Housing services report sparks row

摘要

The Audit Commission has dashed with Tory-controlled Birmingham City Council over a critical verdict on the quality of its housing services for council tenants. The commission has awarded the city a 'fair', one-star rating with 'promising prospects for improvement", but did not publish the findings of its report until 4 August - almost 16 months since the initial inspectors assessed the service last year, but met with objections from the council. A spokesperson said: 'It is unusual for a report to be published 16 months after inspection, but this one was subject to a lengthy and thorough review requested by Birmingham City Council. The council has said it had acted on the report's recommendations. We thought it would benefit tenants to read this report for comparison and context.'