The General Purposes Committee of Westminster Council met on Wednesday 5th June 2024, approving a new policy on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for councillors and authorising significant compensation payments to residents following Housing Ombudsman investigations. The committee also approved the minutes from the previous meeting held on 31 January 2024.

Policy on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks for Councillors

The committee approved a new policy requiring Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all councillors. This policy mandates Enhanced DBS checks for councillors involved in decisions concerning children's services or services for vulnerable adults, and Basic DBS checks for all elected councillors. This move aligns with recommendations from Simon Bailey's Independent Review of the Disclosure and Barring Regime and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and aims to enhance safeguarding measures. The policy will be reviewed every three years. The committee recommended this policy to Full Council for adoption.

Approval of Compensation Payments Following Housing Ombudsman Investigations

The committee approved several compensation payments to residents, totalling over £36,000, following investigations by the Housing Ombudsman. These payments address failures in the Council's handling of repairs, complaint processes, and communication with residents.

• £2,062.50 was approved for a leaseholder due to a 17-month delay in completing heating pipework repairs, inconvenience, poor complaint handling, and record-keeping failures.
• £4,125 was approved for a tenant who experienced prolonged periods without hot water and heating due to delays in repairs and issues with district heating systems. This compensation also covers distress, inconvenience, and the time taken to pursue the complaint.
• £4,045 was approved for a tenant affected by ongoing leaks, staircase damage, and delays in essential repairs and redecoration. The compensation addresses distress, inconvenience, poor communication, and complaint handling failures.
• £21,407 was approved for a tenant who is a wheelchair user and has other health issues. This significant payment addresses years of disrepair, particularly in the kitchen, and failures in complaint handling and communication. The compensation also accounts for distress and inconvenience caused by the prolonged issues.
• £3,411.23 was approved for a tenant who experienced delays in repairs following a leak, leading to a disturbed living environment and damage to furniture. The compensation covers loss of enjoyment of the home, distress, inconvenience, and delays in resolving the leak and communication issues.
• £4,939.18 was approved for a tenant who reported a leak in January 2023, with rectification taking until May 2023. The subsequent works to repair the damage, including the kitchen and bathroom, remained outstanding, leading to the tenant living in a damp and mouldy home. The compensation addresses loss of enjoyment, complaint handling failures, and the time and trouble experienced in chasing repairs.

In each of these compensation cases, the committee noted that lessons had been learned, and remedial actions, including staff training and system updates, had been implemented to prevent similar issues in the future. The payments are to be funded from the Housing Revenue Account.