Dudley Council’s housing department has come under scrutiny for spending close to £1 million on external consultants, but council leaders maintain the investment was essential to guarantee housing safety standards.
During the Housing and Assets Scrutiny Committee meeting on July 14, councillors discussed the appointment of specialist consultants following regulatory notices concerning breaches in housing legislation. The total fee paid to consultants is £805,000 plus VAT.
Cllr Daniel Bevan, Dudley cabinet member for development and regulation, defended the expenditure, stating, “This was not consultancy for convenience. It is a short-term but vital intervention to maintain compliance, protect tenant safety, and provide expertise while the council builds a more permanent capacity."
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He added, “Failing to secure these skills would have posed far greater risks than the cost involved.”
The committee also heard that about 70 percent of local authorities have faced challenges complying with new housing legislation, compounded by a nationwide shortage of qualified experts.
When the first regulatory notices were issued in April 2023, Dudley Council faced serious concerns including 8,000 outstanding fire risk assessments, 4,004 overdue domestic electrical safety checks, and over 18,000 defective smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.
Since then, the council has addressed all but seven outstanding electrical safety checks. These remaining cases involve properties where tenants have denied access to council officers.
A report by Kathryn Jones, Dudley’s group director of housing and assets, highlighted the progress made: “The council has moved from identified issues to demonstrating control, increased assurance, and improving safety outcomes for tenants.”