The independent scrutiny body completed its report in July but a deliberate policy was adopted, by Lewisham Council, to ensure that the report was not made available to all councillors or to the wider public. Audit Commission advice about the distribution of the report appears to have been deliberately ignored by the Mayor of Lewisham.

The report highlights numerous failings, including estate management, the management of empty properties (voids), income management and ensuring value for money in relation to repairs.

Commenting on the report Cllr Mark Morris, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Lewisham Council, said:

"Once again the Audit Commission have published a damning report about the management of Lewisham Council's housing stock. Once again there is evidence that Lewisham Council is not accepting advice about how it could improve its record on housing management.

"Lewisham Council is failing in many fundamental duties as a landlord. The report is simply a very long list of incidents of incompetence and poor management. The Mayor and his Cabinet Member responsible for housing should be ashamed of this report.

"As a result of such serious neglect and incompetence the quality of life for thousands of people is being affected. Tenants are facing poor standards of cleanliness and estate management. Most significantly there are too many missed appointments for repairs and when repairs are eventually carried out they are frequently of a poor standard.

"Due to such serious incompetence and poor management it is now time for real action.”

Lewisham's Lib Dem councillors are proposing the following motion to the Full Council on 1st November 2006 (motion in the name of Councillor Morris to be seconded by Councillor Maines):

The Council:
- accepts the recent Indicative Audit Commission Report on Housing Management;
- notes with concern the conclusions, particularly those highlighting the Mayor & Cabinet's failure to address the severe weaknesses previously raised in Audit Commission reports in 2002 & 2005;
- has no confidence in the Cabinet Member for Customer Services and calls upon her to resign; and
- believes that the Mayor should produce an action plan within 28 days to address the shortcomings highlighted by the Audit Commission.

Click here to download a copy of the Audit Commission report.