Cabinet members at Walsall Council are set to approve an accommodation deal with a ‘failing’ housing provider.
Reform bosses will meet on Wednesday, October 28, to vote on awarding a contract to GreenSquareAccord worth up to £1.4million.
The agreement is part of the council’s domestic abuse service and will involve emergency short-term accommodation for individuals and families escaping abuse.
Since January 2023, more than 104 people have accessed the service which includes an eight-unit refuge and 19 dispersed units across the borough.
Earlier this month, GreenSquareAccord was downgraded by the Regulator of Social Housing for ‘serious weaknesses in its financial governance and failures to meet targets’.
Jonathan Walters, chief executive of the watchdog, said: “Our investigation has found a continued failure to address previously identified weaknesses in governance. This is unacceptable.”
Walsall Council said ‘careful consideration’ was given to whether GreenSquareAccord would be an appropriate provider for the contract, but was ‘satisfied’ that there were no relevant issues.
The report states: “These findings do not relate specifically to the delivery of the council’s domestic abuse safe accommodation service, but they do increase the importance of strengthened contractual oversight and assurance.”
The proposed terms are based on an initial two-year contract with scope for a further two-year extension, at £350,000 per year.
If approved, the contract will commence in January 2027.
By Rachel Alexander | Local Democracy Reporting Service
Major project set to ‘transform’ town centre
New calls for study on football ground
Reform declares housing emergency over long council home wait
Second planning application submitted for Asda Rooftop Food Court
Bins boss says there won’t be ‘two tier system’
