The report rated the Association, formed following the merger of Eastern Valley Housing Association and Gwerin in April 2007, as having a ‘good’ approach to providing housing and a ‘good’ approach to housing management. The report also shows that Melin was providing ‘satisfactory’ services in three areas: its relationship to residents; its rents services; and its provision for people with support needs. The Association did, however, have three key areas in which there was ‘scope for considerable improvement’: its approach to equal opportunities; letting housing; and its maintenance service.

The report also looked at the Association’s arrangements for securing continuous improvement in services, and concluded that the Association was raising standards in service delivery. Melin Homes was seen to have a clear strategic direction, with a business plan in place that was helping to bring together the recently merged organisations, and showed a commitment to reviewing its work in order to improve services.

The report included a number of recommendations to promote further improvement, including:

• developing and implementing its tenant participation strategy and action plan;
• introducing a comprehensive repairs appointments system for its contractors;
• maintaining open waiting lists and limiting restrictions on access to waiting lists for those seeking housing; and 
• improving the quality and range of information provided to residents.

Jeremy Colman, Auditor General for Wales, said today:
“This report shows that Melin Homes is moving in the right direction. Despite some concerns in certain areas, this newly formed Association has demonstrated a willingness to evaluate and improve its performance. This commitment, along with the recommendations I have made, should help the Association to further improve its services to residents.”

Notes to editors:

• The inspection of Melin Homes took place in February 2008. At the time of inspection the Association managed over 2,700 properties including a number of sheltered schemes.
• The Association formed in April 2007 by a merger of Eastern Valley Housing Association and Gwerin. Melin Homes has offices on Pontypool and Abergavenny, at the time of inspection there were 136 members of staff.
• The Association is governed by a board of 15 voluntary members with three places on the board reserved for tenant board members. The Association is managed by a Corporate Management Team (CMT) consisting of the Chief Executive and six directors.
• 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/
  regulatorycodehas;jsessionid=9B45EEEB797A798A2F70307FCF99609A.www1?lang=en
• 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.