Council blasts housing association for not dealing with residents' issues
A housing association serving Braintree has been criticised for failing to engage with residents and the council. Braintree Council has heard that councillors have had to turn up in person at Eastlight Community Homes offices after failing to hear back regarding housing issues from “incredibly worried residents” around problems that “are simply not being dealt with”.
At a meeting of Braintree Council on September 23 Councillor Thomas Diamond said he had to turn up in person at their offices to get a response as they were not replying to emails. He said: “We have recently spoken to incredibly worried residents with issues with their housing. A common theme is that they are housed by Eastlight Community Homes and issues are simply not being dealt with.”
Councillor Lynette Bowers-Flint, a cabinet member with responsibility for housing said: "I share your concern and I think you may have heard me say this before not only today have I had a meeting asking yet again and it seems that the chief executive is reluctant to meet with me."
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She added: “The complaints are just mounting up and we do need to get to the bottom of why they're not talking to us because there are so many residents complaining.”
A spokesperson for Eastlight Community Homes said: “We’re sorry to hear that some Braintree councillors are dissatisfied with our recent communication with them.
“Last month, we contacted Braintree District Council to arrange a meeting with members of our leadership team, including our chief executive, and we look forward to meeting with Councillor Bowers-Flint to discuss her concerns.”