Installation Of New Kitchens & Bathrooms In Council Houses To Continue

Council house tenants across Wrexham were yesterday assured that work on fitting new kitchens and bathrooms would continue.

Yesterday’s news came as a result of the Council’s Summary Quarter Two Performance Report 2014-15, which was discussed at the Council’s Executive Board yesterday afternoon.

Within the report details are provided on the Council’s performance for the past quarter, with information provided on the outcomes for installing / fitting new kitchens and bathrooms in Council houses in Wrexham.

Speaking about the report Councillor Dana Davies queried the target for completing the installation of kitchens and bathrooms in Council homes, stating: “Are we on target to complete programme in the original four year time frame? As based on results on what we are completing, I would like to know how far off we are.

“Also if the time framed is prolonged, has a decision or commitment been made to continue to fund as a result of an over run?”

Cllr Davies later added that tenants are concerned that if funding runs out that they will not get a kitchen or bathroom fitted.

Within PL1 of the report (viewed here) it notes that the Council’s outurn against target for providing new kitchens and bathrooms is ‘Green’, meaning that the performance is better than the target. The report also notes that the number of new kitchens and bathrooms provided is higher than the previous quarterly performance.

The target level for improving kitchens and bathrooms for 2014/15 is listed as ‘Stretch’, with the report later adding: “The number of Bathroom installations is less than kitchen installations due to refusals.

“This may be because a tenant is happy with their existing bathroom, they do not want the further disturbance or they may have a disabled adapted bathroom that they need. These can and will be classified as ‘Acceptable
Fails’ when reporting completions towards WHQS to the Welsh Government.”

Council Leader Mark Pritchard said: “I am delighted we have this Capital Programme. I think there will be some delays in different areas and I think we will make the time scale. All our tenants will have a new kitchen and bathroom and I am delighted.

This is biggest Capital Programme in Wrexham with 11400 social housing, overall on average think we will meet time scale. if we don’t not going to get hung up if six or 8 months behind.

“I would like to that our tenants for all the patience that they have had. I think we will meet the target and if we don’t then we don’t. All that matters for me if that all our tenants are going to get new kitchens and bathrooms.

“It is a political decision to continue to fund it and I would be surprised if any politician out there said they will stop it.”

Cllr Pritchard also went onto comment on the time scale of the fittings and the work that goes into the process, noting that houses can become building sites while the work is taking place.