2006. The Association manages over 2,000 properties and is based in Llandudno Junction, with a second office in Bangor.
• The Association was established in 1974 as Llandudno and North Wales Housing Association becoming North Wales Housing Association Ltd/Cymdeithas Tai Gogledd Cymru Cyf in 1987.  
• Following publication of this report, the Housing Association is required to produce an action plan, within eight weeks, setting out how it will respond to the inspection findings.
• The Welsh Assembly Government has appointed the Wales Audit Office to carry out the inspection of Housing Associations in Wales. Inspection is carried out under the Local Government Act 1998, as amended by the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004
• The specific questions about each aspect the inspection covers are set out in the latest version of the Assembly Regulatory Code for Housing Associations in Wales. This can be found by clicking on the following link: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/housing/publications/
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• The Wales Audit Office is independent of government and is responsible for the annual audit of some £19 billion of annual public expenditure.
• The Wales Audit Office was created in April 2005 through the Public Audit (Wales) Act, 2004, which expanded the functions of the Auditor General for Wales and enabled the transfer of staffs from the Audit Commission in Wales and National Audit Office in Wales to his employment.

Ends

For more information please contact Rachel Moss on 029 2026 2675 or email rachel.moss@wao.gov.uk