By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter
A discussion about possibly bringing council housing stock maintenance back under Powys County Council control could soon take place.
Council leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris has admitted that the future of Heart of Wales Property Services (HOWPS) needed to be discussed as a matter of urgency.
HOWPS has one of its three depots based in Newtown.
There has been concern about HOWPS, a joint venture between PCC and Kier, for several months especially in the wake of the falling share price of Kier.
It had also been noted that HOWPS had failed to publish their annual accounts on 23 December 2018. HOWPS had been the topic of four out of 15 questions asked by councillors at the full council meeting on 24 January.
Cllr Mathew Dorrance, leader of the Labour group said: “Given that we’ve asked repeatedly for the HOWPS accounts and they still haven't materialised. A significant number of tenants are dropping into housing surgeries to report works that have not been undertaken.
“This clearly is an issue for the council that presents a significant risk and I need some assurances how this council is managing that risk and it’s now time to bring HOWPS back in-house.”
Cllr Harris replied: “The HOWPS keeps coming up all the time and I would be very happy to put it on the cabinet agenda. Or if those who are interested want to come in we can have a discussion. I know we wrote caveats into that contract.
“There are obviously some difficulties, but I’m also told that we’re making some savings as well. It would be good to pursue that discussion.”
Cllr Phil Pritchard who brought up concerns about HOWPS at a scrutiny meeting added that he wanted to be involved in the meeting.
In October 2018, HOWPS came in for heavy criticism when councillors discussed HOWPS’ first annual report with directors.
Then HOWPS chairman, Phil Oads, told councillors that HOWPS should be judged by its second year.
HOWPS looks after 5,400 homes and 630 properties in the county.
The joint venture started in July 2017 after 109 workers were transferred to the company by TUPE.
